Rawlins, city, seat of Carbon County, southern Wyoming. Situated at an altitude of about 2060 m (about 6760 ft), it is a railroad, ranching, and mining center. Coal, uranium, petroleum, natural gas, and jade are in the vicinity. A state penitentiary (1898), open from 1901-81, is a historical attraction. Rawlins was founded in 1868 when the railroad was constructed through here. It is named for the Union general John Rawlins, who discovered a spring here in 1867. Population 11,547 (1980); 9,380 (1990); 8,538 (2000).
