Lincoln County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 5,640. Its county seat is Ivanhoe.
History
During and after the American Civil War, the Minnesota legislature wanted to name a county after President Abraham Lincoln. Acts were proposed to effect this change in 1861, in 1866, and in 1870, but each time the effort failed by vote or was ignored by the county's citizens. The final effort was an act passed on March 6, 1873, dividing Lyon County into approximately equal halves, with the western half to be named Lincoln. The county voters approved this act in the November 1873 election, and Governor Horace Austin proclaimed the county's existence on December 5, 1873, with Lake Benton as county seat. In 1900 a new town closer to the county's center was platted, and in 1902 the county seat was moved to that settlement, Ivanhoe.
Geography
Lincoln County lies on Minnesota's border with South Dakota. The Lac qui Parle River flows northeast through the upper eastern part of the county on its way to discharge into the Minnesota River. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills and is mostly devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point on its lower west border, at 1,991' (607m) ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water.
Lakes
Ash Lake
Curtis Lake
Dead Coon Lake
Drietz Lake
Gislason Lake
Hawks Nest Lake
Lake Benton
Lake Hendricks (part)
Lake Shaokatan
Lake Stay
Oak Lake
Perch Lake
Steep Bank Lake
Twin Lakes
West Lake Stay
Major highways
20px U.S. Highway 14
20px U.S. Highway 75
20px Minnesota State Highway 19
20px Minnesota State Highway 23
20px Minnesota State Highway 68
20px Minnesota State Highway 271
Adjacent counties
Deuel County, South Dakota - northwest
Yellow Medicine County - north
Lyon County - east
Pipestone County - south
Moody County, South Dakota - southwest
Brookings County, South Dakota - west
Protected areas
Altona State Wildlife Management Area (part)
Ash Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Blue Wing State Wildlife Management Area
Bohemian State Wildlife Management Area (part)
Chen-Bay State Wildlife Management Area
Christine State Wildlife Management Area
Collinson State Wildlife Management Area
Dorer State Wildlife Management Area
Emerald State Wildlife Management Area
Expectation State Wildlife Management Area
Hendricks State Wildlife Management Area
Hole in the Mountain County Park
Hope State Wildlife Management Area (part)
Iron Horse State Wildlife Management Area
Ivanhoe State Wildlife Management Area
Johnson State Wildlife Management Area
Kvermo State Wildlife Management Area
Minn-Kota State Wildlife Management Area
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Platyrhynchos State Wildlife Management Area
Poposki State Wildlife Management Area
Prairie Dell State Wildlife Management Area
Shaokatan State Wildlife Management Area
Sioux Lookout State Wildlife Management Area
Sokota State Wildlife Management Area (part)
Suhr State Wildlife Management Area
Two Sloughs State Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 6,429 people, 2,653 households, and 1,785 families in the county. The population density was 12.0/sqmi (4.62/km2). There were 3,043 housing units at an average density of 5.67/sqmi (2.19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.82% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.1% were of German, 25% English, 17.5% Norwegian, 10.9% Polish and 10.5% Danish ancestry.
There were 2,653 households, out of which 27.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 4.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.
The county population contained 23.70% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 23.00% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 24.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,607, and the median income for a family was $38,605. Males had a median income of $26,494 versus $20,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,009. About 7.00% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 15.00% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Arco
Hendricks
Ivanhoe (county seat)
Lake Benton
Tyler
Unincorporated communities
Marshfield
Thompsonburg
Verdi
Wilno
Townships
Alta Vista Township
Ash Lake Township
Diamond Lake Township
Drammen Township
Hansonville Township
Hendricks Township
Hope Township
Lake Benton Township
Lake Stay Township
Limestone Township
Marble Township
Marshfield Township
Royal Township
Shaokatan Township
Verdi Township
Government and politics
Lincoln County has been a swing district in recent decades. Up to 2016 it has selected the Democratic candidate in 56% of presidential elections since 1980. Like most white, rural counties in America, however, the GOP has made dramatic and powerful advances in this county in the Donald Trump era, with 68% of county voters choosing the losing candidate in the 2020 presidential election.
