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Office: Carbon County Emergency Management – 415 West Pine Street, PO Box 6, Rawlins, WY 82301 | (307) 328-2680 | Cell: (307) 321-1514 | Coordinator: Lenny Layman
Services: Coordinates disaster preparedness, response, and recovery countywide
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-80 and the Union Pacific Railroad mainline run through Rawlins, the county seat, at 6,834 ft elevation
Transit: No dedicated fixed-route county transit identified; confirm current regional options directly with the county
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Carbon County Planning and Development – 215 West Buffalo Street, Rawlins, WY 82301 | (307) 328-2651
Services: Building permit review for compliance with county zoning and subdivision standards; septic/wastewater questions go to Wyoming DEQ, (307) 777-6183; water well questions go to the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, (307) 777-6687
Notes: City of Rawlins runs its own SEPARATE building permit program for all construction within city limits – (307) 328-4500. Properties immediately outside city limits fall under Carbon County Planning and Zoning jurisdiction; the Town of Saratoga also maintains its own separate zoning office, (307) 326-5026.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
County VSO: Carbon County Veterans Service Office – Rawlins, WY
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Carbon County Library System – Rawlins branch | Hours: Tue–Fri 10 AM–7 PM (closed Mon, Sat, Sun)
Services: Offers free print/copy/fax services, free public notary (by appointment), and free test proctoring (by appointment)
Related: Additional Carbon County Library System branches serve Saratoga, Hanna, Baggs, and Encampment
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Carbon County’s Rawlins is home to one of the most significant and directly InmateAid-relevant historic sites in the entire American West – the WYOMING FRONTIER PRISON, Wyoming’s actual first state penitentiary, which opened in December 1901 (construction began in 1888 but was delayed 13 years by funding shortfalls and harsh weather) with 104 original cells, no electricity, no running water, and inadequate heating; over its 80-year operational history, approximately 13,500 people were incarcerated here, including 11 women (housed until 1909, after which female prisoners were sent to Colorado); the prison held Wyoming’s death house, where 14 death sentences were carried out by hanging and gas chamber; the facility closed in 1981 when prisoners were transferred to the current, still-operating Wyoming State Penitentiary (2900 S Higley Blvd, Rawlins – a Level IV/V maximum-security facility with 750-inmate capacity, which also houses Wyoming’s death row and execution chamber, though no executions have occurred since 1992); the historic Frontier Prison, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Wyoming State Penitentiary District (1983), is now operated as a museum by the nonprofit Friends of the Old Pen, offering hour-long guided tours through the cell blocks, cafeteria, grounds, and Death House, drawing roughly 15,000 visitors annually; summer tours run every half-hour, 9:30 AM–4:30 PM, Memorial Day through Labor Day
Notes: The Wyoming Frontier Prison’s genuine, well-documented status as Wyoming’s original state penitentiary – alongside the still-operating current facility a few miles away – makes Carbon County an extraordinarily InmateAid-relevant county with deep historic and current correctional significance.
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Carbon County GIS – accessible via carboncountywy.gov
Parcel Search: Carbon County Assessor
Addressing/911: Coordinated through Carbon County Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Rawlins-Rochelle Animal Shelter – 2711 E Murray, Rawlins, WY 82301 | (307) 328-4534 | Hours: Mon–Fri 3–5:30 PM, or by appointment
Services: A genuinely no-kill shelter (nationally recognized status maintained for 7+ years as of recent reporting), operated by Rawlins Animal Control (7 days a week for intake/care) with 100% volunteer/donation support through the nonprofit Pet Partners of Carbon County; impounded animals held 5 days before becoming city property and eligible for adoption; owners reclaiming pets must pay all outstanding fees
Notes: Volunteer applications available at the shelter or Rawlins Police Department.
Notes: Contact Carbon County or the City of Rawlins directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details.
NOTES
Carbon County’s Rawlins holds an extraordinarily rich and directly relevant correctional history – Wyoming’s original 1901 state penitentiary, now a museum, sits just a few miles from the still-operating current Wyoming State Penitentiary. All contact information above was sourced from official county, city, library, and shelter pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Carbon County County
Carbon County is Wyoming’s Sierra Madre and North Platte River county – the ghost of copper mining boom in the mountains and Saratoga’s free riverside hot springs define a vast, thinly populated county where Rawlins serves as the I-80 hub and the surrounding ranchland, mountains, and rivers provide the outdoor recreation character that draws visitors to southern Wyoming.
Rawlins (the county seat, population ~8,800) is Carbon County’s governmental hub on I-80, a southern Wyoming plains city whose I-80 position, Wyoming State Penitentiary history, and Carbon County Museum anchor its community identity.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Carbon County Assessor at 215 W. Buffalo Street, Rawlins, WY 82301, phone 307-328-2638. WY assessed at 9.5% of market value.
Courts & Legal
Carbon County District Court at 415 W. Buffalo Street, Rawlins, WY 82301, phone 307-328-2658, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
COUNTY CLERK
415 W Pine St, Rawlins, WY 82301
(307) 328-2668
CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT
415 W Pine St, Rawlins, WY 82301
(307) 328-2626
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Carbon County Clerk of District Court, Rawlins (probate case files – see Probate section above); Carbon County Clerk’s Office (separate office) for recorded deeds, small-estate affidavits, and summary distribution decrees.
Local societies
No dedicated Carbon County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Carbon County Clerk of District Court (Second Judicial District) PO Box 67, Rawlins, WY 82301 (307) 328-2628
Carbon County is in South Central Wyoming along Interstate 80, county seat Rawlins. Wyoming has NOT adopted the Uniform Probate Code – it runs its own probate framework under Title 2 of the Wyoming Statutes (“the Wyoming Probate Code”). Probate is filed with the DISTRICT COURT for the county where the decedent lived, administered day-to-day by that county’s Clerk of District Court. Note that Wyoming counties have TWO separate elected clerk offices relevant here: the Clerk of District Court (handles probate case filings) and the County Clerk (a separate office that records deeds, small-estate affidavits, and summary distribution decrees).
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Wyoming Statutes Title 2 governs probate.
Small Estate Affidavit (Wyo. Stat. §2-1-201) – available when the decedent’s entire estate, including personal property (and, per a 2025 update, mineral interests), does not exceed $400,000 (increased from $200,000 effective July 1, 2025, via 2025 Enrolled Act 85/SF0104), less liens and encumbrances. This estate must consist ONLY of personal property (no real estate) for the pure affidavit-to-County-Clerk route. Available 30 days after death; skips court entirely – filed with the County Clerk, who issues a certified copy the claimant presents to banks or other asset holders.
Summary Distribution (Wyo. Stat. §2-1-205) – for small estates up to $400,000 that DO include real property. Requires filing an Application for Decree of Summary Distribution with the District Court (not just the County Clerk); requires 2 consecutive weeks of published notice; the court issues a decree that gets recorded with the County Clerk to clear title.
Full Probate Administration – required for estates exceeding $400,000 or otherwise not eligible for the small-estate or summary paths. File a Petition for Probate with the Carbon County District Court.
Step 2: filing for administration
File a Petition for Probate with the Carbon County District Court.
Notice must be published for 3 consecutive weeks (Wyo. Stat. §2-7-201).
Once a personal representative is appointed, creditors have 3 months from the date of first publication to file claims (Wyo. Stat. §2-7-703).
The personal representative pays valid debts and expenses, then distributes remaining assets to heirs/beneficiaries.
Close the estate with a final accounting to the District Court.
Wyoming courts are increasingly moving toward e-filing; check with the Clerk of District Court for current e-filing requirements for pro se (self-represented) filers.
Wyoming does NOT have a statutory percentage fee schedule for personal representatives or attorneys – unlike many states. Fees must be “reasonable” and are subject to court approval (Wyo. Stat. §§2-7-803, 2-7-804).
A bond may be required (Wyo. Stat. §§2-3-102, 2-3-111) unless waived by the will or all beneficiaries.
Wyoming does NOT impose a state estate tax, inheritance tax, or state income tax – one of the most tax-friendly states in the country for estate administration. Only the federal estate tax may apply, with a $15,000,000 per-person exemption for 2026.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
415 W Pine St, Rawlins, WY 82301
(307) 328-2668
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
ELECTIONS
(307) 328-2668
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Public Health
Carbon County Public Health, 225 W Buffalo St, Rawlins, WY 82301
(307) 328-2634
DFS Office
Carbon County DFS Office, 225 W Buffalo St, Rawlins, WY 82301
(307) 328-2325
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Carbon County Public Health – Rawlins, WY
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records; also oversees the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter listing
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Rawlins
Population: 15,000
Public Records
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