Lincoln County, Georgia

Lincoln County
County
Lincoln County Courthouse in Lincolnton
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°47′N82°27′W / 33.79°N 82.45°W / 33.79; -82.45
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Founded	February 20, 1796;228 years ago (1796-02-20)
Named for	Benjamin Lincoln
Seat	Lincolnton
Largest city	Lincolnton
Area
• Total	257 sq mi (670 km2)
• Land	210 sq mi (500 km2)
• Water	47 sq mi (120 km2)  18.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,690
• Estimate  (2023)	7,879
• Density	30/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	10th
Website	www.lincolncountyga.com

Lincoln County is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,690. ^[1] The county seat is Lincolnton. ^[2] The county was created on February 20, 1796. Lincoln County is included in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area, the Savannah River forming its northeastern border. Located above the fall line, it is part of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and a member of the CSRA Regional Development Center.

History

On February 20, 1796, Lincoln County was established as the twenty-fourth county in the state of Georgia. Before then, its territory was part of Wilkes County, now on its western side. The new county was named after General Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810), a Revolutionary War hero notable for receiving Gen. Cornwallis's sword at Yorktown, Virginia.

On January 22, 1852, the legislature changed the location of the line between Wilkes County and Lincoln County, although there is no extant record as to why the legislature made the change.^{[ citation needed ]}

From before the American Revolutionary War until the 1950s, Lincoln County was primarily a farming and agricultural area. The development and creation of Clarks Hill Dam created a large reservoir that covered portions of Lincoln and nearby counties. Developers have created many residential neighborhoods and subdivisions in areas near the lake.^{[ citation needed ]}

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 257 square miles (670 km²), of which 210 square miles (540 km²) is land and 47 square miles (120 km²) (18.2%) is water. ^[3] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state just above the fall line of the eastern United States.

The bulk of Lincoln County, from just south of Lincolnton heading north, is located in the Upper Savannah River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin, with the exception of a tiny sliver of the northernmost section of the county, which is located in the Broad River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. The southern portion of the county is located in the Little River sub-basin of the same Savannah River basin. ^[4]

Major highways

• U.S. Route 378
• State Route 43
• State Route 43 Connector
• State Route 44
• State Route 47
• State Route 79
• State Route 220

Adjacent counties

• Elbert County, Georgia - north
• McCormick County, South Carolina - northeast
• Columbia County, Georgia - south
• McDuffie County, Georgia - southwest
• Wilkes County, Georgia - west

Communities

City

• Lincolnton

Unincorporated community

• Chennault

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	4,766		—
1810	4,555		−4.4%
1820	6,458		41.8%
1830	6,145		−4.8%
1840	5,895		−4.1%
1850	5,998		1.7%
1860	5,466		−8.9%
1870	5,413		−1.0%
1880	6,412		18.5%
1890	6,146		−4.1%
1900	7,156		16.4%
1910	8,714		21.8%
1920	9,739		11.8%
1930	7,847		−19.4%
1940	7,042		−10.3%
1950	6,462		−8.2%
1960	5,906		−8.6%
1970	5,895		−0.2%
1980	6,716		13.9%
1990	7,442		10.8%
2000	8,348		12.2%
2010	7,996		−4.2%
2020	7,690		−3.8%
2023 (est.)	7,879	[5]	2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790-1880 [7] 1890-1910 [8] 1920-1930 [9] 1930-1940 [10] 1940-1950 [11] 1960-1980 [12] 1980-2000 [13] 2010 [14]

Lincoln County racial composition ^[15]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White	5,196	67.57%
Black or African American	2,116	27.52%
Native American	18	0.23%
Asian	20	0.26%
Pacific Islander	3	0.04%
Other/Mixed	245	3.19%
Hispanic or Latino	92	1.2%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,690 people, 3,475 households, and 2,142 families residing in the county.

Recreation and historical sites

Since the creation of Clarks Hill Lake, recreation has contributed to Lincoln County's growth. It is a main destination for tourists, providing fishing, boating, and other water sports opportunities for visitors and nearby residents.

Toward the eastern part of Lincoln County, just before the South Carolina line, is Elijah Clarke State Park. This park is roughly 447 acres (1.81 km²). In May of every year, Elijah Clarke holds a bluegrass festival which has become a major attraction in the last 20 years. Several well-known bluegrass musicians play at this event each year, including Lincoln County natives, The Lewis Family. Also held annually at Elijah Clarke is an Arts and Crafts Festival and a Log Cabin Christmas.

There are many historic places to visit in Lincoln County. They include:

• Lamar-Blanchard House, Lincolnton, which is on the National Register of Historic Places
• The Lincoln County Historical Park
• Graves Mountain

Economy

Economic growth has been associated with development of the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Clarks Hill Lake. In Lincoln County, logging is a multimillion-dollar industry. More than 20 logging businesses produce most of the jobs for Lincoln County residents. The county is also home to Back Paddle Brewing, a veteran owned craft brewery.

Notable people

• Garrison Hearst- Former NFL player, pro bowler, comeback player in 1995 and 2001
• Barney Bussey - Former NFL player, played for the Cincinnati Bengals and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• The Lewis Family - family bluegrass and gospel band, in 1992 they were inducted into Georgia Music Hall of Fame
• Tom Nash - NFL player for the Green Bay Packers and Brooklyn Dodgers

Politics

United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, Georgia ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,173	68.37%	1,432	30.86%	36	0.78%
2016	2,759	67.26%	1,273	31.03%	70	1.71%
2012	2,807	63.36%	1,586	35.80%	37	0.84%
2008	2,731	61.73%	1,650	37.30%	43	0.97%
2004	2,309	63.12%	1,337	36.55%	12	0.33%
2000	1,807	58.23%	1,275	41.09%	21	0.68%
1996	1,391	47.33%	1,334	45.39%	214	7.28%
1992	1,149	38.84%	1,327	44.86%	482	16.29%
1988	1,417	60.97%	893	38.43%	14	0.60%
1984	1,357	54.89%	1,115	45.11%	0	0.00%
1980	806	33.03%	1,617	66.27%	17	0.70%
1976	576	26.68%	1,583	73.32%	0	0.00%
1972	1,246	78.56%	340	21.44%	0	0.00%
1968	408	18.64%	491	22.43%	1,290	58.93%
1964	943	72.76%	353	27.24%	0	0.00%
1960	197	22.75%	669	77.25%	0	0.00%
1956	155	18.21%	696	81.79%	0	0.00%
1952	327	33.68%	644	66.32%	0	0.00%
1948	32	4.39%	99	13.58%	598	82.03%
1944	165	27.09%	444	72.91%	0	0.00%
1940	67	12.45%	466	86.62%	5	0.93%
1936	88	13.21%	561	84.23%	17	2.55%
1932	3	0.45%	660	99.40%	1	0.15%
1928	413	48.14%	445	51.86%	0	0.00%
1924	121	9.57%	847	67.01%	296	23.42%
1920	3	0.59%	509	99.41%	0	0.00%
1916	56	14.21%	333	84.52%	5	1.27%
1912	27	9.28%	264	90.72%	0	0.00%

See also

• State of Georgia portal

• Central Savannah River Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Georgia
• List of counties in Georgia

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Lincoln County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 27, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
5. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
6. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
7. "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
8. "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
9. "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
10. "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
11. "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
12. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
13. "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
14. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

Further reading

• Perryman, Clinton J. History of Lincoln County, Georgia, Tignall, GA: 1985

External links

• "Lincoln County Red Devils"
• "Biography", The Lewis Family Singers Website
• Jeff & Sheri Easter
• Lincoln County Georgia Government
• Georgia Historic Commission Markers in Lincoln County

33°47′N82°27′W / 33.79°N 82.45°W / 33.79; -82.45