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Lincoln County, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 45°20′N 89°44′W / 45.33°N 89.73°W / 45.33; -89.73
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Lincoln County
Lincoln County Courthouse
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Lincoln County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°20′N 89°44′W / 45.33°N 89.73°W / 45.33; -89.73
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1875
Named forAbraham Lincoln
SeatMerrill
Largest cityMerrill
Area
 • Total
907 sq mi (2,350 km2)
 • Land879 sq mi (2,280 km2)
 • Water28 sq mi (70 km2)  3.1%
Population
 • Total
28,415
 • Estimate 
(2023)
28,405 Decrease
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.lincoln.wi.us

Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,415.[1] Its county seat is Merrill.[2] The county was created in 1875[3] and named after President Abraham Lincoln.[4] Lincoln County comprises the Merrill, WI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Wausau-Stevens Point-Wisconsin Rapids, WI Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 907 square miles (2,350 km2), of which 879 square miles (2,280 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (3.1%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Airports

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18802,011
189012,008497.1%
190016,26935.5%
191019,06417.2%
192021,08410.6%
193021,072−0.1%
194022,5366.9%
195022,235−1.3%
196022,3380.5%
197023,4995.2%
198026,55513.0%
199026,9931.6%
200029,6419.8%
201028,743−3.0%
202028,415−1.1%
2023 (est.)28,4050.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[1]

2020 census

As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 28,415. The population density was 32.3 people per square mile (12.5 people/km2). There were 16,034 housing units at an average density of 18.2 units per square mile (7.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census

2000 Census age pyramid for Lincoln County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 29,641 people, 11,721 households, and 8,228 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile (13 people/km2). There were 14,681 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.76% White, 0.41% Black or African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.9% were of German, 5.7% Polish and 5.3% Norwegian ancestry. 96.9% spoke English, 1.3% German and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 11,721 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

In 2017, there were 270 births, giving a general fertility rate of 62.6 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 34th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[12]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Lincoln County, Wisconsin[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 10,633 61.79% 6,306 36.64% 270 1.57%
2020 10,017 60.72% 6,261 37.95% 219 1.33%
2016 8,401 57.10% 5,371 36.51% 940 6.39%
2012 7,455 48.99% 7,563 49.70% 198 1.30%
2008 6,519 42.70% 8,424 55.17% 325 2.13%
2004 8,024 51.11% 7,484 47.67% 192 1.22%
2000 6,727 47.24% 6,664 46.80% 848 5.96%
1996 4,076 33.28% 6,166 50.35% 2,004 16.36%
1992 4,321 32.48% 5,297 39.82% 3,686 27.71%
1988 5,257 47.03% 5,819 52.06% 102 0.91%
1984 6,682 55.08% 5,353 44.12% 97 0.80%
1980 6,473 50.75% 5,438 42.63% 844 6.62%
1976 5,672 48.38% 5,800 49.48% 251 2.14%
1972 6,206 57.25% 4,175 38.51% 459 4.23%
1968 4,793 51.37% 3,858 41.35% 679 7.28%
1964 3,894 39.75% 5,883 60.06% 19 0.19%
1960 6,147 60.93% 3,909 38.75% 33 0.33%
1956 6,329 67.74% 2,880 30.83% 134 1.43%
1952 6,877 68.72% 3,092 30.90% 38 0.38%
1948 4,339 54.97% 3,368 42.67% 187 2.37%
1944 5,564 64.71% 2,938 34.17% 96 1.12%
1940 5,812 58.21% 3,951 39.57% 221 2.21%
1936 3,120 33.83% 5,520 59.86% 582 6.31%
1932 2,958 35.76% 5,093 61.57% 221 2.67%
1928 4,025 56.06% 3,091 43.05% 64 0.89%
1924 1,857 26.84% 503 7.27% 4,558 65.89%
1920 3,713 72.11% 838 16.28% 598 11.61%
1916 2,189 60.69% 1,282 35.54% 136 3.77%
1912 712 21.20% 1,760 52.41% 886 26.38%
1908 2,308 53.89% 1,813 42.33% 162 3.78%
1904 2,850 70.39% 1,004 24.80% 195 4.82%
1900 2,147 56.71% 1,552 40.99% 87 2.30%
1896 1,706 47.69% 1,802 50.38% 69 1.93%
1892 997 34.17% 1,443 49.45% 478 16.38%

Between 1964 and 2016, Lincoln County supported the nationwide winner in every election except for 1988. In 2020, Donald Trump received the highest share of the vote for any candidate in the county since 1960 and won by an even bigger margin in 2024, possibly indicating that this bellwether has shifted to the right.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Lincoln County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "Here's How Iron Got Its Name". The Rhinelander Daily News. June 16, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved August 24, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ "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 October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

References

This digital collection contains historic images and texts that document central Wisconsin schools and libraries in Marathon and Lincoln Counties. Text-based materials include: Marchetti, Louis. History of the Public Library Building and Names of Donors, 1909, a record of the proceedings, leading up, and culminating in the erection and completion of the Library Building of the city of Wausau, with names of Donors attached thereto. Compiled and presented to the Library by Louis Marchetti, President of the Library Board from 1904 to 1908.

45°20′N 89°44′W / 45.33°N 89.73°W / 45.33; -89.73