| Lincoln County, Georgia | |
Location in the state of Georgia |
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Georgia's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | February 20, 1796 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Lincolnton |
| Largest city | Lincolnton |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
257.28 sq mi (666 km²) 211.09 sq mi (547 km²) 46.19 sq mi (120 km²), 17.95% |
| PopulationEst. - (2005) - Density |
8,207 40/sq mi (15/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia, with the Savannah River forming its northeastern border. Located above the fall line, it is part of the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) and a member of the CSRA Regional Development Center. The county was created on February 20, 1796. As of 2000, the population is 8,348. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 8,098.[1] The county seat is Lincolnton.[2]
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According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 257.28 square miles (666.4 km2), of which 211.09 square miles (546.7 km2) (or 82.05%) is land and 46.19 square miles (119.6 km2) (or 17.95%) is water.[3]
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 8,348 people, 3,251 households, and 2,379 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 4,514 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 64.25% White, 34.37% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,251 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.20% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,952, and the median income for a family was $36,657. Males had a median income of $27,165 versus $21,338 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,351. About 12.40% of families and 15.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 15.90% of those age 65 or over.
Lincoln County consists of 186,240 acres (753.7 km2). On January 22, 1852 the legislature changed the location of the line between Wilkes County and Lincoln County. There is no record as to why the legislature made these changes.
From before the American Revolutionary War until the 1950s, Lincoln County was primarily a farming and agricultural area. The development and creation of Clarke Hill Dam created a large reservoir that covered portions of Lincoln and nearby counties. Developers have created many residential neighborhoods and subdivisions in areas near the lake.
On February 20, 1796 Lincoln County was established as the twenty-fourth county in the state of Georgia. Before then, its territory was part of Wilkes County, now on its western side. The new county was named after General Benjamin Lincoln, a patriot and Revolutionary War hero. Lincoln was born in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1733. Lincoln was notable for receiving Gen. Cornwallis's Sword of Surrender at Yorktown, Virginia at the formal end of the war. In 1809 he retired from the military and died in 1810.
Since the creation of Clarke’s Hill Lake, recreation has contributed to Lincoln County's growth. It is a main destination of tourism, as the lake provides great fishing, boating, and other water sports for visitors and those who live near and around the lake. Lincoln County borders about 380 square miles (980 km2) of shoreline on Clarke’s Hill Lake.
Toward the eastern part of Lincoln County, just before the South Carolina line, is Elijah Clarke State Park. This park is roughly 447 acres (1.81 km2), and attracts many visitors throughout the year. In May of every year, Elijah Clarke State Park holds a bluegrass festival, which has become a major attraction in the last 20 years. Several well-known bluegrass musicians play at this event each year, including Lincoln County natives, The Lewis Family. The Lewis Family travels internationally on tour during the year. Also held annually at Elijah Clarke State park is an Arts and Crafts Festival and a Log Cabin Christmas. Both are held in the month of October.
There are many historic places to visit in Lincoln County. Some of these include:
The growth of the economy in Lincoln County has been related to development resulting from the J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Clarks Hill Lake; the logging business and new industry. In Lincoln County, logging is a multi-million dollar industry. More than 20 logging business produce most of the jobs for Lincoln County residents.
The county has attracted new industries, such as the companies: Hero Metal, LLC; Top Grill, LLC; and Charles Owen, Inc.
| Elbert County | McCormick County, South Carolina | |||
| Wilkes County | ||||
| Lincoln County, Georgia | ||||
| McDuffie County | Columbia County |