Editing Lincoln County, New Mexico (section)

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2011}}
Lincoln County was named in honor of President [[Abraham Lincoln]]. It was once the largest county in the United States. In the late 1870s, the [[Lincoln County War]] began between [[rancher]]s and the owners of the county's largest general store. William Bonney, better known as [[Billy the Kid]], became involved on the side of the ranchers after his friend and employer was killed. In the end, Bonney killed the county sheriff, a deputy, and the deputy that killed his friend. Several other people were slain in the conflict, which included the other leader of the rancher faction. His death ended the conflict. In 1878, the new territorial governor, retired Union General [[Lew Wallace]], offered amnesty to the combatants to bring a long-lasting truce between the factions.

Most of the population is in the Greater Ruidoso Area. The town of Carrizozo serves as the county seat and is in the Tularosa Basin northwest of Ruidoso. Ruidoso boasts several small suburbs and neighbor communities including [[Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico|Ruidoso Downs]], [[Hollywood, New Mexico|Hollywood]], [[Mescalero, New Mexico|Mescalero]], and [[Alto, New Mexico|Alto]] which contribute to the Ruidoso [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]'s population of 21,224. Ruidoso serves as the second largest city in south central New Mexico behind [[Alamogordo, New Mexico|Alamogordo]] which is 46 miles southwest of the village. Ruidoso Downs on the southern end of the county and southeast of Ruidoso operates the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino. The track hosts both [[Thoroughbred horse race|thoroughbred]] and [[Horse racing#Quarter Horse|quarter horse racing]], notably the [[All American Futurity]], the richest in quarter horse racing. Historical figures from Lincoln County include [[Billy the Kid]] and [[Smokey Bear]], whose names help drive the tourism trade that is heavily popularized within the county.