Lincoln County, Georgia

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.

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 257 sqmi, of which 210 sqmi is land and 47 sqmi (18.2%) is water. 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.

Major highways

• [[File:US 378.svg|24px]] U.S. Route 378
• [[File:Georgia 43.svg|20px]] State Route 43
  • [[File:Georgia 43 Connector.svg|20px]] State Route 43 Connector
• [[File:Georgia 44.svg|20px]] State Route 44
• [[File:Georgia 47.svg|20px]] State Route 47
• [[File:Georgia 79.svg|20px]] State Route 79
• [[File:Georgia 220.svg|23px]] 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

|align-fn=center 1790-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1960-1980 1980-2000 2010

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,690 and 2,142 families residing in the county. The median age was 48.7 years. 18.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males age 18 and over. 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 68.1% White, 27.6% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.2% of the population.

There were 3,245 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,389 housing units, of which 26.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

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 acre. 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.

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

As of the 2020s, Lincoln County is a strongly Republican voting county, voting 72% for Donald Trump in 2024. For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Lincoln County is part of Georgia's 10th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Collins. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Lincoln County is part of District 24. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Lincoln County is part of district District 123.

References

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Lincoln County, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
5. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
7. (1880). "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800". United States Census Bureau.
8. (1910). "1910 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
9. (1930). "1930 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
10. (1940). "1940 Census of Population - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
11. (1950). "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -". United States Census Bureau.
12. (1980). "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2000). "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
14. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
15. "Explore Census Data".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
19. "Georgia General Assembly".
20. "Georgia General Assembly".
21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
22. (November 5, 2022). "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)".