North Carolina

Lincoln

86,810
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Lincoln

Lincoln, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 9,224. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 86,810.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Graham's Fort, Battle of Ramsour's Mill Jun 20 1780, Battle of Ramsour's Mill, and 34 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202086,810
201078,265
200063,780
199050,319
198042,372
197032,682
196028,814
195027,459
194024,187
193022,872
192017,862
191017,132
190015,498
189012,586
188011,061
18709,573
18608,195
18507,746
184025,160
183022,455
182018,147
181016,359
180012,660
17909,224
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Lincoln

Military engagements that took place in Lincoln, North Carolina.

Battle of Graham's Fort
1780
Battle of Ramsour's Mill Jun 20 1780
1780
Battle of Ramsour's Mill
1780
Battle of McCowan's Ford
1781
Action at Cowan's Ford
1781
Battle of Cowan's Ford
1781
Skirmish at McCowan's Ford
1781
Skirmish at Beattie's Ford
1781

Historic places in Lincoln

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln, North Carolina.

First Presbyterian Church
Lincolnton
Ingleside
Iron Station
Tucker's Grove Camp Meeting Ground
Machpelah
Emanuel United Church of Christ
Lincolnton
Caldwell-Cobb-Love House
Lincolnton
Woodside
Lincolnton
Vesuvius Furnace
Catawba Springs
Lincoln County Courthouse
Lincolnton
Graham, William A., Jr., Farm
Kidville
West Main Street Historic District
Lincolnton
South Aspen Street Historic District
Lincolnton
Reinhardt-Craig House, Kiln and Pottery Shop
Vale
Laboratory Historic District
Laboratory
Lincolnton Recreation Department Youth Center
Lincolnton
Methodist Church Cemetery
Lincolnton
Lincolnton Commercial Historic District
Lincolnton
Eureka Manufacturing Company Cotton Mill
Lincolnton
St. Luke's Church and Cemetery
Lincolnton
First Baptist Church
Lincolnton
Old White Church Cemetery
Lincolnton
Salem Union Church and Cemetery
Maiden
Madison-Derr Iron Furnace
Pumpkin Center
Pleasant Retreat Academy
Lincolnton
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

HaywoodHendersonHertfordHokeHydeIredellJacksonJohnstonJonesLeeLenoirMaconMadisonMartinMcDowellMecklenburgMitchellMontgomeryMooreNash
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Everything a full report reveals about Lincoln County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Lincoln County, North Carolina. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Explore North Carolina records

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Frequently asked about Lincoln

When does Lincoln first appear in the US census?
Lincoln, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 9,224.
What is the population of Lincoln?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lincoln had a recorded population of 86,810.
Were any battles fought in Lincoln?
8 documented military engagements took place in Lincoln, including Battle of Graham's Fort, Battle of Ramsour's Mill Jun 20 1780, Battle of Ramsour's Mill.
How many historic places are in Lincoln?
34 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lincoln, North Carolina.
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