Palatka is a city in and the county seat of Putnam County, Florida. The population was 10,446 at the 2020 census, down from 10,558 at the 2010 census. Nestled alongside the St. Johns River 30 miles west of St. Augustine, Palatka is a Northeast Florida trail town full of history, culture, and an abundance of parks and nature preserves for hiking, biking, and paddling.