Thanksgiving was a very special time for me when I was a child. It was fun time with fun measured by the number of cousins, aunts and uncles who gathered at Grandpa Joe’s and Grammy’s for the annual family reunion. Not certain of the year (sometime in the 50’s), there were eighty dinner plates to be washed in the late afternoon. For us kids, afternoon was discovery time as we explored secret places in the attic and in the barn and attached sheds. There was a lot of fun because there were many cousins with which to share discoveries.

Enough of my memories. Point — More children, more discovery fun.

A lot of children make happy discoveries in Putnam County Schools each and every day. School enrollment numbers can be thought of as a happiness number.

This school year, there are 8,357 children and adolescents making discoveries in Putnam’s 22 public schools. This number, however, is less than the 2024-25 year number and the 2024-25 year was less than the 2023-24 year. School enrollment has dropped each and every year in Putnam County since 2014.

While school enrollment has dropped, it should not be used as a happiness meter. Children are required to go to school. Parents are required to enroll their children in public school or to make other provision for their education. Putnam County’s population numbers make for a far better happiness meter. People move out of a home or an area into a different home or area with the expectation of betterment.

Putnam County’s population numbers tell a different story than school enrollment. In 2013 when Putnam’s school enrollment hit an all time high of 9,907, the county’s population was reported to be 56,496. While an exact number is not available, Putnam’s current population is estimated to number 57,192. The 2020 census count was 57,444. The 2020-21 school enrollment was 9,138.

If population serves as a happiness meter, there is more happiness now than in 2013 when school enrollment was the greatest.

Population numbers and enrollment numbers are what they are. In 2013, Putnam County was populated by families which enrolled 9,907 children in public schools. This year, by best estimate, Putnam families enrolled only 8,357 children in public school. Putnam’s population makeup has shifted. The adult population has increased while the school-age population has dropped.

Why the shift?

Population makeup shift, like all things, is subject to cause and effect. The cause which generated large family numbers in 2013 has been replaced with a cause which has produced smaller family numbers. The shift in family size is a betterment choice and it is national.

Putnam’s population has increased while West Virginia’s has dropped. Putnam’s increase, however, is less than the national average.

I made the betterment choice to live in West Virginia in 1968 and followed it with a second betterment choice to stay in 1973. I am thankful that I made the right choice. That said, Almost Heaven might be better with more children making discoveries.