Lincoln County, Maine
County in Maine, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,237.[1] Its seat is Wiscasset.[2] The county was founded in 1760 by the Massachusetts General Court from a portion of York County, Massachusetts and named after the English city Lincoln,[3] the birthplace of Massachusetts Bay Provincial Governor Thomas Pownall.[4]
Lincoln County, Maine | |
|---|---|
Lincoln County Courthouse | |
.svg) Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Maine | |
| Coordinates: 44°00′49″N 69°32′31″W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maine |
| Founded | November 1, 1760 |
| Named after | Lincoln, England |
| Seat | Wiscasset |
| Largest town | Waldoboro |
| Area | |
• Total | 700 sq mi (1,800 km2) |
| • Land | 456 sq mi (1,180 km2) |
| • Water | 244 sq mi (630 km2) 35% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 35,237 |
• Estimate (2025) | 36,595  |
| • Density | 77.3/sq mi (29.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | lincolncountymaine |
At its founding, Lincoln County accounted for three-fifths of the state's land, and stretched east to Nova Scotia. Thirteen counties were cut out of this land including Sagadahoc County to the west and a portion of Kennebec County to the north.[5] The county flag is a traditional New England flag, adopted in 1977.[6]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 700 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 456 square miles (1,180 km2) is land and 244 square miles (630 km2) (35%) is water.[7] It is the third-smallest county in Maine by area.
Crummett Mountain in Somerville is the tallest mountain located entirely within the county, at 538 feet (164 m) above sea level.[8]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 29,733 | — | |
| 1800 | 30,225 | 1.7% | |
| 1810 | 42,992 | 42.2% | |
| 1820 | 53,189 | 23.7% | |
| 1830 | 57,192 | 7.5% | |
| 1840 | 63,517 | 11.1% | |
| 1850 | 74,875 | 17.9% | |
| 1860 | 27,860 | −62.8% | |
| 1870 | 25,597 | −8.1% | |
| 1880 | 24,821 | −3.0% | |
| 1890 | 21,996 | −11.4% | |
| 1900 | 19,669 | −10.6% | |
| 1910 | 18,216 | −7.4% | |
| 1920 | 15,976 | −12.3% | |
| 1930 | 15,498 | −3.0% | |
| 1940 | 16,294 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 18,004 | 10.5% | |
| 1960 | 18,497 | 2.7% | |
| 1970 | 20,537 | 11.0% | |
| 1980 | 25,691 | 25.1% | |
| 1990 | 30,357 | 18.2% | |
| 2000 | 33,616 | 10.7% | |
| 2010 | 34,457 | 2.5% | |
| 2020 | 35,237 | 2.3% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 36,595 | [9] | 3.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2016[14] 2018[15] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 35,237. Of the residents, 16.4% were under the age of 18 and 29.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 52.2 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.8 males. 8.7% of residents lived in urban areas and 91.3% lived in rural areas.[16][17][18]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.1% of the population.[18]
There were 15,803 households in the county, of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]
There were 23,608 housing units, of which 33.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.3% were owner-occupied and 18.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.9%.[17]
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[19] | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 32,986 | 33,437 | 33,071 | 98.12% | 97.03% | 93.85% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 56 | 96 | 156 | 0.16% | 0.27% | 0.44% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 83 | 107 | 105 | 0.24% | 0.31% | 0.29% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 123 | 185 | 227 | 0.36% | 0.53% | 0.64% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 7 | 14 | 97 | 0.02% | 0.04% | 0.27% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 198 | 331 | 1,177 | 0.58% | 0.96% | 3.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 155 | 287 | 395 | 0.46% | 0.83% | 1.12% |
| Total | 33,616 | 34,457 | 35,237 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 34,457 people, 15,149 households, and 9,749 families living in the county.[22] The population density was 75.6 inhabitants per square mile (29.2/km2). There were 23,493 housing units at an average density of 51.5 units per square mile (19.9 units/km2).[23] The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.[22] In terms of ancestry, 30.4% were English, 17.7% were Irish, 13.4% were German, 8.6% were Scottish, and 8.5% were American.[24]
Of the 15,149 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.6% were non-families, and 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 48.1 years.[22]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,678 and the median income for a family was $58,028. Males had a median income of $40,816 versus $31,473 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,003. About 7.7% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[25]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 14,158 households, and 9,542 families living in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (29 people/km2). There were 20,849 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile (18/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.46% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.3% were of English, 15.4% United States or American, 11.2% Irish, 9.0% German and 7.3% French ancestry. Most of those claiming to be of "American" ancestry are actually of English descent, but have family that has been in the country for so long, in many cases since the early seventeenth century that they choose to identify simply as "American".[26][27][28][29][30] 97.7% spoke English and 1.0% French as their first language.
There were 14,158 households, out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.60% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 28.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,686, and the median income for a family was $45,427. Males had a median income of $31,209 versus $23,161 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,760. About 6.60% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Lincoln County was formerly a Republican stronghold, but it became more competitive in the 1990s and since the 2000 election, when George W. Bush carried it by a narrow plurality, it has swung more decisively into the Democratic column. Barack Obama easily won the county in 2008, the best performance by a Democrat since the 1964 national landslide election, and he carried it again by a decent margin in 2012. In 2016, Republican Donald Trump lost the county by only about 2 points, but it has again trended more Democratic in each subsequent election. Lincoln was one of only two counties in Maine to shift leftward between the 2020 and 2024 elections.[31]
Voter registration
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024[32] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 9,713 | 34.98% | |||
| Republican | 8,558 | 30.82% | |||
| Unenrolled | 7,912 | 28.5% | |||
| Green Independent | 1,098 | 3.95% | |||
| No Labels | 394 | 1.42% | |||
| Libertarian | 90 | 0.32% | |||
| Total | 27,765 | 100% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1908 | 1,693 | 56.43% | 1,196 | 39.87% | 111 | 3.70% |
| 1912 | 457 | 12.28% | 1,633 | 43.89% | 1,631 | 43.83% |
| 1916 | 1,781 | 49.97% | 1,718 | 48.20% | 65 | 1.82% |
| 1920 | 3,668 | 73.61% | 1,256 | 25.21% | 59 | 1.18% |
| 1924 | 3,311 | 77.36% | 878 | 20.51% | 91 | 2.13% |
| 1928 | 4,470 | 78.85% | 1,181 | 20.83% | 18 | 0.32% |
| 1932 | 4,666 | 63.84% | 2,602 | 35.60% | 41 | 0.56% |
| 1936 | 5,252 | 72.62% | 1,850 | 25.58% | 130 | 1.80% |
| 1940 | 5,244 | 68.42% | 2,415 | 31.51% | 5 | 0.07% |
| 1944 | 4,919 | 69.97% | 2,102 | 29.90% | 9 | 0.13% |
| 1948 | 4,743 | 80.47% | 1,095 | 18.58% | 56 | 0.95% |
| 1952 | 6,766 | 83.80% | 1,299 | 16.09% | 9 | 0.11% |
| 1956 | 7,191 | 86.07% | 1,164 | 13.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 7,562 | 76.39% | 2,337 | 23.61% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,984 | 43.81% | 5,099 | 56.07% | 11 | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 5,659 | 61.11% | 3,380 | 36.50% | 222 | 2.40% |
| 1972 | 7,580 | 72.28% | 2,903 | 27.68% | 4 | 0.04% |
| 1976 | 7,554 | 59.03% | 4,818 | 37.65% | 425 | 3.32% |
| 1980 | 7,434 | 52.14% | 4,776 | 33.49% | 2,049 | 14.37% |
| 1984 | 10,312 | 67.68% | 4,869 | 31.96% | 55 | 0.36% |
| 1988 | 9,837 | 61.79% | 5,939 | 37.31% | 144 | 0.90% |
| 1992 | 6,405 | 33.65% | 6,714 | 35.27% | 5,917 | 31.08% |
| 1996 | 6,372 | 35.06% | 8,130 | 44.74% | 3,671 | 20.20% |
| 2000 | 9,457 | 48.08% | 8,634 | 43.89% | 1,580 | 8.03% |
| 2004 | 10,370 | 46.83% | 11,351 | 51.26% | 421 | 1.90% |
| 2008 | 9,287 | 43.03% | 11,886 | 55.07% | 411 | 1.90% |
| 2012 | 8,899 | 42.87% | 11,315 | 54.51% | 543 | 2.62% |
| 2016 | 9,727 | 45.24% | 10,241 | 47.63% | 1,535 | 7.14% |
| 2020 | 10,256 | 43.47% | 12,684 | 53.76% | 654 | 2.77% |
| 2024 | 10,409 | 43.37% | 13,110 | 54.62% | 484 | 2.02% |
Communities
Towns
Plantations
Unorganized Territories
Census-designated places
Transportation
U.S. Route 1 passes through the county in a northeast–southwest fashion. North-south Maine state routes, notably Maine 27, Maine 129, Maine 130 and Maine 32 travel north to the interior of the county and south to the peninsulas by the coast.
Until 1958, the Maine Central Railroad ran passenger trains from Portland, along the Rockland Branch from Brunswick to Rockland to the east, three trains a day on days besides Sunday and fewer trains on Sunday. Stations consisted of Wiscasset, Newcastle, Damariscotta Mills, Nobleboro, Winslow Mills and Waldoboro. In Portland's Union Station, these trains made connections to trains to Boston, New York City, Bangor and the Canadian Maritimes.[34] In the final months, service diminished to one daily except Sunday trip in each direction, until finally discontinuing on April 4, 1959.[35]
From 2003 to 2015, the Maine Eastern Railroad offered seasonal excursion service to Rockland, Maine which connected to Amtrak's Downeaster at Brunswick. In October 2017, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority announced plans to extend one weekend Downeaster round trip to Rockland between Memorial Day and Labor Day beginning in 2018. Intermediate stops would be made at Bath, Wiscasset, and Newcastle.[36] As part of preparation, Amtrak, along with the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Maine Department of Transportation and the Central Maine and & Quebec Railroad, made a test run of a train on August 14.[37]
Education
K-12 school districts include:[38]
- Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District
- Bristol School District
- Edgecomb School District
- Jefferson School District
- Monhegan Plantation School District
- Nobleboro School District
- South Bristol School District
- Southport School District
- Wiscasset Public Schools
- Regional School Unit 02
- Regional School Unit 12
- School Administrative District 40
Secondary school districts include:[38]
- Bremen School District
- Damariscotta School District
- Newcastle School District
Elementary school districts include:[38]
- Great Salt Bay Community School District
There are also areas referred to by the U.S. Census Bureau as the "Lincoln Unorganized Territory" and the "Louds Island Unorganized Territory".[38] Unorganized territory is not in any municipality.[39] The Maine Department of Education takes responsibility for coordinating school assignments in the unorganized territory.[40]
