Atwood, the county seat of Rawlins county, is an incorporated city of the third class, with a population of 680 in 1910, a gain of 194 during the preceding ten years. It was laid out in April, 1879, by T. A. Andrews and J. M. Matheny in section 4, town 3, range 33, but this proving to be school land, the town was moved the following spring to its present site on Beaver creek in Atwood township, near the center of the county. After a contest (see Rawlins County) Atwood was made the permanent county seat in July, 1881. It has two banks, three weekly newspapers, several good mercantile establishments, graded public schools and a high school, telegraph and express offices, an international money order postoffice with two free rural delivery routes, telephone connection with the surrounding towns, a hotel, and some small manufacturing enterprises. Atwood is located on the division of the Chicago, Burlington & Qnincy R. R. that runs from Orleans, Neb., to St. Francis, Kan., and is an important shipping point. The leading religions denominations are the Baptists, Christians, Catholics, Congregationalists, Dunkards and Methodists, all of whom have neat houses of worship. A daily stage line runs from Atwood to Colby, the county seat of Thomas county, about 30 miles to the south.