Lincoln County is acounty in theU.S. state ofNevada. As of the2020 census, the population was 4,499,[1] making it the fourth-least populous county in Nevada. Itscounty seat isPioche.[2] Like many counties in Nevada, it is dry and sparsely populated, though notable for containing theArea 51 government Air Force base.
Lincoln County was established in 1866 after Congress enlarged Nevada by moving its state line eastward and southward at the expense ofUtah andArizona territories.[3] It is named afterAbraham Lincoln, the 16thPresident of the United States.[4] Original legislation called for the creation of a "Stewart County", after Nevada SenatorWilliam M. Stewart, but this was later changed in a substitute bill.Crystal Springs was the county's firstseat in 1866, followed byHiko in 1867 andPioche in 1871.
In 1870, the county's newspaper,Lincoln County Record, was established.[5] Lincoln County initially included a ranch village and railroad siding namedLas Vegas. However, that siding, which led to the future city of Las Vegas, was separated from Lincoln County upon the founding ofClark County effective July 1, 1909, by act of the Nevada Legislature.[6]
Area 51 is in Lincoln County and thecounty sheriff acts in proxy for the perimeter security forces.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 10,637 square miles (27,550 km2), of which 10,633 square miles (27,540 km2) is land and 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) (0.04%) is water.[7] While only the third-largest county by area in the state ofNevada, it is theseventh-largest county in area in the United States, not includingboroughs and census areas in Alaska. The south cliff of Mount Rummel, the summit of which is just north of the county line inWhite Pine County, contains Lincoln County's highest point, at 10,640 feet (3,240 m).[8] The highest independent mountain completely within Lincoln County isShingle Peak, while the county's most topographically prominent peak isMormon Peak.
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 4,165 people, 1,540 households, and 1,010 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was less than one person per square mile (and less than 1/km2). There were 2,178 housing units at an average density of 0 per square mile (0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.50%White, 1.78%Black orAfrican American, 1.75%Native American, 0.34%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 2.69% fromother races, and 1.92% from two or more races. 5.31% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 1,540 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% weremarried couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.10% under the age of 18, 6.00% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,979, and the median income for a family was $45,588. Males had a median income of $40,048 versus $23,571 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,326. About 11.50% of families and 16.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 17.40% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 United States census, there were 5,345 people, 1,988 households, and 1,282 families living in the county.[15] The population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square mile (0.19/km2). There were 2,730 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile (0.12/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 91.1% white, 2.3% black or African American, 1.1% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% Pacific islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 39.8% wereEnglish, 19.5% wereGerman, 12.4% wereIrish, 6.1% wereDanish, 5.9% wereDutch, and 1.8% wereAmerican.[17]
Of the 1,988 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.5% were non-families, and 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 39.9 years.[15]
The median income for a household in the county was $44,695 and the median income for a family was $56,167. Males had a median income of $51,475 versus $26,366 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,148. About 7.5% of families and 10.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.[18]
Before 1968, Lincoln County frequently backed the Democratic Party in presidential elections, with only five elections from 1904 to 1964 not won by a Democratic nominee. The 1968 election began the county's status as a Republican Party stronghold, with no Democrat managing to win 30% of its votes sinceJimmy Carter in 1976. The county since then has generally continued further into the Republican party column, withDonald Trump's 2024 performance of over 85% being the best for any Republican yet. In this election the county was second only toEureka County as the most Republican county in the state of Nevada.
