Rawlins County, Kansas

Rawlins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat and largest city is Atwood. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 2,561. It was named after John Rawlins, a general in the American Civil War.

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America were inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France, but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1873, Rawlins County was established.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,070 square miles (2,800 km²), of which 1,069 square miles (2,770 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (0.1%) is water.

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,561. The median age was 46.3 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 89.1% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.9% from some other race, and 6.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.2% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.