Everything a new Palatka resident needs to get settled — tax office, DMV, library, water and sewer setup, trash days, voter registration, hospital, schools, and a Week-1 checklist. Every phone number and link verified against the official source.
The hard numbers — official sources cited at the bottom of the page.
| County | Putnam County (Palatka is the county seat) |
|---|---|
| Status | Incorporated City — Commission/Manager government |
| Incorporated | January 8, 1853 |
| Population | 10,446 (2020 U.S. Census) |
| Median household income | ~$32,021 (ACS 5-year estimate) |
| Median home value | ~$150,500 (ACS 5-year estimate) |
| Square miles | ~9.76 sq mi total |
| ZIP codes | 32177 (city), 32178 (PO Box) |
| Time zone | Eastern (ET) |
| Mayor | Robbi Correa (verify current term on city site) |
| City Manager | Appointed by the City Commission — call (386) 329-0100 for the current appointee |
Population/income/home-value figures are the latest publicly available Census Bureau and ACS estimates and shift each year. For mission-critical moves, call the offices below before relying on these numbers.
Palatka is one of only three incorporated cities in Putnam County. The city runs your water, sewer, gas, trash, police, fire, and zoning inside city limits. Most other services come from the county.
Putnam County's main offices are right in Palatka. These are the addresses, phones, and URLs you'll need in your first month.
Palatka-area homes are served by the Putnam County School District. For the 2024–25 year, every traditional, charter, and virtual school in the county earned a state grade of C or higher. Because rural attendance zones don't always follow town lines, we always confirm the exact school for a specific address before you buy.
Palatka is the medical hub of Putnam County, so the hospital, ER, and most specialists are right here.
Urgent-care hours change — call the provider directly before driving over.
Florida is strict about new-resident deadlines. Knock these out in your first 30 days and you'll never get blindsided by a ticket or a late fee.
Thirty days from the date you establish Florida residency. Residency-triggering acts include taking a Florida job, enrolling your kids in a Florida public school, registering to vote, or claiming homestead exemption. The Putnam County Tax Collector at 312 Oak Street handles driver-license services — same building as the tag office. Source: FLHSMV.
Within 10 days of establishing residency, and you'll need Florida auto insurance in place first. Bring the title, your FL insurance card, and two proofs of Palatka address (utility bill, lease, etc.) to the Tax Collector. They title, plate, and register in one visit. Source: FLHSMV new-resident page.
City Hall at (386) 329-0100 handles water, sewer, gas, and sanitation billing in one place. Sanitation can be reached directly at (386) 329-0107 to confirm your collection day. If your home is outside Palatka city limits, you're likely on well & septic and a private hauler (often Waste Pro) — we verify that for every county listing.
HCA Florida Putnam Hospital, 611 Zeagler Drive in Palatka. It's a 99-bed acute-care facility with a 24-hour ER, cardiac cath lab, and Birthplace. Main line (386) 328-5711, ER direct (386) 326-8150.
The Putnam County Supervisor of Elections office is at 2509 Crill Avenue, Suite 900, Palatka. Phone (386) 329-0224. You can also register online at registertovoteflorida.gov. Florida's deadline is 29 days before any election — don't wait.
Yes — the Putnam County Library at 601 College Road is open to all Putnam County residents at no charge. Cards are free; bring ID and proof of Palatka address. It's the headquarters branch for a county-wide system that includes Crescent City and Interlachen.
If you live inside the City of Palatka, the City handles water, sewer, gas, trash, police, fire, and zoning. The County handles taxes, DMV, library, sheriff, building permits outside city, animal services, schools, and elections. If you live in unincorporated Putnam County around Palatka, the County handles almost everything, and you're usually on well & septic and a private trash hauler.
Each number, address, and link on this page was verified against the official source listed below. Always double-check critical details by phone before relying on them — municipal info changes.
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