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Lincoln County, Missouri facts for kids

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Lincoln County
Lincoln County Courthouse in Troy
Lincoln County Courthouse in Troy
Map of Missouri highlighting Lincoln County
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
Map of the United States highlighting Missouri
Missouri's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Missouri
Founded December 14, 1818
Named for Benjamin Lincoln
Seat Troy
Largest city Troy
Area
 • Total 640 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land 627 sq mi (1,620 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (40 km2)  2.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 59,574
 • Density 93.1/sq mi (35.94/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 3rd
LuckRdBarn
An old barn in rural Lincoln County

Lincoln County is located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,574. Its county seat is Troy. The county was founded December 14, 1818, and named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln of the American Revolutionary War.

Lincoln County is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

According to Goodspeed's History of Lincoln County, Missouri (1888), Lincoln County was named by Major Christopher Clark, the first permanent white settler, when he addressed the Territorial Legislature saying, "I was born, sir, in Link-Horn County, N.C., I lived for many years in Link-Horn County in old Kain-tuck. I wish to die in Link-Horn County, in Missouri; and I move, therefore, that the blank in the bill be filled with the name Link-Horn." The motion was carried unanimously and the clerk, not adopting the frontier parlance of the Major, wrote "Lincoln" in the blank space of the bill. Others say it was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 627 square miles (1,620 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.2%) is water. The county's eastern border with Illinois is formed by the Mississippi River.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • US 61.svg U.S. Route 61
  • MO-47.svg Route 47
  • MO-79.svg Route 79

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,662
1830 4,059 144.2%
1840 7,449 83.5%
1850 9,421 26.5%
1860 14,210 50.8%
1870 15,960 12.3%
1880 17,426 9.2%
1890 18,346 5.3%
1900 18,352 0.0%
1910 17,003 −7.4%
1920 15,956 −6.2%
1930 13,929 −12.7%
1940 14,395 3.3%
1950 13,478 −6.4%
1960 14,783 9.7%
1970 18,041 22.0%
1980 22,193 23.0%
1990 28,892 30.2%
2000 38,944 34.8%
2010 52,566 35.0%
2020 59,574 13.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-20202020

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,944 people, 13,851 households, and 10,554 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile (24/km2). There were 15,511 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.13% White, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Approximately 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.7% were of German, 17.0% American, 10.9% Irish and 7.4% English ancestry.

There were 13,851 households, out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,592, and the median income for a family was $47,747. Males had a median income of $35,564 versus $23,270 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,149. About 6.20% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities and villages

Unincorporated communities

Education

Public schools

    • Silex Elementary School (K-06)
    • Silex High School (07-12)
    • Clarence Cannon Elementary School (PK-04)
    • Ida Cannon Middle School (05-08)
    • Elsberry High School (09-12)
  • Troy R-III School District – Troy
    • Early Childhood Education Center (Pre-K & PAT)
    • Boone Elementary School (K-05)
    • Claude Brown Elementary School (K-05)
    • Cuivre Park Elementary School (K-05)
    • Hawk Point Elementary School (K-05)
    • Lincoln Elementary School (K-05)
    • Main Street Elementary School (K-05)
    • William R. Cappel Elementary School (K-05)
    • Troy Middle School (06-08)
    • Troy South Middle School (06-08)
    • Ninth Grade Center (09)
    • Troy Buchanan High School (10-12)
    • New Horizons High School (10-12)
    • Winfield Elementary School (PK-02)
    • Winfield Intermediate School (03-05)
    • Winfield Middle School (06-08)
    • Winfield High School (09-12)
    • Additionally, the Wright City R-II serves southern portions of Lincoln County.

Private schools

Public libraries

  • Powell Memorial Library

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Lincoln (Misuri) para niños

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