Rawlins is a city in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 8,221 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Carbon County. It was named for Union General John Aaron Rawlins, who camped in the locality in 1867.

Demographics

thumb|left|"Officers quarters at Ft. Rawlins, Wyoming, May 7, 1877."

thumb|left|The Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins, Wyoming.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Rawlins had a population of 8,221. The median age was 36.3 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 119.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 124.0 males age 18 and over.

There were 3,126 households in Rawlins, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.0% were married-couple households, 22.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 6,343 || 77.2%

|-

| Black or African American || 115 || 1.4%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 155 || 1.9%

|-

| Asian || 82 || 1.0%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 8 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 684 || 8.3%

|-

| Two or more races || 834 || 10.1%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 2,072 || 25.2%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,259 people, 3,443 households, and 2,206 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 3,960 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.7% White, 1.1% African American, 1.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.2% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.3% of the population.

There were 3,443 households, of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 34.3 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29% were from 25 to 44; 26.8% were from 45 to 64; and 9.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 54.7% male and 45.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The city is approximately 6800 feet (2073 m) above sea level.

Climate

Rawlins' climate is semi-arid (Köppen climate classification 'BSk').

Government and infrastructure

The Wyoming State Penitentiary is located in Rawlins. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.

thumb|Wyoming Frontier Prison, operational from 1901 until 1981

The United States Postal Service operates the Rawlins Post Office.

Education

Residents are zoned to schools in the Carbon County School District#1.

All residents are zoned to Rawlins Elementary School (elementary students formerly went to either Pershing, Mountain View, Sunny Side, or Highlands Hills Elementary School), Rawlins Middle School and Rawlins High School (rebuilt in 2015); Rawlins also offers an alternative school, the Carbon County Co-operative High School.

Western Wyoming Community College also offers outreach programs through the Carbon County Higher Education Center. The main campus is housed in the former Sunny Side Elementary School building.

Rawlins has a public library, a branch of the Carbon County Library System.

Media

Rawlins is served by one print newspaper, the Rawlins Daily Times.

Radio stations licensed to Rawlins include KRAW 97.9 FM, a low-power FM community radio station and K255DH 98.9 FM, a translator for KRAL.

Transportation

Highways

Interstate highways:

20px I-80

  • East–west interstate running from New York City to San Francisco. I-80 runs through the south side of Rawlins, leading east to Laramie and west to Rock Springs. The I-80 business loop runs through the center of Rawlins, following Cedar Street before turning north onto Third Street, and then west onto Spruce Street.

U.S. highways:

20px US 30

  • Runs concurrent with I-80. The US-30 business loop also runs concurrent with the I-80 business loop.

20px US 287

  • Runs through Rawlins on east Cedar Street before moving north onto North Higley Boulevard (the 287 bypass). Leads northwest to Lander and east with I-80 to Laramie.

Wyoming state highways:

22px WYO 71

  • Starts at CR401 near Teton Reservoir and travels through southern parts of Rawlins until ending at Wyoming 78 near I-80 exit 214.

22px WYO 78

  • Wyoming Highway 78, also known as South Higley Boulevard, begins at the Wyoming State Penitentiary south of Rawlins, until ending at Wyoming 71 near I-80 exit 214.

22px WYO 789

  • Runs concurrent with the I-80 business loop via Spruce Street before turning north on Third Street. Wyoming 789 meets US 287 north of town, where it runs concurrent with this highway.

Scheduled bus service

Scheduled bus service is offered by Greyhound Bus Lines.

Airport

The city of Rawlins is served by Rawlins Municipal Airport (Harvey Field).

Railroads

The Union Pacific Railroad provides freight service to Rawlins. Amtrak's Pioneer served the city from 1991 through 1997. While there is a proposal to re-start the service as of Jan 2024, there is currently no scheduled passenger rail service.

Continental Divide Trail

Rawlins is located along the 3,100 mile long path of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

"Rawlins Red"

"Rawlins Red" is a red pigment containing hematite, an oxide of iron that was mined near Rawlins. Paint containing Rawlins Red has anti-rust properties and is thought to have been used as the original paint on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Republic of Texas

Rawlins displays a historical marker denoting the northernmost border of the Republic of Texas, which claimed land as far north as Carbon County.

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->

  • William L. Carlisle (1890–1964), one of America's last train robbers, imprisoned in Wyoming State Penitentiary
  • Jesse Garcia (born 1982), actor who starred in Quinceañera
  • Big Nose George (1834–1881), Wild West outlaw hanged by a lynch mob in Rawlins
  • Lillian Heath (1865–1962), the first female doctor in Wyoming; she was given the cap of Big Nose George's skull at his autopsy
  • John J. Hickey (1911–1970), U.S. senator from Wyoming and governor of Wyoming
  • Mike Lansing (born 1968), professional baseball player
  • Russ Leatherman (born 1962), voice of Mr. Moviefone
  • Ember Oakley, prosecutor and member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
  • John Eugene Osborne (1858–1943), third governor of Wyoming, U.S. representative for Wyoming
  • A. J. Rosier (1880–1932), state senator
  • Larry Wilcox (born 1947), co-star of the popular 1970s TV show CHiPs; born in San Diego and raised in Rawlins

References

<!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->

  • City of Rawlins Official Website