Lincoln County, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lincoln County
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Lincoln County Courthouse in Star City
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Location within the U.S. state of Arkansas
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 Arkansas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Arkansas |
| Founded | March 28, 1871 |
| Named for | Abraham Lincoln |
| Seat | Star City |
| Largest city | Star City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 572.17 sq mi (1,481.9 km2) |
| • Land | 561.20 sq mi (1,453.5 km2) |
| • Water | 10.97 sq mi (28.4 km2) 1.9%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,941 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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12,898  |
| • Density | 22.6174/sq mi (8.7326/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Lincoln County is a county in the state of Arkansas, USA. It is located between the Arkansas Timberlands and the Arkansas Delta regions. This county is named after President Abraham Lincoln. It became Arkansas's 65th county on March 28, 1871.
Lincoln County has three main towns. Star City is the biggest town and also the county seat. This means it's where the county government is located. The county is also home to Cane Creek State Park and several historic places.
Lincoln County covers about 572 square miles (1,480 square kilometers). In 2020, about 12,941 people lived there. The economy in this area mainly relies on farming. Also, two state prisons are located here, which provide many jobs for local people.
Students in Lincoln County attend schools in the Star City School District or Dumas Public Schools. For college or healthcare, people usually go to nearby cities like Pine Bluff or Monticello. The county has access to major roads like U.S. Route 65 and US 425. It also has a small airport called Star City Municipal Airport.
Contents
History of Lincoln County
Lincoln County was created in 1871. This was during a time called the Reconstruction era, right after the American Civil War. The Arkansas General Assembly formed the county from parts of five other counties. It was named to honor President Abraham Lincoln.
After the Civil War, many formerly enslaved people, known as freedmen, gained the right to vote. They often supported the Republican Party because it had helped them gain freedom. Some white people who supported the Union during the war also voted Republican.
Star City was chosen as the first permanent county seat. For a while, from 1885 to 1912, the county also had a second county seat in Varner.
Geography and Roads
Lincoln County covers about 572 square miles. Most of this area is land, with about 11 square miles being water.
Main Highways
U.S. Highway 65
U.S. Highway 425
Highway 11
Neighboring Counties
Lincoln County shares borders with these counties:
- Jefferson County (north)
- Arkansas County (northeast)
- Desha County (east)
- Drew County (south)
- Cleveland County (west)
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 9,255 | — | |
| 1890 | 10,255 | 10.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,389 | 30.6% | |
| 1910 | 15,118 | 12.9% | |
| 1920 | 18,774 | 24.2% | |
| 1930 | 20,250 | 7.9% | |
| 1940 | 19,709 | −2.7% | |
| 1950 | 17,079 | −13.3% | |
| 1960 | 14,447 | −15.4% | |
| 1970 | 12,913 | −10.6% | |
| 1980 | 13,369 | 3.5% | |
| 1990 | 13,690 | 2.4% | |
| 2000 | 14,492 | 5.9% | |
| 2010 | 14,134 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 12,941 | −8.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 12,898 | −8.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 |
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People in Lincoln County (2020)
In 2020, there were 12,941 people living in Lincoln County. Here's a look at the different groups of people:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 8,188 | 63.27% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,650 | 28.2% |
| Native American | 27 | 0.21% |
| Asian | 23 | 0.18% |
| Pacific Islander | 9 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed | 425 | 3.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 619 | 4.78% |
Economy and Jobs
A big part of Lincoln County's economy comes from the Arkansas Department of Correction. This department runs two large prisons in the county: the Cummins Unit and the Varner Unit. These prisons are major employers, providing many jobs for people living in Lincoln County.
Education in Lincoln County
Education levels in Lincoln County are similar to other rural areas in Arkansas. In 2012, about 78.4% of adults over 25 had a high school diploma. About 8.9% had a college degree or higher. These numbers are a bit lower than the average for all of Arkansas.
Schools for Kids
Two public school districts serve Lincoln County:
- The Star City School District covers the western part of the county.
- The Dumas Public School District serves the rest of the county.
Students from these districts graduate from Star City High School or Dumas New Tech High School. Both high schools offer advanced classes and are approved by the Arkansas Department of Education.
In 2004-2005, the school districts in Gould and Grady joined with the Dumas and Star City districts.
Higher Education (Colleges)
Lincoln County does not have its own colleges. However, there are several public four-year colleges nearby. These include the University of Arkansas at Monticello to the south, and Southeast Arkansas College (SEARK) and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to the north.
Libraries
The Star City Branch Library is located in downtown Star City. It is part of the Southeast Arkansas Regional Library system. The library offers books, e-books, movies, and services for research, youth, business, and family history.
Towns and Communities
Cities
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially incorporated as cities:
- Cummins Unit
- Varner
Transportation and Utilities
Air Travel
Lincoln County has one public airport, the Star City Municipal Airport. It is used for general aviation, which means it's for private planes, not big commercial flights. The closest airport with commercial flights is Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.
Main Roads
The busiest road in Lincoln County is U.S. Highway 65. This highway connects travelers to Pine Bluff and Little Rock to the north. It also leads to Mississippi and Louisiana to the south. U.S. Highway 425 also crosses the county, going through Star City.
There are also eleven state highways that help people get around the county. These roads connect different towns and areas within Lincoln County.
Water and Wastewater
The Arkansas Department of Health makes sure that public water systems are safe. Six main water systems serve Lincoln County, providing clean drinking water to residents. These systems get their water from underground sources.
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality manages wastewater treatment. Lincoln County has three town wastewater systems and one for the Cummins Unit prison.
Images for kids
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Lincoln County Courthouse in Star City
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lincoln (Arkansas) para niños
