Editing Lincolnshire

{{Short description|County of England}}
{{For|other places with the same name}}
{{Redirect|Lincs}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox English county
| official_name = Lincolnshire
| image_main = {{multiple images|border=infobox|perrow=2 1|total_width=250px
  | image1 = 1388680 Cathedral Church of St Mary, West Front Lincoln 20240519 0252.jpg
  | image2 = Grimsby Dock Tower (geograph 5369506).jpg
  | image3 = The Pier, Skegness (geograph 4373993) cropped.jpg
 }}
| image_caption = [[Lincoln Cathedral]]; [[Grimsby Dock Tower]]; [[Skegness Pier]]
| arms_link = 
| locator_map = Lincolnshire UK locator map 2010.svg
| map_caption = Lincolnshire within England
| coordinates = {{Coord|53.1|N|0.2|W|type:adm2nd_region:GB-LIN|display=inline,title}}
| region = Divided between [[East Midlands]] & [[Yorkshire and the Humber]]
| established_date = April 1996
| established_by = [[1990s United Kingdom local government reform|1990s local government reform]]
| preceded_by = [[Humberside]] (North East Lincolnshire & North Lincolnshire) & Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire County Council)
| origin = [[Parts of Lincolnshire]] ([[Grimsby|Grimsby County Borough]], [[Parts of Holland|Holland]], [[Parts of Kesteven|Kesteven]], [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln County Borough]] & [[Parts of Lindsey|Lindsey]])
| lord_lieutenant_office = Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire
| lord_lieutenant_name = Toby Dennis
| high_sheriff_office = High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
| high_sheriff_name = Michael Scott<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62943|page=5161|date=13 March 2020}}</ref> (2020–21)
| area_total_km2 = 6959
| area_total_rank = 2nd
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="Association">{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Local Government |title=Demographic Report for Lincolnshire |url=https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/view/lga-research/lga-research-report-demographic-report?mod-area=E10000019&mod-group=AllCountiesInCountry_England&mod-type=namedComparisonGroup |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=lginform.local.gov.uk}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 96% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 2% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]] and [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 | 1% [[Black British people|Black]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = <ref>{{Cite web |last=Plumplot |title=Lincolnshire Census 2021. |url=https://www.plumplot.co.uk/Lincolnshire-census-2021.html |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=www.plumplot.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
 {{Collapsible list
| 52.2% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
| 39.5% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
| 7.2% [[Religion in England|other]]
| 1.1% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 }}
{{cite web |title=Custom report - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E10000019#section_5 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk |access-date=8 January 2024}}</ref>
| county_council = [[Lincolnshire County Council]]
| government = 
| joint_committees = 
| admin_hq = [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]
| area_council_km2 = 5921
| area_council_rank = 4th
| gss_code = E10000019
| nuts_code = TLF30
| districts_map = [[File:Lincolnshire numbered districts.svg|200px]]
| districts_key = {{Colorsample|#FEFE77}} Unitary {{Colorsample|#FEC1E9}} County council area
| districts_list = #[[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]
#[[North Kesteven]]
#[[South Kesteven]]
#[[South Holland District|South Holland]]
#[[Borough of Boston|Boston]]
#[[East Lindsey]]
#[[West Lindsey]]
#[[North Lincolnshire]]
#[[North East Lincolnshire]]
| MPs = [[List of parliamentary constituencies in Lincolnshire|11 MPs]]
| police = [[Humberside Police]] (North East Lincolnshire & North Lincolnshire Areas) & [[Lincolnshire Police]] (Lincolnshire County Council Area)
| iso_code = GB-LIN
| website = {{URL|https://lincolnshire.gov.uk}}
}}
'''Lincolnshire''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɪ|ŋ|k|ə|n|ʃ|ər|,_|-|ʃ|ɪər}}), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] in the [[East Midlands]] and [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] regions of England. It is bordered by the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]] across the [[Humber]] estuary to the north, the [[North Sea]] to the east, [[Norfolk]], [[Cambridgeshire]], [[Northamptonshire]] and [[Rutland]] to the south, and [[Leicestershire]], [[Nottinghamshire]] and [[South Yorkshire]] to the west. 

The county is predominantly rural, with an area of {{Convert|6,959|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and a population of 1,095,010. After Lincoln (104,565), the largest towns are [[Grimsby]] (85,911) and [[Scunthorpe]] (81,286).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |access-date=10 December 2023 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref> For [[Local government in England|local government]] purposes Lincolnshire comprises a [[non-metropolitan county]] with seven districts, and the unitary authority areas of [[North Lincolnshire]] and [[North East Lincolnshire]]. The last two areas are part of the [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] region, and the rest of the county is in the [[East Midlands]]. The non-metropolitan county council and two unitary councils collaborate through the [[Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority]].

The county is the second largest in England and has a varied geography. The south-east contains part of [[the Fens]], a naturally marshy region which has been drained for agriculture, and the south-west is an upland region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fens |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/the-fens/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kesteven Uplands |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/kesteven-uplands/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref> A wide [[Valley|vale]] runs north–south from the centre to the north of the county.<ref name="Lincolnshire Wolds">{{Cite web |title=Lincolnshire Wolds |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/lincolnshire-wolds/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Lincolnshire Vale |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/central-lincolnshire-vale/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref> To its east, the chalk hills of the [[Lincolnshire Wolds]],<ref name="Lincolnshire Wolds"/> which have been designated a [[National Landscape|national landscape]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lincolnshire Wolds |url=https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service |language=en}}</ref> occupy the north-east, with a coastal plain and the [[Lincolnshire Marsh]] beyond.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lincolnshire Coast and Marshes |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/lincolnshire-coast-and-marshes/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=}}</ref> The west of the vale is demarcated by the [[Lincolnshire Edge]], a long escarpment; at its northern end are the Coversands, an area of [[heath]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Lincolnshire Edge with Coversands |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/northern-lincolnshire-edge-with-coversands/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Southern Lincolnshire Edge |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/southern-lincolnshire-edge/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Area]] |language=en-gb}}</ref> Beyond the edge, the western border of the county contains the eastern part of the [[Trent Valley]] and, in the north, part of the [[Humberhead Levels]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Humberhead Levels |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/humberhead-levels/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Trent and Belvoir Vales |url=https://nationalcharacterareas.co.uk/trent-and-belvoir-vales/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=[[National Character Areas]] |language=en-gb}}</ref> with the [[River Trent]] itself forming part of the border.

Lincolnshire has had a comparatively quiet history, being a rural county which was not heavily industrialised and faced little threat of invasion. In the Roman era Lincoln was a major settlement, called [[Lindum Colonia]]. In the fifth century what would become the county was settled by the invading [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]], who established the [[Kingdom of Lindsey]] in the north of the region. Lincoln became the centre of a [[diocese]] in 1072, and [[Lincoln Cathedral]] was built over the following centuries. The late Middle Ages were a particularly prosperous period, when wealth from [[Medieval English wool trade|wool trade]] facilitated the building of [[Wool church|grand churches]] such as [[St Botolph's Church, Boston]]. During the Second World War the relatively flat topography of the county made it an important base for the [[Royal Air Force]], which built several airfields and based two bomber squadrons in the area.

==History==
{{main|History of Lincolnshire}}
[[File:Lincolnia nottinghamia Atlas.jpg|thumb|250px|Hand-drawn map of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire from 1576.]]
During pre-Roman times, most of Lincolnshire was inhabited by the [[Corieltauvi]] people.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The language of the area at that time would have been [[Common Brittonic]], the precursor to modern Welsh. The name ''Lincoln'' was derived from [[Lindum Colonia]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Large numbers of Germanic speakers from continental Europe settled in the region following the withdrawal of the Romans. Though these were later identified as [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]], it is unlikely that they migrated as part of an organized tribal group.<ref>Toby F. Martin, ''The Cruciform Brooch and Anglo-Saxon England'', Boydell and Brewer Press (2015), pp. 174–178</ref><ref>Catherine Hills, ''The Anglo-Saxon migration to Britain: an archaeological perspective'' (2016)</ref> Thus, the main language of the region quickly became [[Old English]]. However, it is possible that Brittonic continued to be spoken in some communities as late as the eighth century.<ref>Caitlin Green, ''The Origins of Louth: Archaeology and History in East Lincolnshire, 400,000 BC–AD 1086'' (2014), pp. 66–67</ref>

Modern-day Lincolnshire is derived from the merging of the territory of the [[Kingdom of Lindsey]] with that controlled by the [[Danelaw]] [[borough]] of [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]]. For some time the entire county was called "Lindsey", and it is recorded as such in the 11th-century ''[[Domesday Book]].'' Later, the name [[Lindsey (government district)|Lindsey]] was applied to the northern core, around Lincoln. This emerged as one of the three [[Parts of Lincolnshire]], along with the Parts of [[Holland, Lincolnshire|Holland]] in the south-east, and the Parts of [[Kesteven]] in the south-west, which each had separate [[Quarter Sessions]] as their county administrations. Lindsay was traditionally split between the [[North Riding of Lindsey|North]], [[South Riding of Lindsey|South]] and [[West Riding of Lindsey|West Ridings of Lindsey]].

The area was shaken by 27 February [[2008 Lincolnshire earthquake]], reaching between 4.7 and 5.3 on the [[Richter magnitude scale]]; it was one of the largest earthquakes to affect Britain in recent years.<!-- Damage? -->

Lincolnshire is home to [[Woolsthorpe Manor]], birthplace and home of Sir [[Isaac Newton]]. He attended [[The King's School, Grantham]]. Its library has preserved his signature, carved into a window sill when he was a youth.
<gallery>
File: Belton House 2006 Giano.jpg|[[Belton House]]
File: Stump&Ingram.jpeg|[[St Botolph's Church, Boston|Boston Stump]]
File: Gainsborough Old Hall.jpg|[[Gainsborough Old Hall]]
File:Gunby Hall - geograph.org.uk - 919245.jpg|[[Gunby Hall]]
File: Harlaxton manor.jpg|[[Harlaxton Manor]]
File: Normanby Hall, Lincs (geograph 56340).jpg|[[Normanby Hall]]
File: Tattershall Castle, 2006.jpg|[[Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire|Tattershall Castle]]
File: Thornton Abbey Gatehouse1.jpg|[[Thornton Abbey]]
File:Louth Church in 2021.jpg|[[St James' Church, Louth]]
</gallery>

== Geography ==
[[File: Lincolnshire1832 Map.png|thumb|upright|The historic county boundaries of Lincolnshire in 1832]]
[[File:Lincolnshire Admin Counties 1890-1965.png|thumb|upright|County and County Borough areas pre 1965]]
[[File:Sutton Washway.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Until the early 19th Century there was no fixed land border between Lincolnshire and Norfolk as the two counties were separated by the former “Cross Keys Wash” which could only be crossed at low tide by a causeway.]]
The geographical layout of Lincolnshire is quite extensive and mostly separated by many rivers and rolling countryside. The north of the county begins from where the [[Isle of Axholme]] is located near the meeting points of the rivers [[River Great Ouse|Ouse]] and [[River Trent|Trent]] near to the [[River Humber|Humber]]. From there, the southside of the [[Humber]] estuary forms the border between Lincolnshire and the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]]. From there, the south bank of the Humber Estuary where the [[Humber Bridge]] crosses the estuary at [[Barton upon Humber]], is used primarily for the [[shipping port]]s at [[Immingham]], [[New Holland, Lincolnshire|New Holland]] and [[Grimsby]]. From there, the rest of the southern bank forms the [[Lincolnshire Coast]] from [[Cleethorpes]] to [[Mablethorpe]] and then onto [[Skegness]]. From Skegness, the rest of the Lincolnshire Coastline forms the sea boundary and border with [[Norfolk]] at the [[The Wash|Wash]]. The coast then at [[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]] becomes the meeting point of the rivers [[River Welland|Welland]] and [[River Haven|Haven]] in an area known as the "Fosdyke Wash".

The rest of the sea boundary runs from [[Fosdyke]] to the east of [[Sutton Bridge]], where the current land boundary with [[Norfolk]] is located in a narrow area of reclaimed farmland just to the east of the [[River Nene]] but until as recently as the early 19th century there was no land border between Lincolnshire and Norfolk as it was separated from each other by the "Cross Keys Wash" a former area of estuary and marshland where the River Nene used to flow out into the Wash and could only be crossed at low tide by a causeway or ferry and was the natural boundary between the two counties. The causeway known at the time as the "Wash Way" was renowned as being particularly treacherous and the safer route was to go into Norfolk from Lincolnshire via the Cambridgeshire town of [[Wisbech]] and this element remains to the present day as the [[Cross Keys Bridge]] at [[Sutton Bridge]] provides the only direct access point to Norfolk from Lincolnshire over the [[River Nene]] some nine miles north of Wisbech. The border with Lincolnshire to [[Cambridgeshire]] begins at [[Crowland]], [[Market Deeping]] and [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]] which form the southern boundary of the county with both [[Peterborough]], [[Rutland]] and briefly [[Northamptonshire]]; the county's border with [[Northamptonshire]] is just {{convert|19|m|yd|-1|order=flip}} long, England's shortest county boundary.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 October 2005 |title=Lincolnshire County Council |url=http://www.thebythams.org.uk/localgovernment/lincolnshire-cc/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506222240/http://www.thebythams.org.uk/localgovernment/lincolnshire-cc/index.html |archive-date=6 May 2009 |access-date=29 June 2010 |publisher=Thebythams.org.uk}}</ref> From there, the border with [[Leicestershire]] and [[Nottinghamshire]] begins at [[Sleaford]], [[Grantham]], [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] and [[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire|Gainsborough]]. From Gainsborough, the border with [[South Yorkshire]] begins at [[Haxey]] and [[Epworth, Lincolnshire|Epworth]] before looping back to the original north of the county near [[Scunthorpe]] with East Riding of Yorkshire at the Isle of Axholme and [[Goole]].<ref>{{cite web |title=County Map Of Lincolnshire - Information About Lincolnshire |url=https://www.visitnorthwest.com/counties/lincolnshire/ |website=Visit North West |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130644/https://www.visitnorthwest.com/counties/lincolnshire/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Famous |url=https://www.blanchflower.org/tripoints/quad.html |website=www.blanchflower.org |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019044955/https://www.blanchflower.org/tripoints/quad.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tier limbo at Lincolnshire's northern border |url=https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2020/12/tier-limbo-at-lincolnshires-northern-border/ |access-date=5 February 2022 |work=The Lincolnite |date=31 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130644/https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2020/12/tier-limbo-at-lincolnshires-northern-border/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Edward |first1=Olivia |title=The Lincolnshire Wolds - Geographical Magazine |url=https://geographical.co.uk/uk/aonb/item/769-the-lincolnshire-wolds |website=geographical.co.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |language=en-gb |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516185856/http://geographical.co.uk/uk/aonb/item/769-the-lincolnshire-wolds |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How many borders does Northamptonshire have? – SidmartinBio |url=https://www.sidmartinbio.org/how-many-borders-does-northamptonshire-have/ |website=www.sidmartinbio.org |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130645/https://www.sidmartinbio.org/how-many-borders-does-northamptonshire-have/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Norfolk and Lincolnshire Border |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/27f9f920-9558-4095-81e4-d63bf81dde50 |access-date=5 February 2022 |language=English |date=1 March 1865 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130644/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/27f9f920-9558-4095-81e4-d63bf81dde50 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bird |first1=Dan |title=This map apparently shows where the north begins |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/map-shows-north-begins-142616 |website=LeicestershireLive |access-date=5 February 2022 |language=en |date=18 March 2018 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130654/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/map-shows-north-begins-142616 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BBC - Nottingham 360 - The Nottinghamshire border |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/360/border/index.shtml |website=BBC |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303115732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/360/border/index.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=says |first1=Diane |title=Lincolnshire County |url=https://www.thebythams.org.uk/community/local-government/lincolnshire-county/ |website=theBythams.org.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |date=13 February 2011 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130646/https://www.thebythams.org.uk/community/local-government/lincolnshire-county/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Isle of Axholme |url=http://www.axholme.info/about-the-isle-of-axholme.html |website=axholme.info |access-date=5 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205130644/http://www.axholme.info/about-the-isle-of-axholme.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lincolnshire Coast |url=https://www.ukcoastguide.co.uk/lincolnshire_coast.htm |website=www.ukcoastguide.co.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706155752/https://ukcoastguide.co.uk/lincolnshire_coast.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bedrock in Lincolnshire features Jurassic [[limestone]] (near Lincoln) and Cretaceous [[chalk]] (north-east). The area around [[Woodhall Spa]] and [[Kirkby on Bain]] is dominated by gravel and sand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/201110-LincolnshireBAP-3rd-edition.pdf |title=Lincolnshire Biodiversity Action Plan |access-date=18 July 2019 |archive-date=18 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618105854/https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/201110-LincolnshireBAP-3rd-edition.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> For much of prehistory, Lincolnshire was under tropical seas, and most fossils found in the county are marine invertebrates. Marine vertebrates have also been found including [[ichthyosaurus]] and [[plesiosaur]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://depositsmag.com/2015/12/03/a-rare-cretaceous-ichthyosaur-from-lincolnshire/ |title=A rare Cretaceous ichthyosaur from Lincolnshire |last=UKGE |date=3 December 2015 |website=Deposits Magazine |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=29 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129183850/https://depositsmag.com/2015/12/03/a-rare-cretaceous-ichthyosaur-from-lincolnshire/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/visiting-us/exhibit/the-lincoln-plesiosaur |title=The Lincoln Plesiosaur – The Collection |website=Thecollectionmuseum.com |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=29 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129142136/https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/visiting-us/exhibit/the-lincoln-plesiosaur |url-status=live }}</ref>

The highest point in Lincolnshire is [[Wolds Top]] ({{cvt|168|m|ft|disp=comma}}), at [[Normanby le Wold]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/man-climbs-lincolnshires-highest-point-129421 |title=Man climbs Lincolnshire's highest point – but where is it? |first=Ashley |last=Franklin |date=22 June 2017 |website=lincolnshirelive.co.uk |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422172253/https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/man-climbs-lincolnshires-highest-point-129421 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some parts of [[the Fens]] may be below sea level. The nearest mountains are in Derbyshire.

The biggest rivers in Lincolnshire are the [[River Trent|Trent]], running northwards from [[Staffordshire]] up the western edge of the county to the [[Humber]] estuary, and the [[River Witham|Witham]], which begins in Lincolnshire at [[South Witham]] and runs for {{convert|132|km|abbr=in}} through the middle of the county, eventually emptying into the [[North Sea]] at [[The Wash]]. The Humber estuary, on Lincolnshire's northern border, is also fed by the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]]. The Wash is also the mouth of the [[River Welland|Welland]], the [[River Nene|Nene]] and the [[Great Ouse]].

Lincolnshire's geography is fairly varied, but consists of several distinct areas:
*[[Lincolnshire Wolds]]: area of rolling hills in the north-east of the county designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
*[[The Fens]]: dominating the south-east quarter of the county
*[[Lincolnshire Marsh|The Marshes]]: running along the coast of the county 
*[[Lincoln Cliff|Lincoln Edge or Cliff]]: limestone escarpment running north–south along the western half of the county

Lincolnshire's most well-known nature reserves include [[Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire|Gibraltar Point]] National Nature Reserve, [[Whisby Moor#Whisby Nature Park|Whisby Nature Park]] Local Nature Reserve, [[Donna Nook]] National Nature Reserve, [[RSPB Frampton Marsh]] and the [[Humberhead Levels|Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve]]. Although the Lincolnshire countryside is intensively farmed, there are many biodiverse wetland areas{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}, as well as rare [[Bardney Limewoods|limewood forests]]. Much of the county was once wet fenland (see [[The Fens]]).

From bones, we can tell that animal species formerly found in Lincolnshire include [[woolly mammoth]], [[woolly rhinoceros]], [[tarpan|wild horse]], [[wolf]], [[wild boar]] and [[beaver]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=2821 |access-date=6 December 2018 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807022327/http://bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=2821 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rVgHcF2O6NsC&q=wolf+lincolnshire+bones&pg=PA35 |title=Lincolnshire |first=E. Mansel |last=Sympson |date=22 November 2012 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |access-date=14 December 2018 |via=Google Books |isbn=9781107612648 |archive-date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316181918/https://books.google.com/books?id=rVgHcF2O6NsC&q=wolf+lincolnshire+bones&pg=PA35 |url-status=live }}</ref> Species which have recently returned to Lincolnshire after [[extirpation]] include [[little egret]], [[Eurasian spoonbill]], [[European otter]] and [[red kite]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/conservationists-and-anglers-clash-over-otters-return-1-8309880/ |title=Conservationists and anglers clash over otters' return |date=1 January 2018 |newspaper=Grantham Journal |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202703/https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/conservationists-and-anglers-clash-over-otters-return-1-8309880/ |archive-date=3 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house/features/red-kites-at-belton-house |title=Red kites at Belton House |website=[[National Trust]] |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209125720/https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house/features/red-kites-at-belton-house |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Main|Politics of Lincolnshire}}
[[File:Lincolnshire UK parish map (blank).svg|thumb|upright|Map of the 623 civil parishes within Lincolnshire]]

===Local government history===
The [[Local Government Act 1888]] established [[county council]]s for each of the parts of Lincolnshire – Lindsey, Holland and Kesteven – and came into effect on 1 April 1889. Lincoln was made an independent [[county borough]] on the same date, with [[Grimsby]] following in 1891.<ref>{{Cite news |title=At Grimsby: The County Borough Celebrations |newspaper=[[Hull Daily Mail]] |date=8 April 1891 |page=4 |quote="From now until the end of the week Grimsby will be ''en fête'', celebrating its constitution as a county borough."}}</ref>

The [[Local Government Act 1972]] abolished the three county councils and the two county boroughs, effective 1 April 1974. On this date, Grimsby and the northern part of Lindsey (including [[Scunthorpe]]) were amalgamated with most of the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]] and a part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] to form the new [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[Humberside]]. The rest of Lindsey, along with Holland, Kesteven and Lincoln, came under the governance of the new [[Lincolnshire County Council]].

A local government reform in 1996 abolished Humberside. The land south of the Humber Estuary was allocated to the [[unitary authorities]] of [[North Lincolnshire]] and [[North East Lincolnshire]] which became part of Lincolnshire for ceremonial purposes, such as the [[Lord-Lieutenant|Lord-Lieutenancy]], but are not covered by the Lincolnshire police; they are in the [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] region.
The remaining districts of Lincolnshire are [[Borough of Boston|Boston]], [[East Lindsey]], Lincoln, [[North Kesteven]], [[South Holland District|South Holland]], [[South Kesteven]], and [[West Lindsey]]. They are part of the [[East Midlands]] region.

[[North East Lincolnshire]] and [[North Lincolnshire]] are unitary authorities. They were districts of [[Humberside]] county from 1974.<ref>{{Cite Hansard |title=Local Government Reorganisation (Humberside) |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-05-26/Debate-6.html |house=House of Commons |date=26 May 1994 |column_start=491 |column_end=498 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033630/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-05-26/Debate-6.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |access-date=10 April 2022}}</ref> In 1996, Humberside was abolished along with its county council.<ref>{{Cite Hansard |title=Humberside (Structural Change) Order 1995 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199495/ldhansrd/vo950306/text/50306-08.htm |house=House of Lords |date=6 March 1995 |column_start=74 |column_end=79 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410221153/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199495/ldhansrd/vo950306/text/50306-08.htm |archive-date=10 April 2022 |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> Some services in those districts are shared with the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]] ceremonial county, rather than the rest of Lincolnshire including [[Humberside Police]], [[Humberside Airport]], [[Humberside Fire Service]], and [[BBC Radio Humberside]].

===Current governance===

Since the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] and the [[Constituencies of the Parliament of the United Kingdom|constituency]] reorganisation by the [[2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies|2023 Periodic Review]], Lincolnshire is represented by ten [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) whose constituencies fall entirely within the county. Small areas of Lincolnshire form constituencies with parts of neighbouring counties, namely the [[Isle of Axholme]] (part of [[Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme (UK Parliament constituency)|Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme]]) and the town of [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]] and its surroundings (part of [[Rutland and Stamford (UK Parliament constituency)|Rutland and Stamford]]). Of the ten constituencies entirely within Lincolnshire, six are represented by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], three by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] and one by [[Reform UK]].

[[Lincolnshire County Council]] is majority controlled by Reform UK and consists of forty-four Reform UK councillors, fourteen Conservative, five [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], three Labour, three [[Independent politician|independents]], and one [[Lincolnshire Independents|Lincolnshire Independent]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2021 |title=Lincolnshire County Council: Conservatives win 54 out of 70 seats |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-57025291 |access-date=10 April 2022 |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410221140/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-57025291 |url-status=live }}</ref> The county is made up of seven local borough and district councils and two unitary authority areas independent of the county council. The [[City of Lincoln Council]] is Labour-controlled. [[North Kesteven]], [[South Holland District|South Holland]] and [[East Lindsey]] are administered by the Conservatives. [[South Kesteven]] is controlled by a coalition of independent, Labour Party, Green Party and Liberal Democrat councillors. [[West Lindsey]] is controlled by a coalition of Liberal Democrats and independents. The [[Borough of Boston]] is controlled by the local Boston Independent party. The unitary authority [[North Lincolnshire Council|North Lincolnshire]] and [[North East Lincolnshire Council|North East Lincolnshire]] councils are administered by the Conservative Party.

A mayoral devolution deal has received approval from the [[Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government]]. This lead to the establishment of a [[Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority]], formed of the county council, the two unitary authorities and the district councils, with powers over housing, job creation and public transport, including [[bus franchising]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Harratt|first=Stuart|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xepkjn841o|title=Devolution deals approved by the government|website=BBC News|access-date=19 September 2024}}</ref> The first election for the [[Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire]], who will chair GLCCA, took place in [[2025 Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election|May 2025]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lincolnshiretoday.net/mag/together-again-devolution-deal-with-create-county-authority-for-lincolnshire/ | title=Together again: Devolution deal will create County Authority for Lincolnshire | date=19 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/devolution-deal-announced-greater-lincolnshire-9562635 |title=Devolution deal announced for Greater Lincolnshire - with Mayor elected in May |work=Grimsby Live |last=Poxton |first=Ian Morris |date=19 September 2024 |access-date=31 March 2025}}</ref> Reform UK [[Andrea Jenkyns]] was elected and Reform UK took control of [[Lincolnshire County Council]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Lincolnshire voters' views on why Reform swept to victory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g2vq43pv2o |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

====Central Lincolnshire====
The Central Lincolnshire area is a joint partnership arrangement between [[North Kesteven]], [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]] and [[West Lindsey]], covering economic planning and development across the three districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/mgOutsideBodyDetails.aspx?ID=324 |title=Central Lincolnshire: Forward Plan|publisher=[[Lincolnshire County Council]] |access-date=27 February 2025 |date=10 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Central Lincolnshire |url=https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/central-lincolnshire/about-central-lincolnshire/ |publisher=Kesteven District Council |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Central Lincolnshire – creating a prosperous and desirable place to live|publisher=[[West Lindsey]] District Council |url=https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/council-news/2021/07/central-lincolnshire-creating-prosperous-desirable-place-live |date=23 July 2021 |access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref>

===Proposed local government reorganisation===
{{seealso| 2024–present structural changes to local government in England}}
Separate to the newly established [[Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority|devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire]] three separate proposals for the future governance of Lincolnshire were published in March 2025. Option One would see a single council for the area that currently makes up Lincolnshire County Council and a merger of the current two unitary authorities of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire in the north of the county to make a single council. Option Two would see Lincolnshire split into two separate unitary authorities on a north/south basis with North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, East and West Lindsey making up the northern council area whilst Lincoln, North and South Kesteven, Boston and South Holland making up the southern council area. Option Three would see Lincolnshire split up into three council areas, one covering Lincoln, West Lindsey, North Kesteven and South Kesteven, the second covering East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland and the third covering North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmjxpygkxjo| title= Options for Lincolnshire councils shake-up revealed; BBC News | date=11 March 2025 }}</ref>

==Demography==
The following tables show the ethnic and religious composition of Lincolnshire in 2021:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ethnicity (2021)<ref name="Association">{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Local Government |title=Demographic Report for Lincolnshire |url=https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/view/lga-research/lga-research-report-demographic-report?mod-area=E10000019&mod-group=AllCountiesInCountry_England&mod-type=namedComparisonGroup |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=lginform.local.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
! White !! Asian !! Black !! Mixed and other
|-
| 96% || 2% || 1% || 1%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Religion (2021)<ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000015|title=Derby Local Authority|access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref>
|-
! Christianity !! Islam !! Other !! No religion
|-
| 52.2% || 1.1% || 7.2% || 39.5%
|}

==Economy==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Gross value added of Lincolnshire (£ millions)<ref>{{citation |author1=John Marais |title=Regional Gross Value Added |date=December 2004 |pages=240–253 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20050303060209/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf |chapter=Lincolnshire |chapter-url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf |publisher=Office for National Statistics |archive-date=3 March 2005 |author2=Eddie Holmes |author3=David Woolverton |author4=Rob Betts |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! Year || County-wide|| Agriculture{{ref label|agriculture|a|a}} || Industry{{ref label|industry|b|b}} || Services{{ref label|services|c|c}}
|-
| 1995 || '''5,719''' || 657 || 1,769 || 3,292
|-
| 2000 || '''6,512''' || 452 || 2,046 || 4,013
|-
| 2003 || '''8,419''' || 518 || 2,518 || 5,383
|}
:{{note label|agriculture|a|a}} includes hunting and forestry
:{{note label|industry|b|b}} includes energy and construction
:{{note label|services|c|c}} includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured

Notable businesses based in Lincolnshire include the [[Lincs FM Group]], [[Young's Seafood]], [[Openfield]] and the [[Lincolnshire Co-operative]] (whose membership includes about one quarter of the population of the county).{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

===Agriculture===
[[File:Lincsfarmland.jpg|thumb|left|Lincolnshire farmland near [[Burton Coggles]]]]
Lincolnshire has long been a primarily agricultural area, and it continues to grow large amounts of [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[sugar beet]], and [[oilseed rape]]. In south Lincolnshire, where the soil is particularly rich in nutrients, some of the most common crops include [[potatoes]], [[cabbage]]s, [[cauliflower]]s, and [[onion]]s. Lincolnshire farmers often break world records for crop yields.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/wheat-yield-world-record-shattered-lincolnshire |title=Wheat yield world record shattered in Lincolnshire |date=24 August 2015 |newspaper=[[Farmers Weekly]] |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207045517/https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/wheat-yield-world-record-shattered-lincolnshire |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aafarmer.co.uk/crops/protein-crops/new-world-record-for-combined-peas-set-in-lincs.html |title=New world record for combined peas set in Lincs – Agronomist & Arable Farmer |website=Aafarmer.co.uk |date=30 August 2017 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206192618/http://www.aafarmer.co.uk/crops/protein-crops/new-world-record-for-combined-peas-set-in-lincs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> South Lincolnshire is also home to one of the UK's leading [[agricultural experiment station]]s, located in [[Sutton Bridge]] and operated by the [[Potato Council]]; Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research engages in research for the British potato industry.<ref name="PCSB">{{cite web |url=http://www.potato.org.uk/crop-storage/about-sutton-bridge-csr |title=Potato Council Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research (CSR) facility |website=Potato.org.uk |date=12 September 2012 |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401055448/http://potato.org.uk/crop-storage/about-sutton-bridge-csr |archive-date=1 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Lincoln sheep|Lincoln Longwool]] is a rare breed of sheep, named after the region, which was developed both for wool and mutton, at least 500 years ago, and has the longest fleece of any sheep breed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnsheep.com/about-lincoln/history-of-the-breed/ |title=History of the Breed — National Lincoln Sheep Breeders Association |website=Lincolnsheep.com |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206235040/http://www.lincolnsheep.com/about-lincoln/history-of-the-breed/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Lincoln Red]] is an old breed of beef cattle, originating from the county. In the mid 20th&nbsp;century most farms in Lincolnshire moved away from mixed farming to specialise in arable cropping, partly due to cheap wool imports, partly to take advantage of efficiencies of scale and partly because the drier land on the eastern side of England is particularly suitable for arable cropping.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Mechanisation around 1900 greatly diminished the number of workers required to operate the county's relatively large farms, and the proportion of workers in the agricultural sector dropped substantially during this period.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Several major engineering companies developed in Lincoln, [[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire|Gainsborough]] and [[Grantham]] to support those changes. Among these was [[William Foster & Co Ltd|Fosters of Lincoln]], which built the first [[tank]], and [[Richard Hornsby & Sons]] of Grantham. Most such industrial companies left during late 20th-century restructuring.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Today, [[Immigration to Europe|immigrant]] workers, mainly from [[Enlargement of the European Union|new member states of the European Union]] in Central and Eastern Europe, form a large component of the seasonal agricultural workforce, particularly in the south of the county. Here more labour-intensive crops are produced, such as small vegetables and cut flowers. This seasonal influx of migrant labour occasionally causes tension between the migrant workforce and local people, in a county which had been relatively unaccustomed to large-scale immigration.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Agricultural training is provided at [[Riseholme College]] and in 2016 the [[University of Lincoln]] opened the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology.

===Services and retail===
According to an Intra-governmental Group on Geographic Information (IGGI) study in 2000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iggi.gov.uk/towncent/2000/towncentres.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309200421/http://www.iggi.gov.uk/towncent/2000/towncentres.txt |archive-date=9 March 2005 |title=Town centres data from 2000 |access-date=2 April 2013}}</ref> the town centres were ranked by area thus (including North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire areas):
*[[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]
*[[Grantham]]
*[[Grimsby]]
*[[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]] and [[Scunthorpe]] (equal)
*[[Spalding, Lincolnshire|Spalding]]
*[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]]
*[[Skegness]]
*[[Louth, Lincolnshire|Louth]]
*[[Sleaford]]
*[[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire|Gainsborough]]
*[[Brigg]]
*[[Cleethorpes]]
*[[Bourne, Lincolnshire|Bourne]]
*[[Horncastle, Lincolnshire|Horncastle]] and [[Mablethorpe]] (equal)

==Public services==

===Education===
{{main|Education in Lincolnshire}}
Lincolnshire is one of the few counties in the UK that still uses the [[eleven-plus]] to decide who may attend [[grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar school]]. As a result, many towns in Lincolnshire have both a grammar school and a [[secondary modern school]]. Lincolnshire's rural character means that some larger villages also have primary schools and are served by buses to nearby high schools.

Lincoln itself, however, is primarily non-selective, as is the area within a radius of about seven miles. In this area, almost all children attend [[comprehensive school]]s, though it is still possible to opt into the eleven-plus system. This gives rise to the unusual result that those who pass the eleven-plus can attend a grammar school outside the Lincoln comprehensive area, but those who do not pass still attend a (partly non-selective) comprehensive school.

Lincolnshire is also home of [[University of Lincoln]].

===Health care===
The [[United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ulh.nhs.uk/ |title=United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Website – Home |website=Ulh.nhs.uk |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403070502/http://www.ulh.nhs.uk/ |archive-date=3 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> is one of the largest trusts in the country, employing almost 4,000 staff and with an annual budget of over £200&nbsp;million. The north of the county is served by the [http://www.nlg.nhs.uk/ Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust].

Some of the larger hospitals in the county include:

*[[Diana Princess of Wales]] Hospital, Grimsby
*[[Scunthorpe General Hospital]]
*[[Pilgrim Hospital|Boston Pilgrim Hospital]]
*[[Lincoln County Hospital]]

Since April 1994, Lincolnshire has had an [[Air ambulances in the United Kingdom|air ambulance service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://beehive.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=4781&PageID=24114 |title=Air Ambulance Lincs & Nott: Home Page |access-date=6 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040520003730/http://beehive.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=4781&PageID=24114 |archive-date=20 May 2004}}</ref> The air ambulance is stationed at [[RAF Waddington]] near Lincoln and can reach emergencies in Lincolnshire within 25 minutes. An A&E hospital is only 10 minutes away by helicopter from any accident in Lincolnshire.

===Drainage===
Separately to the commercial water companies the low-lying parts of the county are drained by various [[internal drainage board]]s, such as the [http://www.blacksluiceidb.gov.uk/ Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board],[http://w4idb.co.uk/ Witham 4th District IDB], [http://www.lmdb.co.uk/ Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418202643/http://www.lmdb.co.uk/ |date=18 April 2009 }},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lmdb.co.uk/ |title=Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board |access-date=15 August 2009 |archive-date=18 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418202643/http://www.lmdb.co.uk/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> or the [http://www.wellandidb.org.uk/ Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blacksluiceidb.gov.uk/map-of-idbs.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622050726/http://www.blacksluiceidb.gov.uk/map-of-idbs.html |url-status=dead |title=Map of Lincolnshire IDBs |archive-date=22 June 2009}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{main|Transport in Lincolnshire}}
[[File:Humber Bridge Sunset Wideshot.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Humber Bridge]] connecting North Lincolnshire to the [[East Riding of Yorkshire]]]]

===Roads===
Being on the economic periphery of England, Lincolnshire's transport links are poorly developed compared with many other parts of the United Kingdom. The road network in the county is dominated by [[single carriageway]] [[Great Britain road numbering scheme|A roads]] and local roads (B roads) as opposed to [[Controlled-access highway|motorways]] and [[dual carriageways]]. The administrative county of Lincolnshire is one of the few UK counties without a motorway, and until several years ago, it was said that there was only about {{convert|35|km|mi|abbr=on}} of dual carriageway in the whole of Lincolnshire. However the [[M180 motorway]] passes through [[North Lincolnshire]], splitting into two dual carriageway trunk roads to the [[Humber Bridge]] and [[Grimsby]], and the [[A46 road|A46]] is now dual carriageway between [[Newark-on-Trent]] and Lincoln.

===Railways: history and present day===
The low population density of the county means there are few railway stations and train services, considering the county's large area. Many of the county's railway stations were permanently closed following the [[Beeching cuts|Beeching Report]] of 1963. The most notable reopening has been the line and two stations between Lincoln and [[Sleaford]], which reopened within months of the Beeching closure. Most other closed lines in the county were lifted long ago and much of the trackbed has returned to agricultural use.

Prior to 1970, a through train service operated between [[Cleethorpes railway station|Cleethorpes]] and [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] via [[Louth railway station|Louth]], [[Boston railway station|Boston]] and [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]]. The part of this line in Grimsby is now the [[A16 road (England)|A16 road]], preventing reinstatement as a railway line, and a small section of the line is now the [[Lincolnshire Wolds Railway]], with an extension towards Louth in progress.

A daily through train service operated between Cleethorpes and London King's Cross via [[Grimsby railway station|Grimsby]], [[Market Rasen railway station|Market Rasen]] and [[Lincoln railway station|Lincoln Central]] until the late 1980s. The ''Humberlincs Executive'', as the service was known, was operated by an [[InterCity 125]], but was discontinued following the electrification of the [[East Coast Main Line]]. Passengers to/from London now have to change trains at [[Newark North Gate railway station|Newark North Gate]]. However, the East Coast Main Line passes through the western edge of the county and one can catch direct trains to London from [[Grantham railway station|Grantham]].
[[File:Lincsroad.jpg|thumb|A rural road in Lincolnshire]]

Most rail services are currently operated by [[East Midlands Railway]] and [[Northern Trains]]. [[London North Eastern Railway]] (LNER), [[Hull Trains]] and [[CrossCountry]] have services which pass through the county, with LNER trains frequently passing and stopping at Grantham, on the East Coast Main Line and a service every other hour to [[Lincoln railway station|Lincoln]], while CrossCountry trains stop at Stamford on their way between [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]] and [[Stansted Airport railway station|Stansted Airport]]. Stations along the Humber are served by [[TransPennine Express]] services between [[Manchester Airport railway station|Manchester Airport]] and Cleethorpes. One of the most infrequent services in the UK is in Lincolnshire: the [[Sheffield railway station|Sheffield]]-[[Gainsborough Central railway station|Gainsborough Central]]-Cleethorpes line has passenger trains only on a Saturday, with three trains in both directions. This line is, however, used for freight. Hull Trains also stops at Grantham before continuing its journey to either Kings Cross or Hull.

On 22 May 2011, [[East Coast (train operating company)|East Coast]] started a Lincoln-London service, initially one train a day each way, and there is a northbound service on a Sunday. This was increased in 2019 to a service every two hours. East Midlands Railway also run a daily (Mon-Sat) service each way between Lincoln and [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]], though this is a stopping service which takes around three hours via [[Nottingham railway station|Nottingham]], compared to LNER's service to London King's Cross which takes around 1 hour 50 minutes.

===Airport===
The only airport in Lincolnshire is [[Humberside Airport]], near Brigg. [[East Midlands Airport]], the main airport servicing the East Midlands, is within travelling distance{{clarify|date=November 2024}} of the county. Until its closure in 2022, [[Doncaster Sheffield Airport]] near [[Doncaster]] was within travelling distance of much of Lincolnshire.

===Buses===
The county's biggest bus companies are [[Stagecoach Grimsby-Cleethorpes]] (formerly Grimsby-Cleethorpes Transport) and [[Stagecoach in Lincolnshire]] (formerly Lincolnshire Road Car). There are several smaller bus companies, including Brylaine of Boston, [[Delaine Buses]] and Hornsby's of Scunthorpe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hornsbytravel.co.uk/index.htm |title=Home |website=Hornsbytravel.co.uk |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522124406/http://www.hornsbytravel.co.uk/index.htm |archive-date=22 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Cycle routes===

* A [[Sustrans]] cycle route runs from Lincoln to Boston in the south of the county.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sustrans-near-you/midlands/465 |title=Sustrans Lincolnshire |website=Sustrans.org.uk |access-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308043023/http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sustrans-near-you/midlands/465 |archive-date=8 March 2013}}</ref>
* Historic Lincoln & Surrounding Area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic Lincoln & Surrounding Area |url=https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/things-to-do/historic-lincoln-cycle-route/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Visit Lincolnshire |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/cycle-lincolnshire/ All Lincolnshire cycle routes]

== Towns and villages ==
[[File:High Street St Martin's, Stamford.jpg|thumb|[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]]]]
In terms of population, the 12 biggest settlements in the county by population are:

*[[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] (population: 104,565)
*[[Grimsby]] (population: 85,911)
*[[Scunthorpe]] (population: 81,286)
*[[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]] (population: 45,339)
*[[Grantham]] (population: 44,898)
*[[Spalding, Lincolnshire|Spalding]] (population: 30,556)
*[[Cleethorpes]] (population: 29,678)
*[[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire|Gainsborough]] (population: 21,908)
*[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]] (population: 20,742)
*[[Skegness]] (population: 20,704)
*[[Sleaford]] (population: 18,033)
*[[Bourne, Lincolnshire|Bourne]] (population: 17,490)

A small part of the [[Thorne and Hatfield Moors#Location|Thorne Waste]] area of the town of [[Thorne, South Yorkshire|Thorne]] in South Yorkshire, known as the Yorkshire Triangle, currently falls under North Lincolnshire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdingsiteguide.com/index.php/other-items/86-annual-reports-papers/756-2006-thorne-moors-vertebrate-report |title=2006 Thorne Moors Vertebrate Report – "Thorne Waste (except now the Yorkshire Triangle) lies in South Yorkshire, and the other parishes lie in East Yorkshire, except Crowle Moor and the Yorkshire Triangle, which are in North Lincolnshire. |work=birdingsiteguide.com |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109131631/http://www.birdingsiteguide.com/index.php/other-items/86-annual-reports-papers/756-2006-thorne-moors-vertebrate-report |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/index.php?page=contact |title=Humberhead Peatlands – Map of Thorne Moors |work=Humberhead Peatlands Website |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422110850/https://www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk/index.php?page=contact |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Tourism==
The majority of tourism in Lincolnshire relies on the coastal resorts and towns to the east of the [[Lincolnshire Wolds]]. The county has some of the best-known seaside resorts in the United Kingdom, which are a major attraction to visitors from across England, especially the [[East Midlands]] and parts of [[Yorkshire]]. There are three main coastal resorts in Lincolnshire and several smaller village resorts:
[[File:Clock Tower, Skegness 1.JPG|thumb|[[Skegness]] town centre, showing the clock tower and the "Jolly Fisherman" sculpture/fountain]]
*The main county seaside resort of [[Skegness]] with its famous [[The Jolly Fisherman|Jolly Fisherman]] mascot and famous slogan "Skegness is so bracing", together with its neighbouring large village coastal resorts of [[Ingoldmells]] and [[Chapel St Leonards]], provides the biggest concentration of resorts along the [[Lincolnshire Coast]], with many large caravan and holiday sites. The resort offers many amusements, beaches, leisure activities and shops, as well as [[Butlins Skegness]], [[Fantasy Island (UK amusement park)|Fantasy Island]], [[Church Farm Museum]], [[Natureland Seal Sanctuary]], [[Skegness Stadium]], [[Skegness Pier#Pier|Skegness Pier]] and several well-known local golf courses. There are good road, bus and rail links to the rest of the county.
*The second largest group of resorts along the coast is composed of the seaside towns of [[Mablethorpe]] and [[Sutton-on-Sea]], famous for its golden sands, and the neighbouring village resort of [[Trusthorpe]]. This area also offers leisure activities and has large caravan and holiday sites. The area is less developed, with fewer amusement arcades and nightclubs, and poorer road links to the rest of the county; but the area offers a more traditional seaside setting.
*The third group of resorts includes the seaside town of [[Cleethorpes]] and the large village resort of [[Humberston]] within North East Lincolnshire. It has the [[Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway]] and [[Cleethorpes Pier]], along with golf courses and caravan and holiday sites, whilst it is also the former site of [[Pleasure Island Family Theme Park]]. Cleethorpes is well served by road and rail; it is easily accessible from the [[M180 motorway|M180]] and the [[TransPennine Express]] route to Manchester.

Nature is an attraction for many tourists: the south-east of the county is mainly [[the Fens|fenland]] that attracts many species of birds, as do the [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserves]] at [[Gibraltar Point, Lincolnshire|Gibraltar Point]], [[Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve|Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe]] and [[Donna Nook]], which also contains a large [[grey seal]] colony which is popular with visitors.

The market towns of the Lincolnshire Wolds, [[Louth, Lincolnshire|Louth]], [[Alford, Lincolnshire|Alford]], [[Horncastle, Lincolnshire|Horncastle]], [[Caistor]] and [[Spilsby]] are also attractive, with several having historically important buildings, such as [[Alford Manor House]], [[St James' Church, Louth]] and [[Bolingbroke Castle]]. The Wolds are popular for cycling and walking, with regular events such as the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival.

The city of [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]] is home to many tourist attractions including [[Lincoln Castle]], [[Lincoln Cathedral]], [[The Engine Shed]], [[Steep Hill]], [[International Bomber Command Centre]] and [[Guildhall and Stonebow, Lincoln|Guildhall and Stonebow]] among other historical landmarks and listed buildings. The city is one of the many tourist centres in the East Midlands Region.

==Culture==
[[File:Steep Hill.jpg|thumb|right|A view up 'Steep Hill' towards the historic quarter of Bailgate in Lincoln]]
[[File:Mobile Library (geograph 3691202).jpg|thumb|right|Lincolnshire mobile library at [[Pode Hole]]. [[Lincolnshire County Council]] operate five routes, covering small villages in this large, sparse, county. Each location is visited once a month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mobile Libraries |url=http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/discover-libraries/mobile-libraries/ |publisher=Lincolnshire County Council |access-date=22 November 2013 |quote=Wherever you live in Lincolnshire, whether in the countryside of the Wolds or Fens, the Coastal area or even on the edge of a town, a Mobile Library will stop nearby. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111075443/https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/discover-libraries/mobile-libraries |archive-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>]]
Lincolnshire has a [[rural area|rustic]] culture. Due to the large distances between the towns, many villages have remained very self-contained, with many still having shops, pubs, local halls and local chapels and churches, offering a variety of social activities for residents. Fishing (in the extensive river and drainage system in the fens) and shooting are popular activities. A lot of the culture in Lincoln itself is based upon its history. [[Lincoln Museum, Lincolnshire|Lincoln Museum]] is an archaeological museum and art gallery in Lincoln. Lincoln Cathedral also plays a large part in Lincoln's culture, hosting many events throughout the year, from concert recitals to indoor food markets.

A Lincolnshire tradition was that front doors were used for only three things: a new baby, a bride, and a coffin.<ref name="Sayings and Traditions">{{cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~englin/sayings.htm |title=Lincolnshire Sayings and Traditions |website=Rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520070732/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~englin/sayings.htm |archive-date=20 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Urban areas===
[[File:Grimsby Town Centre and Station, aerial 2018 - geograph.org.uk - 5916692.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Grimsby aerial view]]
[[File:Lincoln Christmas Market and historic centre, aerial 2017 - geograph.org.uk - 5623489.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Lincoln city aerial view]]
[[File:Scunthorpe Steel Works, aerial 2019 (3) - geograph.org.uk - 6201414.jpg|thumb|Scunthorpe [[Scunthorpe Steel Works|Steel Works]] aerial]]
While Lincolnshire maintains a rural setting, certain parts of the county form [[urban areas]] around its larger settlements or growing centres. Such as, [[Grimsby]]-[[Cleethorpes]] form the largest urban area in the county with a population of 137,021.<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web |title=United Kingdom: Countries and Major Urban Areas - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/ua/?cityid=7175 |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref> The second largest urban area is [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]] which incorporates the town of [[North Hykeham]] and villages of [[Bracebridge Heath]] and [[Waddington, Lincolnshire|Waddington]]. The population of the urban area was recorded at 129,305.<ref name="citypopulation.de"/> Other urban areas include [[Scunthorpe]] which includes the town of [[Bottesford, Lincolnshire|Bottesford]] and had a population of 81,286.<ref name="citypopulation.de"/> Other urban areas include: [[Grantham]] (46,778)<ref name="United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Engl">{{cite web |title=United Kingdom: Urban Areas in England - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/englandua/?cityid=16563 |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=11 August 2024}}</ref> [[Boston, Lincolnshire|Boston]] (45,339),<ref name="United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Engl"/> [[Spalding, Lincolnshire|Spalding]] (35,064),<ref name="United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Engl"/> [[Skegness]] (26,065)<ref name="United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Engl"/> and [[Gainsborough, Lincolnshire|Gainsborough]] (22,913).<ref name="United Kingdom: Urban Areas in Engl"/>

===People===
{{See also|List of people from Lincolnshire}}
Those born in Lincolnshire are sometimes given the nickname of [[Yellowbelly (Lincolnshire)|Yellowbellies]] (often spelt "Yeller Bellies", to reflect the pronunciation of the phrase by the typical Lincolnshire farmer). The origin of this term is debated but is most commonly believed to derive from the uniform of the [[10th Regiment of Foot]] (later the [[Lincolnshire Regiment]]) which featured yellow facings. For this reason, the [[coat of arms]] of Lincolnshire County Council is supported by two officers of the regiment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/lincs.html |title=Civic Heraldry visited 22 December 2006 |website=Civicheraldry.co.uk |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523205748/http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/lincs.html |archive-date=23 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Local dialect===
In common with most other [[English English#Northern England|Northern]] and [[English English#Midlands|Midlands dialects]] in England, "flat" ''a'' is preferred, i.e. {{IPAc-en|b|æ|θ}} over {{IPAc-en|b|ɑː|θ}}, and also traditionally in words like 'water', pronounced {{IPA|/ˈwætər/}} ''watter'' (though such a pronunciation is rarely heard nowadays). Similarly, {{IPA|/ʌ/}} is usually replaced by {{IPA|/ʊ/}}. Features rather more confined to Lincolnshire include:
*Elaboration of [[Received Pronunciation]] English {{IPA|/eɪ/}} or {{IPA|/iː/}} into a complex [[triphthong]] approximating, and often [[Transcription (linguistics)|transcribed]] ''-air-'' or ''-yair-''. For example: 'mate' {{IPA|[m(j)ɛːət]}}; 'beast' {{IPA|[b(j)ɛːəst]}}; ''tates'' (potatoes) {{IPA|[t(j)ɛːəts]}}.
*An equivalent elaboration of standard English {{IPA|/oʊ/}} – commonly {{IPA|[oː]}} in [[Northern England]] – into ''-ooa-''. For example, 'boat' {{IPA|[bʊːət]}}.
*Insertion of an extra [[schwa]] into the standard English [[diphthong]] {{IPA|/aʊ/}}.
*[[Vocabulary]]: 'duck' as a term of endearment or informal address, 'mardy' meaning upset or angry, ''mowt'' (pronounced like 'mout') for 'might', ''while'' as a substitute for standard English 'until', ''frit'' meaning frightened, ''grufty'' meaning dirty or disgusting, and the inimitable [[salutation (greeting)|salutation]] ''now then!?'' (hello), sometimes written ''nairn'' to reflect pronunciation.
*In the north-east of the county, around Grimsby and Immingham, the [[Phonological history of English vowels|nurse-square merger]] can be heard, as is also the case along the east coast of Yorkshire and also in Liverpool. Words that take {{IPA|/ɜː/}} in RP take {{IPA|/ɛː/}} in these areas.

Lincolnshire has its own dialect "champion", a farmer from the village of [[Minting]] called Farmer Wink (real name Robert Carlton), who has produced videos about rural life, narrated in his broad Lincolnshire accent. A resident of [[Woodhall Spa]] has published a dictionary of words once prevalent in parts of the county.<ref>[http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=156130&command=displayContent&sourceNode=156603&home=yes&contentPK=15658693 thisislincolnshire.co.uk] {{dead link |date=June 2016 |bot=medic}}{{cbignore |bot=medic}}</ref>

===Music===
"[[The Lincolnshire Poacher]]", a folksong, is the country's best-known melody and almost its unofficial anthem. It describes the delights of nocturnal poaching. It was the regimental quick march of the [[10th Regiment of Foot]] and its successors the [[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment]] and the 2nd Battalion [[Royal Anglian Regiment]],<ref name="thelincolnshireregiment">{{cite web |url=http://www.thelincolnshireregiment.org/music.shtml |title=The Royal Anglian and Royal Lincolnshire Regimental Association |publisher=thelincolnshireregiment.org |access-date=11 December 2014 |archive-date=7 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307215453/http://www.thelincolnshireregiment.org/music.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> who are known as "the Poachers".<ref name="armynavyairforce">{{cite web |url=http://www.armynavyairforce.co.uk/lincolnshire_regiment.htm |title=Lincolnshire Regiment |publisher=armynavyairforce.co.uk |access-date=11 December 2014}}</ref>

Lincolnshire was historically associated with the [[Lincolnshire bagpipes]], instruments derided as coarse and unpleasant in contemporary literature, but noted as very popular in the county. The last player, [[John Hunsley]] of Middle Manton,<ref>[[Peter Blannin Gibbons Binnall|Binnall, P.B.G.]], "A Man of Might" in FOLKLORE Vol.52, p.73, 1941</ref> died in 1851,<ref>Binnall, P.B.G. "A Man of Might", in FOLKLORE Vol.52, p.74, 1941</ref> and since then the instrument has been extinct.

The Australian composer [[Percy Grainger]] made what are thought to be the first recordings of British Folksongs between 1906 and 1908 in Lincolnshire using a wax [[Phonograph Cylinder]]. These are now housed in the [[British Library]].<ref>"Percy Grainger ethnographic wax cylinders - World and traditional music | British Library - Sounds". sounds.bl.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2021.</ref><ref>Yates, Michael. Percy Grainger and the Impact of the Phonograph, Folk Music Journal Vol. 4, No. 3 (1982), pp. 265-275</ref> They included songs sung by [[Joseph Taylor (folk singer)|Joseph Taylor]] of Saxby-All-Saints who became the first folk singer to be commercially recorded and whose rendition of [[Brigg Fair]] inspired classical works by Grainger and [[Frederick Delius]]. In 1937, Grainger wrote his ''[[Lincolnshire Posy]]'' for wind band. The piece is a compilation of folk songs ("bunch of wildflowers") collected by the composer in and around the county of Lincolnshire.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bird |first=John |title=Percy Grainger |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1999 |isbn=0-19-816652-4 |page=127}}</ref> [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]] was a frequent guest at [[Gunby Hall]]. The manuscript of his collected folksong "Daffodils" is in their collection.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/3098577 | title=To daffodils / R. Vaughan-Williams 3098577 }}</ref>

Several composers have lived and worked in the county. [[William Byrd]] was organist and master of the choristers at [[Lincoln Cathedral]] from 1563 to 1572. [[John Taverner]] was listed as a lay clerk at [[Tattershall]] Collegiate Church in 1525 and also sang at [[St Botolph's Church, Boston]] under whose famous "stump" he is presumed to be buried.<ref>
Tudor Church Music, ed. Buck, P. C., Fellowes, E. H., Ramsbotham, A., Terry, R. R. and Warner, S. T., 10 vols. Oxford University Press, 1923–1929 I: John Taverner, c. 1495–1545</ref> [[Thomas Linley the younger|Thomas Linley]], composer, a friend of [[Mozart]], drowned in the lake at [[Grimsthorpe Castle]] near Bourne in 1778.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gsey.org.uk/anniversary/376/the-drowning-of-thomas-linley-the-younger |title=The drowning of Thomas Linley the Younger: Georgian Society for East Yorkshire |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818100017/http://www.gsey.org.uk/anniversary/376/the-drowning-of-thomas-linley-the-younger |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Nicholas Maw]] was born in [[Grantham]] and [[Peter Seabourne]] lives in [[East Kirkby]].

===Food===
[[File:Lincolnshire sausages and onions.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Lincolnshire sausages]]]]
Lincolnshire has a number of local dishes:
*[[Stuffed chine]] – this is salted neck-chine of a pig taken from between the shoulder blades, salted for up to ten months and stuffed with [[parsley]] (other ingredients are normally kept secret), and served cold.<ref name="Ports1937">{{cite news |title=Lincolnshire's Dishes |work=Portsmouth Evening News |date=5 November 1937 |access-date=15 February 2015 |url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19371105/153/0010 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
*[[Haslet]] – a type of pork loaf, also flavoured with sage (pronounced HAYSS-let or AYSS-let in Lincolnshire but HAZ-let in many other parts of the country).<ref name="Ports1937"/>
*[[Lincolnshire sausage]]s – most butchers in Lincolnshire have their own secret recipe for these and a competition is held each year to judge the best sausages in the county. Traditional Lincolnshire sausages are made entirely from minced pork, stale bread crumb ([[rusk]] is used nowadays) pepper, sage and salt. The skins should be natural casings which are made from the intestines of either sheep or pig.
*[[Pork pie]]s – the same pork butchers will take a pride in their unique recipe for pork pies.
*[[Giblets|Giblet]] pie.<ref name="Ports1937"/>
*[[Lamb and mutton|Mutton]] stuffed with [[oyster]]s.<ref name="Ports1937"/>
*Plum bread – as with [[Christmas pudding|plum pudding]], plum refers to [[dried fruit]], namely currants, raisins and sultanas, sometimes soaked in tea.
*Grantham Gingerbread – a hard white ginger biscuit.
*[[Lincolnshire Poacher cheese]] – a cheddar-style cheese produced in [[Alford, Lincolnshire|Alford]]. Lincolnshire Poacher has won numerous awards over the years including Supreme Champion at the 1996/7 British Cheese Awards and Best British Cheese at the World Cheese awards in 2001/2. 
*[[Batemans Brewery|Batemans]] ales – a beer brewed in [[Wainfleet, Lincolnshire|Wainfleet]] and served in many pubs in the county and further afield.
*There are several small breweries.
*Grimsby is renowned for its fishing industry, and historically ''Grimsby Fish'' has carried a premium price. Since the decline of the fishing industry following entry to the European Economic Community in the 1970s this is no longer the case, with the majority of fish sold at the town's fish market being brought overland from other ports. However, ''Grimsby Fish'' is still a recognised ''product'', one associated with a particular area that specialises in and has expertise in a particular trade (cf ''Sheffield steel''). In 2009 [[Traditional Grimsby smoked fish|smoked fish]] from the town was granted [[Protected Geographical Indication]] by the [[European Union]], reflecting the unique smoking methods used by certain local fish companies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6919386.ece |location=London |work=The Times |title=Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish is granted European PGI status |first=Valerie |last=Elliott |date=17 November 2009 | access-date=16 July 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629142147/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article6919386.ece | archive-date=29 June 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
Craft chocolatiers can be found throughout<ref>{{cite web |title=Chocolatier in Louth |url=http://www.thelittlechocolatier.co.uk/ |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727114610/http://www.thelittlechocolatier.co.uk/ |archive-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bingham |first=Caroline |title=Chocolatier in Willingham |url=http://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/posts/view/chocolate-the-special-edition-super-food |access-date=7 July 2013 |newspaper=Lincolnshire Life |date=November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226201303/http://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/posts/view/chocolate-the-special-edition-super-food |archive-date=26 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chocolatier in Skegness |url=http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g190733-d2691012-Reviews-Hames_Chocolate_Cafe-Skegness_Lincolnshire_England.html |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910091702/http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g190733-d2691012-Reviews-Hames_Chocolate_Cafe-Skegness_Lincolnshire_England.html |archive-date=10 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the county, such as Hansens<ref>{{cite web |title=Hansen's chocolate house |url=http://www.mrchocolate.co.uk/ |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818064705/http://www.mrchocolate.co.uk/ |archive-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in Folkingham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hansen's Chocolate House, Folkingham, Lincolnshire |url=http://www.explorelincolnshire.co.uk/things-to-do/hansens-chocolate-house-folkingham-35727.html |work=Explore Lincolnshire |access-date=7 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125052055/http://www.explorelincolnshire.co.uk/things-to-do/hansens-chocolate-house-folkingham-35727.html |archive-date=25 January 2014}}</ref> In 2013 Redstar Chocolate's "Duffy's Venezuela Ocumare Milk" won a gold medal as best bean-to-bar.<ref>{{cite web |title=Best Milk Chocolate Bean-To-Bar |url=http://www.academyofchocolate.org.uk/awards-2013/ |work=2013 awards |publisher=Academy of Chocolate |access-date=7 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704142454/http://www.academyofchocolate.org.uk/awards-2013/ |archive-date= 4 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Holly |title=Best of British |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/best-of-british-the-best-hotel-campsite-cheese-zoo-beach-beer-and-dozens-more-8690942.html |access-date=7 July 2013 |newspaper=The Independent |date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708012009/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/best-of-british-the-best-hotel-campsite-cheese-zoo-beach-beer-and-dozens-more-8690942.html |archive-date=8 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The factory is in Cleethorpes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Star Chocolate |url=http://www.duffyschocolate.co.uk/ |access-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626223346/http://www.duffyschocolate.co.uk/ |archive-date=26 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Annual events===
Every year the [[Lincolnshire Agricultural Society]], founded in 1869, stages the [[Lincolnshire Agricultural Show]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk |title=Lincolnshire Events Centre |publisher=[[Lincolnshire Showground]] |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224185705/http://www.lincolnshireshowground.co.uk/ |archive-date=24 February 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is held on the Wednesday and Thursday of the last whole week of June at its showground at [[Grange de Lings]], a few miles north of Lincoln on the [[A15 road (Great Britain)|A15]]. The show was first held here in 1958. First held around the year 1884, it is one of the largest agricultural shows in the country, and is attended by around 100,000 people over its two days. The showground is in regular use throughout the year for a wide range of other events and functions.

Smaller local agricultural shows, such as the [[Heckington]] Show<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heckingtonshow.org.uk/ |title=The Largest Village Show in England |website=Heckingtonshow.org.uk |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505075047/http://www.heckingtonshow.org.uk/ |archive-date=5 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> can still be found. [[Corby Glen]] sheep fair<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.corbyglen.com/sheepfair/gallery.html |title=Corby Glen Sheep Fair Gallery |website=Corbyglen.com |access-date=29 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721220039/http://www.corbyglen.com/sheepfair/gallery.html |archive-date=21 July 2010}}</ref> has been held since 1238.

[[File:Red Arrows 03.jpg|thumb|The [[Red Arrows]], based at [[RAF Waddington]] near Lincoln<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/ |title=RAF Red Arrows – Home |website=Raf.mod.uk |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516150530/http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/ |archive-date=16 May 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> are a popular attraction at the Waddington Air Show.]]
<!--This section needs updating, as neither airfield have had air shows in a number of years-->Each year [[RAF Waddington]] is the home to the RAF International Waddington Air Show. The two-day event attracts around 150,000 people and usually takes place during the first weekend of July. Since its inception over 35 countries have participated, with aircraft from around the globe attending the Lincolnshire Base. Beginning 2017, the event will be held at nearby RAF Scampton.

On the Monday before Easter, an unusual auction takes place in [[Bourne, Lincolnshire|Bourne]] to let the grazing rights of the Whitebread Meadow.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/wbmeadow.htm |title=The White Bread Meadow |website=Homepages.which.net |access-date=29 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715175645/http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/wbmeadow.htm |archive-date=15 July 2010}}</ref> Bidding takes place while two boys race toward the Queen's Bridge in Eastgate, the end of which dash is equivalent to the falling of the gavel. The whole affair dates back to the 1742 will of William Clay.

The [[Haxey Hood]] village competition takes place every January, as it has for over 700 years.

Stamford's Mid-Lent fair sees showmen converge on the town the week after [[Mothering Sunday]], with rides and sideshows filling Broad Street, the Sheepmarket and the Meadows for a week. Stalls selling Grantham gingerbread and nougat are a traditional feature. The following week sees them in Grantham, on the way north for the Summer. [http://www.rogertuby.co.uk/ Roger Tuby] brings a small funfair to [[Bourne, Lincolnshire|Bourne]] and then to Spalding in Spring and returns in Autumn at the end of the season.

The villages of [[Tetford]] and [[Salmonby]] hold an annual Scarecrow Festival in May every year.

The [[Belchford]] Downhill Challenge which is held every two years: soapbox racers race down the hill at up to 30&nbsp;km/h. The turnout has been up to 1,000.

[[Lincoln Christmas Market]], was a street market held throughout the historic area of the city at the start of December, it was one of the largest [[Christmas market]]s in Europe, attracting over 250,000 people<ref>[http://www.christmasmarkets.com/UK/lincoln-christmas-market.html Crafts at Lincoln Christmas Market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103035357/http://www.christmasmarkets.com/UK/lincoln-christmas-market.html |date=3 January 2013 }} Retrieved 31 March 2013</ref> over the four-day event. Around the same time, Christmas lights are turned on in Bourne, Sleaford, Skegness, and other towns.

Throughout the summer the [[Stamford Shakespeare Company]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk/ |title=Stamford Shakespeare Company |website=Stamfordshakespeare.co.uk |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610110155/http://www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk/ |archive-date=10 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> presents the Bard's plays in the open-air theatre at [[Tolethorpe Hall]], which is actually in [[Rutland]].

The [[Spalding, Lincolnshire|Spalding]] Flower Parade was held in late spring every year between 1959 and 2013. Colourful floats decorated with tulip heads competed for a cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spaldingnet.com/spalding-flower-parade |title=Spalding Flower Parade |website=Spaldingnet.com |access-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430114102/http://spaldingnet.com/spalding-flower-parade |archive-date=30 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lost Village Festival is an annual music and arts event held in a secluded woodland near Norton Disney. Founded in 2015, the festival features a diverse program of live music, DJ sets, immersive theatre, comedy, and interactive experiences. [https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/events/lost-village-festival/]

The Asylum Steampunk Festival, frequently referred to simply as the Steampunk Festival in Lincoln, is an annual convention and celebration of steampunk culture held in the historic Cathedral Quarter of Lincoln, England. Established in 2009, it is recognized as one of the largest steampunk gatherings in Europe. The festival usually takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, drawing enthusiasts from across the globe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Asylum Steampunk Festival, Lincoln |url=https://www.visitlincolnshire.com/events-in-lincolnshire/the-asylum-steampunk-festival/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Visit Lincolnshire |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Sport===
[[File:Lincoln Gold Postbox.jpg|thumb|The gold Victorian-style Penfold post box in Lincoln painted in recognition of Paralympian [[Sophie Wells]] who won the gold medal in the team Equestrian event at the [[2012 Paralympic Games]] in London. It is the only [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes|post box painted gold]] in the county.]]
The main sports played in the county are [[Association football|football]], [[cricket]] and [[rugby union]]. Lincolnshire does not have a high sporting profile, mainly due to the lack of facilities and high-profile football teams. Probably the most well-known sporting venues in Lincolnshire are [[Cadwell Park]] near Louth, where a round of the British Motorbike Championship is held on the last Monday of August every year and the racecourse at [[Market Rasen]]

*Two teams from Lincolnshire play in the [[English Football League|Football League]]: [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] play in [[Football League One|League One]] and [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]] play in [[Football League Two|League Two]]. In non-league football, [[Boston United F.C.|Boston United]] play in the [[National League (division)|National League]], [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] play in the [[National League North]], and [[Gainsborough Trinity F.C.|Gainsborough Trinity]] play in the [[Northern Premier League]]. A meeting between any of these clubs is a [[Lincolnshire derby]]; the most prominent meeting, having happened across [[English football league system|four of the top five tiers of English football]], is Lincoln City vs Grimsby Town.
*In [[cricket]] [[Lincolnshire County Cricket Club|Lincolnshire]] are a minor county and play in the [[Minor Counties Championship]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Play-Sport New Media |url=http://lincscb.play-cricket.com/ |title=Play-Cricket the ECB Cricket Network |website=Lincscb.play-cricket.com |date=13 June 2002 |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715092833/http://lincscb.play-cricket.com/ |archive-date=15 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*In [[field hockey|hockey]] [[Lindum Hockey Club]] play in the north of Lincoln.
*[[Scunthorpe Rugby Club]] are the most notable [[rugby union]] team from Lincolnshire, and will play in the fifth level of the English league system in the 2017–18 season. Other notable teams include Market Rasen and Louth RUFC, Lincoln RFC, and [[Boston RFC (England)|Boston RFC]].
*Lincolnshire is home to one racecourse, at [[Market Rasen Racecourse|Market Rasen]].
*[[Cadwell Park]] is the only motor-racing course in Lincolnshire. There is a speedway track in Scunthorpe, home of the [[Scunthorpe Scorpions]], and stock-car racing at a stadium at Orby, near [[Skegness]].
*Lincolnshire has an [[American Football]] club, the [[Lincolnshire Bombers]], which has existed in its current guise since 2005.
*Lincolnshire is home to the UK [[roller derby]] team, the [[Lincolnshire Bombers Roller Girls]], which is sponsored by [[Motörhead]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Now sponsored by MOTÖRHEAD! – Lincolnshire Bombers |url=http://lincolnshire-bombers.com/sponsorship_motorhead.htm |publisher=Lincolnshire Bombers' News forum |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=11 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514125011/http://lincolnshire-bombers.com/sponsorship_motorhead.htm |archive-date=14 May 2010}}</ref>
*Lincolnshire is home to Lincolnshire Lions Rugby League who run an Open Age Men's team, playing in the Midlands Merit League since 2022.

===Symbols===
[[File:Lincolnshire flag.svg|thumb|The flag of the historic county of Lincolnshire]]
[[File:The Lincoln Imp - geograph.org.uk - 356041.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Lincoln Imp]] high above the choir on the southern side of Lincoln Cathedral]]
The unofficial anthem of the county is the traditional folk song, "[[Lincolnshire Poacher (folk song)|The Lincolnshire Poacher]]", which dates from around 1776. A version of the song was the theme for [[BBC Radio Lincolnshire]] for many years.

According to a 2002 marketing campaign by the charity [[Plantlife]], the [[County flowers of the United Kingdom|county flower]] of Lincolnshire is the [[common dog-violet]].

In August 2005, [[BBC Radio Lincolnshire]] and ''Lincolnshire Life'' magazine launched a vote for a [[flag of Lincolnshire]] to represent the county. Six competing designs were voted upon by locals and the winning submission was unveiled in October 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=New county flag design unveiled |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/4371070.stm |work=BBC News |date=24 October 2005 |access-date = 15 February 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121025120037/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/4371070.stm |archive-date = 25 October 2012 |url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=10&flagtype=county&flagid=112 |title=Lincolnshire flag at the self-appointed flag registry |access-date=26 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712191934/http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=10&flagtype=county&flagid=112 |archive-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Lincoln has its own flag – St George's flag with a Fleur-de-Lys.

The [[Lincoln Imp]] has symbolised cathedral, city and county for many years.<ref>{{cite web |last=Santos |first=Cory |title=Tracking the mysterious origins of the Lincoln Imp |url=http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2013/04/the-mysterious-origins-of-the-lincoln-imp/ |publisher=The Lincolnite |access-date=7 July 2013 |date=19 April 2013 |quote=the imp has come to represent Lincoln as its mischievous mascot. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524145026/http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2013/04/the-mysterious-origins-of-the-lincoln-imp/ |archive-date=24 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Phil |title=A History of the Lincoln Imp |url=http://lincolncathedral.com/2011/12/a-history-of-the-lincoln-imp/ |access-date=7 July 2013 |publisher=Lincoln Cathedral |date=16 December 2011 |quote=Lincoln's imp is a well known emblem of the Cathedral and the city, to the extent it has been adopted as the symbol of Lincoln |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528004554/http://lincolncathedral.com/2011/12/a-history-of-the-lincoln-imp/ |archive-date=28 May 2012}}</ref> In 2006 it was replaced as the brand of Lincolnshire County Council by the stylised version seen on the header here [http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/] which has lost even the unique pose of the carving.

==Media==
===Press===
The county is home to one daily newspaper, the ''[[Grimsby Telegraph]]'' which is published in the town and whose circulation area ostensibly covers North East Lincolnshire, although it reaches as far south as Louth and Alford and as west as [[Brigg]].

There are two further weekly papers which used to be published daily until 2011; the ''[[Lincolnshire Echo]]'' is published weekly from Lincoln and covers the majority of the county reaching as far north as Louth, and the ''[[Scunthorpe Telegraph]]'' which covers northern Lincolnshire. All three are ultimately owned by [[Reach plc]].

There are also a number of weekly papers serving individual towns published in the county by [[Yattendon Group#Iliffe Media|Iliffe Media]]. One of these, the ''[[Stamford Mercury]]'', claims to be Britain's oldest newspaper, although it is now a typical local weekly and no longer covers stories from the whole East Midlands as the archived copies did.

===Television===
With the exception of a small area to the south-west of the county,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/anatv/waltham.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611155909/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/anatv/waltham.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2009 |title=mb21 – Transmitter Information – Waltham |date=11 June 2009 |access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref> Lincolnshire is served from the [[Belmont transmitting station]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/anatv/belmont.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609153242/http://tx.mb21.co.uk/mapsys/anatv/belmont.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2009 |title=mb21 – Transmitter Information – Belmont |date=9 June 2009 |access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref> receiving [[ITV Yorkshire]] and [[BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire]] regions. The BBC covers the county in ''[[BBC Look North (East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire)|Look North]]'' news from [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], with input from studios in Lincoln and Grimsby. ITV provides coverage through ''[[Calendar (News)|Calendar]]'' news.

From 1959 to July 1974 [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] programmes were provided by [[Anglia Television]], based in [[Norwich]] with news offices in Grimsby.<ref>ITV 1968 – A Guide to Independent Television, Independent Television Authority, London, 1967, page 175</ref> Following a transmitter change, ITV services were provided by [[Yorkshire Television]]. This company kept open the offices in Grimsby and opened further facilities in Lincoln, although both of these closed in the mid-1990s.

South-west Lincolnshire receives [[BBC East Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]] which are broadcast from the [[Waltham transmitting station]]. Many villages just west of the [[Lincoln Cliff]] cannot get a signal from Belmont due to [[Fading|shadowing]] and instead get their TV from [[Emley Moor transmitting station]] near Huddersfield.

===Radio===
BBC local radio is provided by [[BBC Radio Lincolnshire]] and, in the north of the county, [[BBC Radio Humberside]]. Commercial local radio serving the county includes [[Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire]], [[Heart East]], [[Hits Radio East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire]], [[Hits Radio Lincolnshire]], [[Capital Yorkshire]] (in the north of the county) and [[Smooth East Midlands]]. The [[community radio]] stations in the county are [[Endeavour FM]] in Boston; [[TMCR 95.3]] covering [[Epworth, Lincolnshire|Epworth]] and [[Isle of Axholme]]; and LCR 103.6 in Lincoln.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lincolnshire.org/radio-lincolnshire-find-your-local-station/ |title=Radio Lincolnshire – Find Your Local Station |date=18 February 2015 |publisher=Lincolnshire.org |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref>

==Military==
[[Image:Typhoon Landing At RAF Coningsby MOD 45155053.jpg|right|thumb|Typhoon FGR4 aircraft, based at [[RAF Coningsby]]]]

===Air===
{{Main|Royal Air Force}}
Because of its flat geography and low population density, Lincolnshire is an ideal place for airfields, and the [[Air Ministry]] built prolifically with the county hosting nearly seventy separate air bases. It became known as "bomber county".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-18071770 |title='Bomber County' past and present |date=18 May 2012 |work=BBC News |access-date=25 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925193507/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-18071770 |archive-date=25 September 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since the end of the [[Second World War]] most of these airfields or stations were decommissioned, but the RAF retains a significant footprint in Lincolnshire for the air defence of the United Kingdom and aircrew training. For more information on former bases, see [[List of former RAF stations]].

Two major front-line bases located in Lincolnshire are [[RAF Coningsby]], which is one of only two RAF [[Quick Reaction Alert]] (QRA) Stations in the United Kingdom and home to the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] jet fighters, and [[RAF Waddington]], where most of the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance aircraft are based. The [[Red Arrows]] Aerobatic Team has also been based at Waddington since October 2022 after their previous base, [[RAF Scampton]], was closed down.<ref>{{cite web | title=Final flight of Red Arrows jet from RAF Scampton | website=Royal Air Force | date=21 October 2022 | url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/news/final-flight-of-red-arrows-jet-from-raf-scampton/ | access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref> Other stations in Lincolnshire include [[RAF Cranwell]], home to all Air Force Basic Officer Training for the Royal Air Force; [[RAF Barkston Heath]], a training airfield; and minor bases such as [[RAF Donna Nook]] and [[RAF Digby]].

Lincolnshire is also home to two active RAF and NATO-allied air weapons training [[bombing range]]s, located along [[The Wash]] and north Lincolnshire coastline—[[RAF Holbeach]] active since 1926 (originally part of the former [[RAF Sutton Bridge]] station) and [[RAF Donna Nook|Donna Nook]]. The [[RAF Wainfleet]] range was decommissioned in 2010.

===Army===
The Army runs [[Sobraon Barracks]], home of 160 (Lincoln) Squadron, [[Royal Logistic Corps]] (RLC), as well as [[Prince William of Gloucester Barracks]], Grantham, home to the national specialist logistics units. In November 2016 the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] announced that the Grantham site would close in 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565858/20161107_MOD_Better_Defence_Estate_FINAL.pdf |title=A Better Defence Estate |publisher=Ministry of Defence |date=November 2016 |access-date=8 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108195030/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565858/20161107_MOD_Better_Defence_Estate_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> but the timescale has twice been extended, latterly to 2028.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disposal-database-house-of-commons-report|title=Disposal database: House of Commons report|access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Geography|England}}
*''[[Outline of England]]''
*[[Custos Rotulorum of Lincolnshire]] – List of Keepers of the Rolls for Lincolnshire
*[[Earl of Lincoln]] is a title that has been created eight times in the [[Peerage of England]] and is currently represented.
*[[High Sheriff of Lincolnshire]]
*[[Lincolnshire (UK Parliament constituency)]] List of MPs for the Lincolnshire constituency
*[[Lincs Wind Farm]]
*Lincolnshire lists:
{{flatlist|indent=2|
*[[List of bridges and viaducts in Lincolnshire|Bridges and viaducts]]
*[[List of churches in Lincolnshire|Churches]]
*[[List of civil parishes in Lincolnshire|Civil parishes]]
*[[List of companies in Lincolnshire|Companies]] (current and former)
*[[List of forests and woodland in Lincolnshire|Forests and woodland]]
*[[List of monastic houses in Lincolnshire|Monastic houses]]
*[[List of museums in Lincolnshire|Museums]]
*[[List of parliamentary constituencies in Lincolnshire|Parliamentary constituencies]]
*[[List of people from Lincolnshire|People]]
*[[List of places in Lincolnshire|Places]]
*[[List of public art in Lincolnshire|Public art]]
*[[List of Roman Sites in Lincolnshire|Roman sites]]
*[[List of schools in Lincolnshire|Schools]]
*[[List of watermills in Lincolnshire|Watermills]]
*[[List of Waterways in Lincolnshire|Waterways]]
*[[List of windmills in Lincolnshire|Windmills]]
}}
*[[Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire]]
*[[Stamford Senior Youth Theatre]]
*[[1185 East Midlands earthquake]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |editor1-first=C. W. |editor1-last=Foster |editor2-first=Thomas |editor2-last=Longley |title=The Lincolnshire Domesday and Lindsey Survey |publisher=Lincoln Record Society |location=Horncastle |series=Annual works of the society |year=1924 |volume=19}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Lincolnshire}}
{{EB9 Poster|Lincoln}}
*[http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ Lincolnshire County Council website]
*[http://www.lincsfm.co.uk/ Lincs FM website]
*[http://www.visitlincolnshire.com/ Visitlincolnshire.com]
*[https://sites.google.com/site/lincolnlivinghistory/ Lindcolne Skipfierde]: Lincolnshire's [https://www.facebook.com/lincolnsaxonvikings Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman] re-enactment and living history group 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090719063828/http://www.lincolnshireshow.info/ Lincolnshire Show official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120907195225/http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/results.aspx?index=0 Images of Lincolnshire] at the [[English Heritage Archive]]

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Neighbouring counties'''
|Centre = Lincolnshire
|North = [[East Riding of Yorkshire]]
|Northeast = ''[[North Sea]]''
|East = ''[[North Sea]]''<br />''[[The Wash]]''
|Southeast = [[Norfolk]]
|South = [[Rutland]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Cambridgeshire]]
|Southwest = [[Leicestershire]]
|West = [[Nottinghamshire]]
|Northwest = [[South Yorkshire]]
}}

{{Lincolnshire}}
{{England counties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lincolnshire| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan counties]]
[[Category:East Midlands]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Counties of England established in antiquity]]