Editing Lincoln County, North Carolina

{{Short description|County in North Carolina, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Lincoln County
 | state        = North Carolina
 | seal                 = Lincoln County Seal.png 
 | founded              = 1779
 | named for            = [[Benjamin Lincoln]]
 | seat wl          = Lincolnton
 | largest city wl  = Lincolnton
 | city type         = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 304.87
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 295.85
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 9.02
 | area percentage      = 2.96
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 86810
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 95675 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|35.49|-81.23|type:adm2nd_region:US-NC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = www.lincolncounty.org
 | district             = 10th
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | ex image             = Lincoln County Courthouse (Lincolnton, North Carolina).jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Lincoln County Courthouse (North Carolina)|Lincoln County Courthouse]]
 | flag                 = Lincoln County Flag.gif }}

'''Lincoln County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[North Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 86,810,<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> making it the most populous "Lincoln County" in the United States. Its [[county seat]] is [[Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Lincoln County is included in the [[Charlotte metropolitan area|Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
The county was formed in 1779 from the eastern part of [[Tryon County, North Carolina|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]]."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.co.lincoln.nc.us/index.aspx?NID=416|title=County of Lincoln, NC - Official Website - History Corner|website=www.co.lincoln.nc.us|language=en|access-date=June 8, 2017}}</ref> During the American Revolution, the [[Battle of Ramsour's Mill]] occurred near a [[Gristmill|grist mill]] in Lincolnton.

In 1782 the southeastern part of [[Burke County, North Carolina|Burke County]] was annexed to Lincoln County. In 1841, parts of Lincoln County and [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]] were combined to form [[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland County]]. In 1842, the northern third of Lincoln County became [[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba County]]. In 1846, the southern half of what was left of Lincoln County became [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston County]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lincoln County {{!}} NCpedia |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/geography/lincoln |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=www.ncpedia.org}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q507757|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Lincoln County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|304.87|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|295.85|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|9.02|sqmi}} (2.96%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – North Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_37.txt |access-date=September 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===State and local protected areas===
* [[Mountain Island Educational State Forest]] (part)
* [[Pee Wee's Mountain Bike Trail]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks and Recreation {{!}} County of Lincoln, NC - Official Website |url=https://www.lincolncounty.org/129/Parks-and-Recreation |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=www.lincolncounty.org}}</ref>
* [[Rock Springs Nature Preserve]]
* [[South Fork Rail Trail]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Anderson Creek (North Carolina Creek)|Anderson Creek]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lincoln County North Carolina Streams |url=https://northcarolina.hometownlocator.com/features/physical,class,stream,scfips,37109.cfm |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=northcarolina.hometownlocator.com}}</ref>
* [[Ballard Creek (North Carolina)|Ballard Creek]]
* [[Buffalo Creek (North Carolina Creek)|Buffalo Creek]]
* [[Catawba River]]
* [[Crooked Creek (North Carolina)|Crooked Creek]]
* [[Howard Creek (North Carolina)|Howard Creek]]
* [[Hoyle Creek (North Carolina)|Hoyle Creek]]
* [[Indian Creek (North Carolina)|Indian Creek]]
* [[Killian Creek (North Carolina)|Killian Creek]]
* [[Lake Norman]]
* [[Little Indian Creek (North Carolina)|Little Indian Creek]]
* [[South Fork Catawba River]]
* [[Tanyard Creek (North Carolina)|Tanyard Creek]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba County]] – north
* [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]] – northeast
* [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]] – southeast
* [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston County]] – south
* [[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland County]] – west
* [[Burke County, North Carolina|Burke County]] – northwest

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US|321}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|US-Bus|321|dab1=Dallas–Hickory}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|10}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|16}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC-Bus|16|dab1=Lowesville–Denver}} ([[North Carolina Highway 16#Lowesville–Denver business loop|business route]])
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|18}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|27}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC-Truck|27|dab1=Lincolnton}} ([[North Carolina Highway 27#Lincolnton truck route|truck route]])
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|73}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|150}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|155}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|182}}
* {{Jct|state=NC|NC|274}}
{{div col end}}

=== Major infrastructure ===
* [[Lincoln County Airport (North Carolina)|Lincoln County Airport]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airport (IPJ) {{!}} County of Lincoln, NC - Official Website |url=https://www.lincolncounty.org/93/Airport |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=www.lincolncounty.org}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 9246
|1800= 12660
|1810= 16359
|1820= 18147
|1830= 22455
|1840= 25160
|1850= 7746
|1860= 8195
|1870= 9573
|1880= 11061
|1890= 12586
|1900= 15498
|1910= 17132
|1920= 17862
|1930= 22872
|1940= 24187
|1950= 27459
|1960= 28814
|1970= 32682
|1980= 42372
|1990= 50319
|2000= 63780
|2010= 78265
|2020= 86810
|estyear=2023
|estimate=95675
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37109.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607000335/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37109.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lincolncountynorthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Lincoln County, North Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|+Lincoln County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37109&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 21, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!scope="col"| Race
!scope="col"| Number
!scope="col"| Percentage
|-
!scope="row"| [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
| 71,661
| 82.55%
|-
!scope="row"| [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
| 4,405
| 5.07%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
| 237
| 0.27%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
| 692
| 0.8%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
| 15
| 0.02%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
| 3,388
| 3.9%
|-
!scope="row"| [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
| 6,412
| 7.39%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 86,810 people, 34,418 households, and 24,445 families residing in the county.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 78,265 people, 30,343 households, and 22,221 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|261.76|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 33,641 housing units at an average density of {{convert|112.51|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 89.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 5.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.7% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. 6.7% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 Party (United States)|Republican]] and the last [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential candidate to win it was [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1976, who won it by 58.37%.

{{PresHead|place=Lincoln County, North Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref>
}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->{{PresRow|2024|Republican|40,183|14,842|557|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|36,341|13,274|602|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|28,806|9,897|1,320|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|25,267|11,024|484|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|23,631|11,713|454|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|20,052|9,434|93|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,951|8,412|166|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,439|7,721|1,690|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|11,018|8,150|3,187|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,651|6,444|35|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,621|5,996|42|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|9,009|7,796|391|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|6,682|9,462|66|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,597|5,100|195|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|6,188|4,044|3,161|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,869|7,304|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,816|6,728|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,637|5,838|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,228|5,389|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,635|3,570|1,153|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,678|4,168|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,099|4,901|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,501|5,515|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,563|4,399|34|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,930|2,913|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,658|2,909|42|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,137|3,331|0|North Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,369|1,521|9|North Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|49|1,280|1,081|North Carolina}}

===County, State, and Federal Representatives===

Every countywide office is held by a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], and the only [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] official that holds office in the county is [[Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]] Mayor Ed Hatley, who has been the city's mayor since 2015.

In 2018, former [[Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]] city council member Mary Frances White became the first African American elected official in the county's history. <ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lincolntimesnews.com/news/mary-frances-white-makes-history-as-city-s-first-elected/article_29844de0-f8b9-11e8-b34c-a3bf1a6176e1.html |title=Mary Frances White makes history as city's first elected African-American |date=December 5, 2018 |newspaper=Lincoln Times News |first=Jaclyn |last=Anthony |access-date=March 25, 2021 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=" Mary Frances White, Lincolnton City Council">{{Cite web |title=Lincolnton City Council Election 2022|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=55&office=LOC&contest=9}}</ref>

Lincoln County is a member of the regional [[Councils of governments in North Carolina|Centralina Council of Governments]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://centralina.org/what-is-ccog/our-region/|title=Centralina Council of Governments|access-date=August 10, 2019}}</ref>

====County Board of Commissioners<ref name=" Lincoln County, North Carolina Board of Commissioners">{{Cite web |title=Lincoln County Board of Commissioners|url=https://lincolncountync.gov/316/Board-of-Commissioners}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Commissioner !! Party !! Last Elected !! Term Expires 
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Jamie Lineberger (Chairperson) || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || 2022||December 2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Bud Cesena (Vice-chairperson) || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || 2022|| December 2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=55&office=LOC&contest=9
| Mark Mullen|| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || 2024 ||December 2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Trent Carpenter || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||December 2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Alex Patton || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] || 2024||December 2028
|- {{Party shading/non-partisan}}
| Jennifer Farmer (Clerk to the Board) || || ||
|}

Commissioners serve four-year terms.

====Water and Soil Conservation <ref name="Water and Soil Conservation">{{Cite web |title= Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation - District Board of Supervisors|url=https://boards.lincolncounty.org/board/5035}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Seat !! Supervisor!! Most Recent Status!! Elected or Appointed!! Calculated Term 
|- {{Party shading/non-partisan}}
| 1 || Tommy Houser||Active||Appointed||December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2026
|- {{Party shading/non-partisan}}
| 2 || George Sain||Active||Elected||December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2028
|- {{Party shading/non-partisan}}
| 3 || Leonard Keever ||Active||Elected||December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2026
|- {{Party shading/non-partisan}}
| 4 || Sean Nesbit||Active||Elected||December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2026
|- {{Party shading/non-partisan}}
| 5 ||Patty Dellinger||Active||Appointed||December 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 County, North Carolina|Gaston]] and [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|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 <ref name="Superior Court Judges">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina 2024 Election Results, Lincoln County, Judical, Superior Court Judges|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=55&office=JUD&contest=0}}</ref><ref name=" North Carolina Judical Branch District 39">{{Cite web |title= North Carolina Superior Court District 39|url=https://www.nccourts.gov/taxonomy/term/498}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Seat !! Judge !! Party !! Last Elected!! Term expires
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1|| Sally Kirby-Turner || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024|| December 2032
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 2|| W. Todd Pomeroy || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||December 2032
|}

Lincoln County is in the 39th Superior Court District. It consists of both Lincoln and [[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland]] County. <ref name=" ">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina Superior Court District Map|url=https://www.nccourts.gov/assets/documents/publications/Superior-Court-Districts-Map-1-1-2024.pdf}}</ref>

Judges are elected, and serve eight year terms.<ref name=" Terms of Office NCSBE">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina Superior Justices' Terms|url=https://www.ncsbe.gov/candidates/terms-office}}</ref>

====District Court <ref name="Lincoln County, North Carolina District Court 2024 Election">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina 2024 Election Results, Lincoln County, Judical Seats 2-6|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=55&office=JUD&contest=0}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Seat !! Judge !! Party !! Last Elected!! Term expires
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Seat 1<ref name=" Lincoln County, North Carolina District Court 2022 Election">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina 2022 Election Results, Lincoln County, Judical Seat 1|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/08/2022&county_id=55&office=JUD&contest=0}}</ref> ||Micah J. Sanderson ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Seat 2 ||Brittany Waters Padgett || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Seat 3 ||Jeanette R. Reeves || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Seat 4 ||J. Brad Champion || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Seat 5 ||Jamie Hodges||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Seat 6||Justin K. Brackett|| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|}

District Court Judges are elected, and serve four year terms.<ref name=" Terms of office NCSBE">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina District Court Terms|url=https://www.ncsbe.gov/candidates/terms-office}}</ref>

====District Attorney<ref name=" North Carolina Prosecutorial District 39 ">{{Cite web |title=Cleveland & Lincoln County Prosecutorial District 39|url=https://www.ncdistrictattorney.org/district-attorney/prosecutorial-district-39/}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Attorney !! Party !! Last Elected!! Term expires
|-
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Mike Miller || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||December 2026
|}

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

====Sheriff and Courthouse <ref name=" Lincoln County Law Officials">{{Cite web |title=The Official Lincoln County Government Page|url=https://www.lincolncountync.gov/310/County-Officials}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Office!! Official Holder !! Party !! Last Elected!! Term expires
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Sheriff<ref name=" Lincoln County Sheriff, North Carolina">{{Cite web |title=Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Official Webpage|url=https://www.lincolnsheriff.org/}}</ref> ||Bill Beam ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||December 2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|Clerk of Court<ref name=" Lincoln County Clerk's office">{{Cite web |title=Lincoln County Courthouse/Clerk of Court webpage|url=https://www.nccourts.gov/locations/lincoln-county/lincoln-county-courthouse}}</ref> ||Fred Hatley || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||December 2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Register of Deeds <ref name=" Lincoln County Register of Deeds">{{Cite web |title= Lincoln County Register of Deeds|url=https://www.lincolncountync.gov/310/County-Officials}}</ref>||Danny R. Hester || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||December 2026
|}
These officials are elected and serve four year terms.

====Board of Education<ref name=" Board of Education">{{Cite|title=Lincoln County Board of Education|url=https://www.lcsnc.org/page/board-of-education}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District<ref name=" Lincoln County GIS Website">{{Cite web |title=Lincoln County GIS Website with Board District Map|url=https://arcgisserver.lincolncountync.gov/taxparcelviewer/}}</ref>


 ! Member !! Party !! Last Elected!! Term expires
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District at-large ||Tony A. Jenkins ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District at-large||Erin A. Long|| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District 1 ||Brandi A. Wyant ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District 2||Fred E. Jarrett, Jr.|| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District 3 ||Christina H. Sutton (Chairperson) ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District 4||Kevin H. Sanders|| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2028 
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|District 5||Krista S. Heavner (Vice- Chairperson)|| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2022 ||2026
|}

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.<ref name=" County Board of Education Made Partsian">{{Cite|title=Lincoln County Board of Education Election Method Change, House Bill 244 / SL 2021-99|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/House/PDF/H244v4.pdf}}</ref>

===[[North Carolina General Assembly|General Assembly]]<ref name=" North Carolina General Assembly webpage">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina General Assembly  webpage|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/House}}</ref><ref name=" State House, and State Senate Districts for Lincoln County">{{Cite web |title= North Carolina General Assembly: State House and State Senate Districts for Lincoln County|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/CountyRepresentation/Lincoln}}</ref>===

Lincoln County is currently represented by the [[North Carolina's 97th House district|97th]] House District, and [[North Carolina's 44th Senate district|44th]] Senate District in the [[North Carolina General Assembly]]. <ref name=" General Assembly Representation">{{Cite web |title=General Assembly Representation for Lincoln County|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/CountyRepresentation/Lincoln}}</ref>

====[[North Carolina House of Representatives]]<ref name=" North Carolina House of Representatives webpage">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina House of Representatives webpage|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/House}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District !! Representative!! Party !! Last Elected!! Next Election
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|[[North Carolina's 97th House district]]||[[Heather Rhyne]]<ref name=" North Carolina House District 97">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina House District 97 Representative Heather Rhyne|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/H/823}}</ref>||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||2026
|}
[[North Carolina's 97th House district]] is entirely limited to Lincoln County and has been since 2003. The district overlaps with the [[North Carolina's 44th Senate district|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. <ref name=" North Carolina legislators consider vetoes, constitution changes as work session winds down">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina legislators consider vetoes, constitution changes as work session winds down|url=https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/north-carolina-legislators-consider-vetoes-constitution-changes/275-e90c5f38-9d0b-4a24-8a72-974ddaac4737}}</ref>
In November 2024, Rhyne ran unopposed and easily won her first election in the district with 43,332 votes. <ref name=" North Carolina Board of Elections Webpage">{{Cite web |title= 2024 North Carolina House District 97 Election Results|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=NCH&contest=1277}}</ref>

====[[North Carolina Senate]]<ref name=" North Carolina Senate">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina Senate Webpage|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Senate}}</ref>====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District !! State Senator !! Party !! Last Elected!! Next Election 
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|[[North Carolina's 44th Senate district]]||[[W. Ted Alexander|Ted Alexander<ref name=" State Senator W. Ted Alexander">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina State Senate District 44, Senator Ted Alexander|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/416}}</ref>]] ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||2024 ||November 3, 2026
|}
[[North Carolina's 44th Senate district]] has covered all of Lincoln, and [[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland]] counties, along with northwest [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston]] county since 2019. The district overlaps with the [[North Carolina's 97th House district|97th]], [[North Carolina's 110th House district|110th]], and [[North Carolina's 11th House district|111th]] state house districts.

Current representative [[W. Ted Alexander|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, North Carolina|Cleveland County]] Republican Party. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shelbystar.com/news/20181106/former-mayor-ted-alexander-wins-new-senate-seat|title=Former mayor Ted Alexander wins new Senate seat|access-date=2019-01-10|archive-date=2018-11-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110205857/http://www.shelbystar.com/news/20181106/former-mayor-ted-alexander-wins-new-senate-seat|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20190108/ted-alexander-sworn-in-as-state-senator|title=Ted Alexander sworn in as state senator|access-date=2019-01-10|archive-date=2019-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111121544/https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20190108/ted-alexander-sworn-in-as-state-senator|url-status=live}}</ref> 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. <ref name=" 2018 Senate District 44 Election Results">{{Cite web |title=2018 North Carolina Senate District 44 Election Results|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/06/2018&county_id=0&office=NCS&contest=1167}}</ref>
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.<ref name=" REFNAME">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina 2024 North Carolina Senate District 44 Election Results|url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=NCS&contest=1346}}</ref>

===[[United States Congress]]<ref name=" US Congress webpage">{{Cite web |title=US Congress webpage|url=https://www.congress.gov/}}</ref>===

====[[United States House of Representatives]]<ref name=" US House of Representatives webpage">{{Cite web |title=US House of Representatives webpage|url=https://www.house.gov/}}</ref>====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Congressional District]]!! [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]]!! Party !! Incumbent since!! Next Election
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|[[North Carolina's 10th congressional district]]<ref name=" North Carolina Congressional District 10 webpage from congress.">{{Cite web |title=North Carolina 10th Congressional District page from Congress.|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/district/pat-harrigan/H001101}}</ref>||[[Pat Harrigan]]<ref name=" North Carolina's 10th congressional district, Representative Pat Harrigan">{{Cite web |title=Official Page of Representative Pat Harrigan|url=https://harrigan.house.gov/}}</ref>||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ||January 3, 2025||November 3, 2026
|}

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

====[[United States Senate]]<ref name=" US Senate">{{Cite web |title=US Senate webpage|url=https://www.senate.gov/}}</ref>====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[US Senator|Senator]] !! Party !! Incumbent since!! Next Election
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Thom Tillis]]<ref name=" Thom Tillis Official Page">{{Cite web |title=Thom Tillis' Official page|url=https://www.tillis.senate.gov/}}</ref> || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]  || January 3, 2015||November 3, 2026
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Ted Budd]]<ref name=" Official page of Ted Budd ">{{Cite web |title=Ted Budd's Official Page|url=https://www.budd.senate.gov/}}</ref> || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]  || January 3, 2023 || November 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/video/2020/02/14/full-interview-lincoln-county-sheriff-bill-beam-teen-assaulted-outside-er/|title=FULL INTERVIEW: Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam on teen assaulted outside ER|website=WBTV|language=en-US|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref> The boy was arrested and charged with felony assault on a police officer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wbtv.com/2020/02/14/video-shows-teen-assaulted-by-atrium-security-lincoln-co-sheriffs-deputy-outside-er/|title=Video shows teen assaulted by Atrium security, Lincoln Co. sheriff’s deputy outside ER|last=Ochsner|first=Nick|website=WBTV|language=en-US|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
===Post-secondary education===
* [[Gaston College]] - Community College located in [[Dallas, North Carolina]] with a satellite campus in Lincolnton offering associate degree, Certificate, and Diploma programs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=College |first=Gaston |title=Associate Degree Programs {{!}} Community College |url=https://www.gaston.edu/ |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=Gaston College |language=en}}</ref>

===Lincoln County Schools===
====High schools====
* [[East Lincoln High School]]
* Lincoln County School of Technology
* [[Lincolnton High School]]
* [[Newbold High School]] (1952-1968), a segregated school that served African Americans and became G. E. Massey Elementary School in 1968 after desegregation
* Oaklawn High School (segregated school serving African Americans), replaced by Newbold High School in 1952
* [[North Lincoln High School]]
* [[West Lincoln High School]]

====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==
[[File:Map of Lincoln County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|upright=1.3|Map of Lincoln County with municipal and township labels]]

===City===
* [[Lincolnton, North Carolina|Lincolnton]] (county seat and largest community)

===Town===
* [[Boger City, North Carolina|Boger City]] (former town)
* [[Maiden, North Carolina|Maiden]] (part)

===Census-designated places===
* [[Crouse, North Carolina|Crouse]]
* [[Denver, North Carolina|Denver]]
* [[Iron Station, North Carolina|Iron Station]]
* [[Lowesville, North Carolina|Lowesville]]
* [[Westport, North Carolina|Westport]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Flay, North Carolina|Flay]]
* [[Laboratory, North Carolina|Laboratory]]
* [[Laurel Hill, Lincoln County, North Carolina|Laurel Hill]]
* [[Polkadot, North Carolina|Polkadot]]
* [[Reepsville, North Carolina|Reepsville]]
* [[Toluca, North Carolina|Toluca]] (part)
* [[Vale, Lincoln County, North Carolina|Vale]]

===Townships===
* Catawba Springs
* Howards Creek
* Ironton
* Lincolnton
* North Brook

==See also==
* [[List of counties in North Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, North Carolina]]
* [[Lincoln Theatre Guild]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Agosta, Carolyn Steele, "Two Weeks Every Summer, Stories from Camp Meeting", short stories inspired by Rock Spring Camp Meeting, Denver, NC, and Lincoln County, NC. https://www.carolynsteeleagosta.com
* {{cite journal |last=Nixon |date=1912 |first=Joseph R. |editor1-last=Hamilton |editor1-first=J. G. de Roulhac |editor1-link=J. G. de Roulhac Hamilton |editor2-last=Wagstaff |editor2-first=Henry McGilbert|title=The German Settlers in Lincoln County and Western North Carolina |url=https://archive.org/details/northcarolinacon00nashiala |journal=The James Sprunt Historical Publications |location=Chapel Hill, N. C. |publisher=[[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]] |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=28–62 |lccn=13033017 |oclc=6286659 |ol=7185018M |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{Cite book |author=W. J. Hoke Camp, [[United Confederate Veterans|Confederate Veterans]] |year=1905 |title=Roster of Confederate Soldiers in the War Between the States Furnished by Lincoln County, North Carolina, 1861–1865|url=https://archive.org/details/rosterofconfeder00unit |location=Lincolnton, N. C. |publisher=Journal Print |oclc=11769265 |ol=22892493M |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|2528717}}
* {{official website|http://www.lincolncounty.org}}
* [http://www.ncgenweb.us/lincoln/ NCGenWeb Lincoln County], genealogy resources for the county

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lincoln County, North Carolina
|North     = [[Catawba County, North Carolina|Catawba County]]
|Northeast = [[Iredell County, North Carolina|Iredell County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|Mecklenburg County]]
|South     = [[Gaston County, North Carolina|Gaston County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Cleveland County, North Carolina|Cleveland County]]
|Northwest = [[Burke County, North Carolina|Burke County]]
}}
{{Lincoln County, North Carolina}}
{{Charlotte/Metrolina}}
{{North Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lincoln County, North Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1779 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1779]]