Lincoln County, North Carolina

Last updated

Lincoln County
County
Lincoln County Courthouse (Lincolnton, North Carolina).jpg
Lincoln County Courthouse
Lincoln County Flag.gif
Flag
Lincoln County Seal.png
Seal
Map of North Carolina highlighting Lincoln County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina in United States.svg
North Carolina's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°29′N81°14′W / 35.49°N 81.23°W / 35.49; -81.23
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of North Carolina.svg  North Carolina
Founded1779
Named for Benjamin Lincoln
Seat Lincolnton
Largest communityLincolnton
Area
 • Total
304.87 sq mi (789.6 km2)
 • Land295.85 sq mi (766.2 km2)
 • Water9.02 sq mi (23.4 km2)  2.96%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
86,810
 • Estimate 
(2023)
95,675 Increase2.svg
 • Density280/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 10th
Website www.lincolncounty.org

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,810, [1] making it the most populous "Lincoln County" in the United States. Its county seat is Lincolnton. [2] Lincoln County is included in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

The county was formed in 1779 from the eastern part of Tryon County, which had been settled by Europeans in the mid-18th Century. It was named for Benjamin Lincoln, a general in the American Revolutionary War." [3] During the American Revolution, the Battle of Ramsour's Mill occurred near a grist mill in Lincolnton.

In 1782 the southeastern part of Burke County was annexed to Lincoln County. In 1841, parts of Lincoln County and Rutherford County were combined to form Cleveland County. In 1842, the northern third of Lincoln County became Catawba County. In 1846, the southern half of what was left of Lincoln County became Gaston County. [3] [4]

Geography

Lincoln County, North Carolina
Interactive map of Lincoln County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 304.87 square miles (789.6 km2), of which 295.85 square miles (766.2 km2) is land and 9.02 square miles (23.4 km2) (2.96%) is water. [5]

State and local protected areas

Major water bodies

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Major infrastructure

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 9,246—
1800 12,66036.9%
1810 16,35929.2%
1820 18,14710.9%
1830 22,45523.7%
1840 25,16012.0%
1850 7,746−69.2%
1860 8,1955.8%
1870 9,57316.8%
1880 11,06115.5%
1890 12,58613.8%
1900 15,49823.1%
1910 17,13210.5%
1920 17,8624.3%
1930 22,87228.0%
1940 24,1875.7%
1950 27,45913.5%
1960 28,8144.9%
1970 32,68213.4%
1980 42,37229.6%
1990 50,31918.8%
2000 63,78026.8%
2010 78,26522.7%
2020 86,81010.9%
2023 (est.)95,675 [1] 10.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11]
1990–2000 [12] 2010 [13] 2020 [1]

2020 census

Lincoln County racial composition [14]
RaceNumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)71,66182.55%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)4,4055.07%
Native American 2370.27%
Asian 6920.8%
Pacific Islander 150.02%
Other/Mixed 3,3883.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6,4127.39%

As of the 2020 census, there were 86,810 people, 34,418 households, and 24,445 families residing in the county. [1]

2010 census

At the 2010 census, [15] there were 78,265 people, 30,343 households, and 22,221 families residing in the county. The population density was 261.76 people per square mile (101.07 people/km2). There were 33,641 housing units at an average density of 112.51 units per square mile (43.44 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.4% White, 5.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 6.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,343 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,456, and the median income for a family was $48,298. Males had a median income of $41,441 versus $30,480 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,861. About 10.4% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, as well as 25.3% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Law, Government and politics

Lincoln County is heavily Republican and the last Democratic presidential candidate to win it was Jimmy Carter in 1976, who won it by 58.37%.

United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, North Carolina [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 40,18372.29%14,84226.70%5571.00%
2020 36,34172.37%13,27426.43%6021.20%
2016 28,80671.97%9,89724.73%1,3203.30%
2012 25,26768.71%11,02429.98%4841.32%
2008 23,63166.01%11,71332.72%4541.27%
2004 20,05267.79%9,43431.89%930.31%
2000 15,95165.03%8,41234.29%1660.68%
1996 11,43954.86%7,72137.03%1,6908.11%
1992 11,01849.29%8,15036.46%3,18714.26%
1988 11,65164.26%6,44435.54%350.19%
1984 12,62167.64%5,99632.13%420.23%
1980 9,00952.39%7,79645.34%3912.27%
1976 6,68241.22%9,46258.37%660.41%
1972 8,59761.88%5,10036.71%1951.40%
1968 6,18846.20%4,04430.19%3,16123.60%
1964 5,86944.55%7,30455.45%00.00%
1960 6,81650.32%6,72849.68%00.00%
1956 6,63753.20%5,83846.80%00.00%
1952 6,22853.61%5,38946.39%00.00%
1948 3,63543.49%3,57042.71%1,15313.80%
1944 3,67846.88%4,16853.12%00.00%
1940 3,09938.74%4,90161.26%00.00%
1936 3,50138.83%5,51561.17%00.00%
1932 3,56344.56%4,39955.02%340.43%
1928 3,93057.43%2,91342.57%00.00%
1924 2,65847.39%2,90951.86%420.75%
1920 3,13748.50%3,33151.50%00.00%
1916 1,36947.22%1,52152.47%90.31%
1912 492.03%1,28053.11%1,08144.85%

County, State, and Federal Representatives

Every countywide office is held by a Republican, and the only Democratic official that holds office in the county is Lincolnton Mayor Ed Hatley, who has been the city's mayor since 2015.

In 2018, former Lincolnton city council member Mary Frances White became the first African American elected official in the county's history. [17] She served one term on the city council for ward one, and ran for re-election in 2022, but lost to Kevin Demeny by 334 votes. [18]

Lincoln County is a member of the regional Centralina Council of Governments. [19]

County Board of Commissioners [20]

CommissionerPartyLast ElectedTerm Expires
Jamie Lineberger (Chairperson) Republican 2022December 2026
Bud Cesena (Vice-chairperson) Republican 2022December 2026
Mark Mullen Republican 2024December 2028
Trent Carpenter Republican 2024December 2028
Alex Patton Republican 2024December 2028
Jennifer Farmer (Clerk to the Board)

Commissioners serve four-year terms.

Water and Soil Conservation [21]

SeatSupervisorMost Recent StatusElected or AppointedCalculated Term
1Tommy HouserActiveAppointedDecember 1, 2022 to November 30, 2026
2George SainActiveElectedDecember 1, 2024 to November 30, 2028
3Leonard KeeverActiveElectedDecember 1, 2022 to November 30, 2026
4Sean NesbitActiveElectedDecember 1, 2022 to November 30, 2026
5Patty DellingerActiveAppointedDecember 1 2024 to November 30, 2028

The Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation is a subdivision of State Government and works to promote conservation of our natural resources in Lincoln County. Originally Lincoln County was part of the Lower Catawba District which also included Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. The Lower Catawba District was organized on April 25, 1940. Lincoln County became a single county district on January 9, 1964. The governing body of a soil and water conservation district shall consist of the three elective supervisors from the county or counties in the district, together with the appointive members appointed by the Soil and Water Conservation Commission pursuant to this section, and shall be known as the district board of supervisors.  Members serve a four year term, no term limits and includes: 3 Elected and 2 Appointed by the State Commission. They meet every Tuesday of the month at 5:00pm.

This is the only elected office in the county that is non-partisan.

Superior Court [22] [23]

SeatJudgePartyLast ElectedTerm expires
1Sally Kirby-Turner Republican 2024December 2032
2W. Todd Pomeroy Republican 2024December 2032

Lincoln County is in the 39th Superior Court District. It consists of both Lincoln and Cleveland County. [24]

Judges are elected, and serve eight year terms. [25]

District Court [26]

SeatJudgePartyLast ElectedTerm expires
Seat 1 [27] Micah J. Sanderson Republican 20222026
Seat 2Brittany Waters Padgett Republican 20242028
Seat 3Jeanette R. Reeves Republican 20242028
Seat 4J. Brad Champion Republican 20242028
Seat 5Jamie Hodges Republican 20242028
Seat 6Justin K. Brackett Republican 20242028

District Court Judges are elected, and serve four year terms. [28]

District Attorney [29]

AttorneyPartyLast ElectedTerm expires
Mike Miller Republican 2022December 2026

The District Attorney is elected, and serve four year terms.

Sheriff and Courthouse [30]

OfficeOfficial HolderPartyLast ElectedTerm expires
Sheriff [31] Bill Beam Republican 2022December 2026
Clerk of Court [32] Fred Hatley Republican 2022December 2026
Register of Deeds [33] Danny R. Hester Republican 2022December 2026

These officials are elected and serve four year terms.

Board of Education [34]

District [35]


MemberPartyLast ElectedTerm expires
District at-largeTony A. Jenkins Republican 20222026
District at-largeErin A. Long Republican 20242028
District 1Brandi A. Wyant Republican 20242028
District 2Fred E. Jarrett, Jr. Republican 20222026
District 3Christina H. Sutton (Chairperson) Republican 20242028
District 4Kevin H. Sanders Republican 20242028
District 5Krista S. Heavner (Vice- Chairperson) Republican 20222026

There are seven members, two of which become chair, and vice-chair of the board. There are five individual districts, and two at-large districts, but all seven board members are elected countywide with four-year terms.

On August 5, 2021, The North Carolina General Assembly ratified House Bill 244 / SL 2021-99 which went into effect in the beginning of 2022, changing the election method for the Lincoln County Board of Education from non-partisan to partisan. [36]

General Assembly [37] [38]

Lincoln County is currently represented by the 97th House District, and 44th Senate District in the North Carolina General Assembly. [39]

North Carolina House of Representatives [40]

DistrictRepresentativePartyLast ElectedNext Election
North Carolina's 97th House district Heather Rhyne [41] Republican 20242026

North Carolina's 97th House district is entirely limited to Lincoln County and has been since 2003. The district overlaps with the 44th state senate district.

Current representative Heather Rhyne has represented the district since 2024. She is a former member and chairperson of the Lincoln County Board of Education. In 2024, She was selected by the Lincoln County GOP Executive Committee to fill out the remainder of former State House Rep. Jason Saine’s unexpired term. Saine who's served the single county house district since 2011 decided to resign on July 15, 2024, after the North Carolina General Assembly was unable to pass a budget update for the 2024 session despite the GOP having the supermajority at the time. [42] In November 2024, Rhyne ran unopposed and easily won her first election in the district with 43,332 votes. [43]

North Carolina Senate [44]

DistrictState SenatorPartyLast ElectedNext Election
North Carolina's 44th Senate district Ted Alexander [45] Republican 2024November 3, 2026

North Carolina's 44th Senate district has covered all of Lincoln, and Cleveland counties, along with northwest Gaston county since 2019. The district overlaps with the 97th, 110th, and 111th state house districts.

Current representative Ted Alexander has represented the district since 2019. Alexander previously served two terms as mayor of Shelby, North Carolina as well as chair of the Cleveland County Republican Party. [46] [47] He won his first election in November 2018 with 68.5% of the vote against Democratic opponent David Lattimore who received 31.15% of the vote. [48] Alexander won his most recent election in 2024 with 72.50% of the vote against Democratic opponent Henry Herzberg who received 27.50% of the vote. [49]

United States Congress [50]

United States House of Representatives [51]

Congressional District Representative PartyIncumbent sinceNext Election
North Carolina's 10th congressional district [52] Pat Harrigan [53] Republican January 3, 2025November 3, 2026

All of Lincoln County is represented in congress by the 10th congressional district.

United States Senate [54]

Senator PartyIncumbent sinceNext Election
Thom Tillis [55] Republican January 3, 2015November 3, 2026
Ted Budd [56] Republican January 3, 2023November 7, 2028

Controversy

In February 2020, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department received media attention when surveillance video was released showing first a pair of Atrium Health security guards assaulting a sixteen-year-old boy brought to the hospital's emergency room. When another pair of sheriff's deputies arrived, video shows one of the deputies hitting the boy, now handcuffed, in the face twice as the boy spit blood pooling in his mouth after being tackled from behind by security guards. The deputy then aggressively approached the mother, yelling at her before being pulled to the ground by a second deputy, In an interview with WBTV, Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam defended his deputies saying they did nothing wrong, denying that the officer struck the boy or that the officer was physically restrained by two additional sheriff's deputies. [57] The boy was arrested and charged with felony assault on a police officer. [58]

Education

Post-secondary education

Lincoln County Schools

High schools

Middle school

  • Asbury Academy
  • East Lincoln
  • Lincolnton
  • North Lincoln
  • West Lincoln

Intermediate schools

  • Pumpkin Center Intermediate School

Elementary schools

  • Asbury
  • Battleground
  • Catawba Springs
  • G. E. Massey
  • Iron Station
  • Love Memorial
  • Norris S. Childers
  • North Brook
  • Pumpkin Center Primary
  • Rock Springs
  • S. Ray Lowder
  • St. James
  • Union

Charter schools

  • Lincoln Charter School

Communities

Map of Lincoln County with municipal and township labels Map of Lincoln County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG
Map of Lincoln County with municipal and township labels

City

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "QuickFacts: Lincoln County, North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "County of Lincoln, NC - Official Website - History Corner". www.co.lincoln.nc.us. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Lincoln County | NCpedia". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. August 23, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Parks and Recreation | County of Lincoln, NC - Official Website". www.lincolncounty.org. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Lincoln County North Carolina Streams". northcarolina.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Airport (IPJ) | County of Lincoln, NC - Official Website". www.lincolncounty.org. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Anthony, Jaclyn (December 5, 2018). "Mary Frances White makes history as city's first elected African-American". Lincoln Times News. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Lincolnton City Council Election 2022".
  19. ↑ "Centralina Council of Governments" . Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Lincoln County Board of Commissioners".
  21. ↑ "Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation - District Board of Supervisors".
  22. ↑ "North Carolina 2024 Election Results, Lincoln County, Judical, Superior Court Judges".
  23. ↑ "North Carolina Superior Court District 39".
  24. ↑ "North Carolina Superior Court District Map" (PDF).
  25. ↑ "North Carolina Superior Justices' Terms".
  26. ↑ "North Carolina 2024 Election Results, Lincoln County, Judical Seats 2-6".
  27. ↑ "North Carolina 2022 Election Results, Lincoln County, Judical Seat 1".
  28. ↑ "North Carolina District Court Terms".
  29. ↑ "Cleveland & Lincoln County Prosecutorial District 39".
  30. ↑ "The Official Lincoln County Government Page".
  31. ↑ "Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Official Webpage".
  32. ↑ "Lincoln County Courthouse/Clerk of Court webpage".
  33. ↑ "Lincoln County Register of Deeds".
  34. ↑ Lincoln County Board of Education
  35. ↑ "Lincoln County GIS Website with Board District Map".
  36. ↑ Lincoln County Board of Education Election Method Change, House Bill 244 / SL 2021-99 (PDF)
  37. ↑ "North Carolina General Assembly webpage".
  38. ↑ "North Carolina General Assembly: State House and State Senate Districts for Lincoln County".
  39. ↑ "General Assembly Representation for Lincoln County".
  40. ↑ "North Carolina House of Representatives webpage".
  41. ↑ "North Carolina House District 97 Representative Heather Rhyne".
  42. ↑ "North Carolina legislators consider vetoes, constitution changes as work session winds down".
  43. ↑ "2024 North Carolina House District 97 Election Results".
  44. ↑ "North Carolina Senate Webpage".
  45. ↑ "North Carolina State Senate District 44, Senator Ted Alexander".
  46. ↑ "Former mayor Ted Alexander wins new Senate seat". Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Ted Alexander sworn in as state senator". Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  48. ↑ "2018 North Carolina Senate District 44 Election Results".
  49. ↑ "North Carolina 2024 North Carolina Senate District 44 Election Results".
  50. ↑ "US Congress webpage".
  51. ↑ "US House of Representatives webpage".
  52. ↑ "North Carolina 10th Congressional District page from Congress".
  53. ↑ "Official Page of Representative Pat Harrigan".
  54. ↑ "US Senate webpage".
  55. ↑ "Thom Tillis' Official page".
  56. ↑ "Ted Budd's Official Page".
  57. ↑ "FULL INTERVIEW: Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam on teen assaulted outside ER". WBTV. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  58. ↑ Ochsner, Nick. "Video shows teen assaulted by Atrium security, Lincoln Co. sheriff's deputy outside ER". WBTV. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  59. ↑ College, Gaston. "Associate Degree Programs | Community College". Gaston College. Retrieved May 27, 2022.

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