Rawlins County KS

History

Organized in 1881. County seat Atwood. Named in memory of Gen. John A. Rawlins, who was a staff officer of General Grant, and went into his cabinet, when elected President, as Secretary of War.

Map and text from History of Kansas, Noble Prentis, (Winfield: E.P. Greer. 1899)

General John A. Rawlins also served as Secretary of War in the Grant administration.

William G. Cutler's History of Kansas, first published in 1883, tells about early Rawlins County.

The Special Collections of the Ablah Library at WSU contain historical images of Ludell, Atwood, and Herndon.

The Kansas State Historical Society also has more historical data for Rawlins County online including a rich bibliography and lists of cemeteries, post offices, and newspapers.

Cities, Towns, & Villages of Rawlins County

                 2000
  Year  Elev  Population Name              ZIP
  ====  ====  ========== ================ =====
        2790             Achilles
  1875  2850       1,279 Atwood           67730
        3195             Beardsley        67730
        2900             Blakeman
        3177             Chardon
  1886  2666         149 Herndon          67739
  1872  2780             Ludell           67744
  1888  3360         159 McDonald         67745
        1775             Salem            67156

Special Places in Rawlins County

Lake Atwood has a wonderful cottonwood shade lane running all the way around it.
The Jayhawk theater at 410 Main in Atwood is used for plays, presentations, and films.
Ludell has a nice old stone school building and a 1920 bank building that's still in use.
Herndon has a beautiful church.

Libraries

Atwood Public Library (785) 626-3805
102 South Sixth / Atwood, KS 67730

Rawlins County School Systems

USD 103 Cheylin "Cougars" (785) 734-2341 Bird City,McDonald
USD 105 Atwood (785) 626-3236 Atwood,Herndon

Hospitals

Rawlins County Hospital (785) 626-3211
707 Grant / Atwood, KS 67730

Museums

Rawlins County Museum (785) 626-3885
308 State / Atwood, KS 67730

Newspapers

Rawlins County Square Deal (785) 626-3600
408 State / Atwood, KS 67730

Special Events in Rawlins County

The Rawlins County Fair is held in Atwood in July.
Atwood hosts the annual Beaver Creek Festival in October featuring crafts, games, and Bluegrass music.
Every May, there is a Rod Run in Atwood.

More Data About Rawlins County

Economic Development

Kansas County Profile Reports
Statistical data from The Institute for Policy and Social Research, the University of Kansas

Health Data

KDHE's Rawlins County Health Profile

Genealogy

Rawlins County KSGenWeb

References

Dickensen, James R. Home on the Range (New York: Scribner. 1995)
Fitzgerald, Daniel Faded Dreams : More Ghost Towns of Kansas (University Press of Kansas. 1994)

Rawlins County Offices

Rawlins County (785) 626-3351
607 Main St. / Atwood, KS 67730
Extension Service (785) 626-3192
406 State / Atwood, KS 67730

For more about Rawlins County contact:

Atwood Chamber of Commerce (785) 626-9630
416 Main Street / Atwood, KS 67730