Lakin, the judicial seat of Kearny county, is located south of the central part of the county on the Arkansas river and on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. It has 2 banks, with a combined capital of $20,000 and $160,000 deposits, a newspaper (the Kearny County Advocate), telegraph and express offices, and an international money order postoffice with one rural route. The population in 1910 was 337. Lakin was founded in the '70s but did not attain much of a growth until 1885. At that time it experienced a boom. A newspaper was started that year and the population increased very rapidly for a time. It was made the temporary county seat in 1888. Two years later the county records were removed to Hartland, but were brought back in 1894.