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Lincoln County, Missouri facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Lincoln, Missouri.
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Lincoln County
U.S. 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 Increase
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 3rd
LuckRdBarn
An old barn in rural Lincoln County

Lincoln County is in the eastern part of Missouri, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 59,574 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Troy. Lincoln County was started on December 14, 1818. It was named after Major General Benjamin Lincoln, a hero from the American Revolutionary War. This county is also part of the larger St. Louis area, which includes parts of Missouri and Illinois.

History of Lincoln County

Lincoln County has an interesting story about how it got its name. One idea comes from Major Christopher Clark. He was the first white settler to live permanently in the area. When talking to the government, he said he wanted the county named "Link-Horn." This was because he was born in a "Link-Horn" county in North Carolina. He also lived in a "Link-Horn" county in Kentucky. He wished to die in a "Link-Horn" county in Missouri.

So, he asked that the new county be called "Link-Horn." Everyone agreed. But the clerk wrote "Lincoln" instead of "Link-Horn." This is how the county got its official name. Other people believe it was named after Major General Benjamin Lincoln. He was an important leader in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Geography and Location

Lincoln County covers a total area of about 640 square miles. Most of this is land, about 627 square miles. The rest, about 14 square miles, is water. The eastern edge of the county is along the Mississippi River. This river forms the border with the state of Illinois.

Neighboring Counties

Lincoln County shares its borders with several other counties:

Main Roads and Transportation

Several important roads pass through Lincoln County. These highways help people travel around the county and to other places.

  • US 61.svg U.S. Route 61
  • MO-47.svg Route 47
  • MO-79.svg Route 79
  • MO-147.svg Route 147

For public transportation, you can find services like Burlington Trailways and OATS Transit. The BNSF Railway also has train lines running through the county.

Population and People

The population of Lincoln County has grown a lot over the years. In 1820, only 1,662 people lived here. By 2020, the population had reached 59,574.

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 2010-2020 2020

In 2020, most people in Lincoln County identified as White. There were also people who identified as Black or African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, or from two or more races. About 2.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Schools and Learning

Lincoln County has many schools for students of all ages.

Public Schools

Several public school districts serve the county:

  • Silex R-I School District in Silex
    • Silex Elementary School (Kindergarten to 6th grade)
    • Silex High School (7th to 12th grade)
  • Elsberry R-II School District in Elsberry
    • Clarence Cannon Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 4th grade)
    • Ida Cannon Middle School (5th to 8th grade)
    • Elsberry High School (9th to 12th grade)
  • Lincoln County R-III School District in Troy
    • Early Childhood Education Center (Pre-K programs)
    • Boone Elementary School (K-5)
    • Claude Brown Elementary School (K-5)
    • Cuivre Park Elementary School (K-5)
    • Hawk Point Elementary School (K-5)
    • Lincoln Elementary School (K-5)
    • Main Street Elementary School (K-5)
    • William R. Cappel Elementary School (K-5)
    • Troy Middle School (6-8)
    • Troy South Middle School (6-8)
    • Ninth Grade Center (9th grade)
    • Troy Buchanan High School (10-12)
    • New Horizons High School (10-12)
  • Winfield R-IV School District in Winfield
    • Winfield Elementary School (Pre-K to 2nd grade)
    • Winfield Intermediate School (3rd to 5th grade)
    • Winfield Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
    • Winfield High School (9th to 12th grade)
  • Wright City R-II School District in Wright City (serves southern parts of Lincoln County)
  • Pike County R-III School District
  • Warren County R-III School District

Private Schools

There are also several private schools in Lincoln County:

Public Libraries

The county has the Powell Memorial Library, where you can find books and other resources.

Cities, Towns, and Communities

Lincoln County is home to many different communities.

Cities and Villages

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially organized as cities or villages.

Images for kids

  • Lincoln County MO Courthouse 20141022 A

    Lincoln County Courthouse in Troy

See also

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

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Lincoln County, Missouri Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.