Editing Lincoln County, Washington

{{Short description|County in Washington, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county             = Lincoln County
 | state              = Washington
 | ex image           = Lincoln County Courthouse Davenport, Washington.JPG
 | ex image size      = 300px
 | ex image cap       = Lincoln County Courthouse
 | flag               = 
 | seal               = 
 | coordinates        = {{Coord|47|34|58|N|118|25|04|W|region:US-WA_type:county|display=inline}}
 | founded year       = 1883
 | founded date       = November 24
 | named for          = [[Abraham Lincoln]]
 | seat wl            = Davenport
 | largest city wl    = Davenport
 | area_total_sq_mi   = 2339
 | area_land_sq_mi    = 2310
 | area_water_sq_mi   = 29
 | area percentage    = 1.2%
 | population_total   = 10876
 | population_as_of   = 2020
 | population_est     = 11862 {{increase}}
 | pop_est_as_of      = 2024
 | density_sq_mi      = auto
 | time zone          = Pacific
 | district           = 5th
 | website            = {{URL|https://www.co.lincoln.wa.us/|co.lincoln.wa.us}}
}}

'''Lincoln County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 10,876,<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lincolncountywashington/PST045223 |access-date=November 9, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it the fifth-least populous county in the state.<ref>Ahead of Ferry County (7,178), Wahkiakum County (4,422), Columbia County (3,952), and Garfield County (2,286).</ref> The [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Davenport, Washington|Davenport]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Lincoln County was created from [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]] in November 1883.<ref name="historylink">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2003 |title=Milestones for Washington State History — Part 2: 1851 to 1900 |url=http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5380 |publisher=[[HistoryLink.org]]}}</ref> It is named for [[Abraham Lincoln]], the 16th [[president of the United States]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett |first=Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1905 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n186 187]}}</ref>

==History==
In 1883, Lincoln County was created from a portion of Spokane County, and four days later a portion of its area was split to create [[Douglas County, Washington|Douglas County]]. There have been no further alterations to its boundary since that time.<ref name=LICO/> The name Sprague County was originally proposed, in honor of General [[John W. Sprague]], until objections from legislators resulted in the name Lincoln County being used in the final bill.<ref name="Smith-Counties">{{cite journal |last=Smith |first=Charles W. |date=July 1909 |title=The Naming of Counties in the State of Washington |page=83 |work=The Magazine of History With Notes and Queries |volume=X |issue=1 |publisher=William Abbatt |location=New York |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044090112079 |via=HathiTrust |accessdate=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Its 2,317 square miles make it the eighth-largest by area in the state.

Centuries ago, the area now covered by Lincoln County contained an east–west passageway used by indigenous peoples. A [[Spring (hydrology)|spring]] near the present-day [[Davenport, Washington|Davenport]] created a large overnight camping place.

The early [[Lewis and Clark Expedition|exploration of the Northwest Territory by Lewis and Clark]] did not reach as far north as the Lincoln County expanses. The first recorded entry by European explorers was of [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]], a scout for the [[North West Company]], who traversed the area in 1811. He noted physical locations in present-day Lincoln County. He described Hell Gate Rapid (calling it 'Strong Rapid'). That stretch of the [[Columbia River]] is now tame, because of the presence of [[Grand Coulee Dam]].<ref name =LICO/> After this, there was considerable exploration by fur trappers and others, including famed Scottish botanist [[David Douglas (botanist)|David Douglas]] in 1826.<ref name=LICO/>

Possibly the first permanent non-indigenous resident of the area was R.M. Bacon, originally from [[Boston]], who began raising cattle around Crab Creek in 1871. When the first post office was established in the county, Bacon was its postmaster.<ref name=LICO/>

Emigration into the area accelerated in the late 1870s. Completion of the [[Northern Pacific Railway]] in 1883, and construction of [[Fort Spokane]] (1880-1882) hastened settlement.

==Geography and climate==
Lincoln County lies on the [[Channeled Scablands|Channelled Scablands]], known as the Big Bend Plateau. It lies 1,500-2,500 feet above sea level, with a system of channels eroded into bedrock by glacial rivers and streams, flowing from northeastern Washington.

Lincoln County climate is hot/dry in the summer, cold/moderately humid in the winter. Due to the relatively level terrain (about 1,200 feet difference from lowest to highest elevations), temperatures tend to vary little from east to west. Precipitation varies from an arid condition in the western part of the county to semi-arid in the northeast. The entire area lies in the dry intermontane basin between the Cascades and the Rocky Mountain System. Precipitation (10-20 inches annual rainfall) is a major controlling factor in agriculture. Precipitation in the Big Bend region is highly variable; from 8 inches in the west to 20 inches in the northeast.

Monthly temperature averages range from below freezing in mid-winter to highs of 65-71&nbsp;°F in mid-summer.<ref name=LICO/>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|2339|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2310|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|29|sqmi}} (1.2%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_53.txt |access-date=July 7, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Geographic features===
*[[Channeled Scablands]]
*[[Columbia River]]
*[[Crab Creek]]
*[[Lilienthal Mountain]], county high point

===Major highways===
*[[File:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 (Washington)|Interstate 90]]
*[[File:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2 (Washington)|U.S. Route 2]]
*[[File:US 395.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 395 (Washington)|U.S. Route 395]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]] – northwest
*[[Ferry County, Washington|Ferry County]] – north
*[[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens County]] – northeast
*[[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane County]] – east
*[[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]] – southeast
*[[Adams County, Washington|Adams County]] – south
*[[Grant County, Washington|Grant County]] – west

===National protected area===
* [[Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 9312
|1900= 11969
|1910= 17539
|1920= 15141
|1930= 11876
|1940= 11361
|1950= 10970
|1960= 10919
|1970= 9572
|1980= 9604
|1990= 8864
|2000= 10184
|2010= 10570
|2020= 10876
|estyear=2024
|estimate=11862
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 17, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wa190090.txt |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226035610/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=January 7, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 10,570 people, 4,422 households, and 3,059 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53043 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020553/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US53043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|4.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,776 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53043 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162405/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US53043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 1.6% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were [[Germans|German]], 14.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.9% were [[English people|English]], 5.5% were [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 5.3% were [[Scotch-Irish American|Scotch-Irish]], and 3.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53043 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030302/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US53043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Of the 4,422 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 47.6 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $45,582 and the median income for a family was $52,083. Males had a median income of $44,491 versus $30,617 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,757. About 7.1% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Selected Economic Characteristics - 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53043 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033805/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US53043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 6, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 10,184 people, 4,151 households, and 2,914 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,298 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.64% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.23% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.63% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.58% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 36.6% were of [[German people|German]], 10.5% [[English people|English]], 9.3% [[United States]] or American and 5.8% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry.

There were 4,151 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,255, and the median income for a family was $41,269. Males had a median income of $31,086 versus $22,444 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,888. About 8.40% of families and 12.60% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
The county is administered by a three-member Board of Commissioners.

Like neighboring Adams County, Lincoln County is one of the most conservative counties in Washington. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was [[Harry Truman]] in [[1948 United States presidential election|1948]]. In 1964, it was one of only three counties in the state to be carried by [[Barry Goldwater]], and was the nation's northernmost county or equivalent to vote for Goldwater.<ref>[http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=1964&fips=53&f=1&off=0&elect=0 David Leip's Presidential Atlas Map for Washington by election]</ref> In the last nine presidential elections, no Democratic candidate has received more than 36 percent of the county's vote; the last Democratic gubernatorial nominee it backed was [[Booth Gardner]] in [[1988 Washington gubernatorial election|1988]], during [[1988-89 North American drought|a major drought]] and farm crisis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dave Leip |title=Gubernatorial General Election Map Comparison – Washington |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2016&fips=53&f=1&off=5&elect=0 |publisher=Dave Leip’s U.S. Election Atlas}}</ref> In [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]], [[Donald Trump]] won over 70 percent of the county's vote.<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?year=2016&fips=53&f=0&off=0&elect=0 David Leip's Presidential Atlas Map for Washington, 2016]</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Lincoln County, Washington|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,272|1,678|194|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,150|1,713|170|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,108|1,244|509|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,063|1,673|175|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,803|2,032|173|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,015|1,706|90|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,546|1,417|234|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,587|1,806|640|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,152|1,653|1,132|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,689|1,884|72|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,474|1,671|48|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,324|1,597|416|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,925|1,978|178|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,647|1,453|175|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,994|1,721|338|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,911|2,299|3|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,211|2,248|5|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,114|2,273|3|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,422|1,974|9|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,348|2,518|58|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,723|2,328|15|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,627|2,896|29|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,325|3,627|117|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,748|2,725|122|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,718|1,807|34|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,042|743|1,639|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,038|1,395|238|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,356|2,827|288|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|691|1,829|2,260|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,025|1,443|201|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,472|1,004|191|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,414|1,585|103|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|781|1,771|36|Washington}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|915|831|589|Washington}}

==Economy==
The county is dependent on agriculture, primarily wheat farming. Lincoln County is generally considered the second-largest producer of wheat in the United States (following [[Whitman County, Washington]]), sometimes producing 25 million bushels (680,000 t) per year.<ref>[http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/data-sets/crops/9X180/97180/3/aw96cerk.txt United States Dept. of Agriculture]</ref> Only about 500,000 of 900,000 acres (2,000 of {{convert|3600|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}) of farmland in the county are planted in any given year due to the practice of typically harvesting one crop every two years ("summer-fallow"), a necessity in a region with only {{convert|12|in|mm}} of precipitation annually.

Livestock husbandry is also a significant county activity, although to a significantly lower degree. For example, in 1954 the county was #3 in the state for crop income, but was only #21 in the state for income from livestock and livestock products.<ref name="LICO">[https://www.co.lincoln.wa.us/history Lincoln County History]</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
*[[Davenport, Washington|Davenport]] (county seat)
*[[Harrington, Washington|Harrington]]
*[[Sprague, Washington|Sprague]]

===Towns===
*[[Almira, Washington|Almira]]
*[[Creston, Washington|Creston]]
*[[Odessa, Washington|Odessa]]
*[[Reardan, Washington|Reardan]]
*[[Wilbur, Washington|Wilbur]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
*[[Clark, Washington|Clark]]
*[[Edwall, Washington|Edwall]]
*[[Irby, Washington|Irby]]
*[[Lamona, Washington|Lamona]]
*[[Lincoln, Washington|Lincoln]]
*Mondovi
*[[Mohler, Washington|Mohler]]
*Seven Bays
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
*[[Fishtrap, Washington|Fishtrap]]
*[[Govan, Washington|Govan]]

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington#Lincoln County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Washington]]

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto02stee |title=An illustrated history of the Big Bend country : embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin counties, state of Washington |publisher=Western Historical Pub. Co. |year=1904}}[http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=36 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]
*[http://www.wagenweb.org/lincoln/obitspoorfarmcem.htm lincoln County Poor Farm website]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lincoln County, Washington
|North     = [[Ferry County, Washington|Ferry County]]
|Northeast = [[Stevens County, Washington|Stevens County]]
|East      = [[Spokane County, Washington|Spokane County]]
|Southeast = [[Whitman County, Washington|Whitman County]]
|South     = [[Adams County, Washington|Adams County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Grant County, Washington|Grant County]]
|Northwest = [[Okanogan County, Washington|Okanogan County]]
}}

{{Lincoln County, Washington}}
{{Washington}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|47.57|-118.41|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Lincoln County, Washington| ]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Washington Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]
[[Category:Eastern Washington]]