Lincoln County, Washington | |
|---|---|
 Lincoln County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWashington | |
 Washington's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:47°34′58″N118°25′04″W / 47.58278°N 118.41778°W /47.58278; -118.41778 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Washington |
| Founded | November 24, 1883 |
| Named after | Abraham Lincoln |
| Seat | Davenport |
| Largest city | Davenport |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,339 sq mi (6,060 km2) |
| • Land | 2,310 sq mi (6,000 km2) |
| • Water | 29 sq mi (75 km2) 1.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,876 |
• Estimate (2024) | 11,862 |
| • Density | 4.71/sq mi (1.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | co.lincoln.wa.us |
Lincoln County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofWashington. As of the2020 census, the population was 10,876,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in the state.[2] Thecounty seat and largest city isDavenport.[3] Lincoln County was created fromWhitman County in November 1883.[4] It is named forAbraham Lincoln, the 16thpresident of the United States.[5]
In 1883, Lincoln County was created from a portion of Spokane County, and four days later a portion of its area was split to createDouglas County. There have been no further alterations to its boundary since that time.[6] The name Sprague County was originally proposed, in honor of GeneralJohn W. Sprague, until objections from legislators resulted in the name Lincoln County being used in the final bill.[7] Its 2,317 square miles make it the eighth-largest by area in the state.
Centuries ago, the area now covered by Lincoln County contained an east–west passageway used by indigenous peoples. Aspring near the present-dayDavenport created a large overnight camping place.
The earlyexploration of the Northwest Territory by Lewis and Clark did not reach as far north as the Lincoln County expanses. The first recorded entry by European explorers was ofDavid Thompson, a scout for theNorth West Company, who traversed the area in 1811. He noted physical locations in present-day Lincoln County. He described Hell Gate Rapid (calling it 'Strong Rapid'). That stretch of theColumbia River is now tame, because of the presence ofGrand Coulee Dam.[6] After this, there was considerable exploration by fur trappers and others, including famed Scottish botanistDavid Douglas in 1826.[6]
Possibly the first permanent non-indigenous resident of the area was R.M. Bacon, originally fromBoston, who began raising cattle around Crab Creek in 1871. When the first post office was established in the county, Bacon was its postmaster.[6]
Emigration into the area accelerated in the late 1870s. Completion of theNorthern Pacific Railway in 1883, and construction ofFort Spokane (1880-1882) hastened settlement.
Lincoln County lies on theChanneled Scablands, known as the Big Bend Plateau. It lies 1,500-2,500 feet above sea level, with a system of channels eroded into bedrock by glacial rivers and streams, flowing from northeastern Washington.
Lincoln County climate is hot/dry in the summer, cold/moderately humid in the winter. Due to the relatively level terrain (about 1,200 feet difference from lowest to highest elevations), temperatures tend to vary little from east to west. Precipitation varies from an arid condition in the western part of the county to semi-arid in the northeast. The entire area lies in the dry intermontane basin between the Cascades and the Rocky Mountain System. Precipitation (10-20 inches annual rainfall) is a major controlling factor in agriculture. Precipitation in the Big Bend region is highly variable; from 8 inches in the west to 20 inches in the northeast.
Monthly temperature averages range from below freezing in mid-winter to highs of 65-71 °F in mid-summer.[6]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,339 square miles (6,060 km2), of which 2,310 square miles (6,000 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (1.2%) is water.[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 9,312 | — | |
| 1900 | 11,969 | 28.5% | |
| 1910 | 17,539 | 46.5% | |
| 1920 | 15,141 | −13.7% | |
| 1930 | 11,876 | −21.6% | |
| 1940 | 11,361 | −4.3% | |
| 1950 | 10,970 | −3.4% | |
| 1960 | 10,919 | −0.5% | |
| 1970 | 9,572 | −12.3% | |
| 1980 | 9,604 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 8,864 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 10,184 | 14.9% | |
| 2010 | 10,570 | 3.8% | |
| 2020 | 10,876 | 2.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 11,862 | [9] | 9.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2010 census, there were 10,570 people, 4,422 households, and 3,059 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 4.6 people per square mile (1.8 people/km2). There were 5,776 housing units at an average density of 2.5 units per square mile (0.97 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 1.6% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 42.3% wereGerman, 14.6% wereIrish, 13.9% wereEnglish, 5.5% wereNorwegian, 5.3% wereScotch-Irish, and 3.6% wereAmerican.[16]
Of the 4,422 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 47.6 years.[14]
The median income for a household in the county was $45,582 and the median income for a family was $52,083. Males had a median income of $44,491 versus $30,617 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,757. About 7.1% of families and 12.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]
As of the2000 census, there were 10,184 people, 4,151 households, and 2,914 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 4 people per square mile (1.5 people/km2). There were 5,298 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.64%White, 0.23%Black orAfrican American, 1.63%Native American, 0.25%Asian, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 0.58% fromother races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 36.6% were ofGerman, 10.5%English, 9.3%United States or American and 5.8%Irish ancestry.
There were 4,151 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% weremarried couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,255, and the median income for a family was $41,269. Males had a median income of $31,086 versus $22,444 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,888. About 8.40% of families and 12.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
The county is administered by a three-member Board of Commissioners.
Like neighboring Adams County, Lincoln County is one of the most conservative counties in Washington. The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county wasHarry Truman in1948. In 1964, it was one of only three counties in the state to be carried byBarry Goldwater, and was the nation's northernmost county or equivalent to vote for Goldwater.[18] In the last nine presidential elections, no Democratic candidate has received more than 36 percent of the county's vote; the last Democratic gubernatorial nominee it backed wasBooth Gardner in1988, duringa major drought and farm crisis.[19] In2016,Donald Trump won over 70 percent of the county's vote, making it his strongest county in the state.[20][21] In2024, the county was one of only two in Washington State, along with neighboringStevens County, to give all ten statewide Republican candidates over 70% of the vote.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 915 | 39.19% | 831 | 35.59% | 589 | 25.22% |
| 1896 | 781 | 30.18% | 1,771 | 68.43% | 36 | 1.39% |
| 1900 | 1,414 | 45.58% | 1,585 | 51.10% | 103 | 3.32% |
| 1904 | 2,472 | 67.41% | 1,004 | 27.38% | 191 | 5.21% |
| 1908 | 2,025 | 55.19% | 1,443 | 39.33% | 201 | 5.48% |
| 1912 | 691 | 14.46% | 1,829 | 38.26% | 2,260 | 47.28% |
| 1916 | 2,356 | 43.06% | 2,827 | 51.67% | 288 | 5.26% |
| 1920 | 3,038 | 65.04% | 1,395 | 29.87% | 238 | 5.10% |
| 1924 | 2,042 | 46.16% | 743 | 16.79% | 1,639 | 37.05% |
| 1928 | 2,718 | 59.62% | 1,807 | 39.64% | 34 | 0.75% |
| 1932 | 1,748 | 38.04% | 2,725 | 59.30% | 122 | 2.66% |
| 1936 | 1,325 | 26.14% | 3,627 | 71.55% | 117 | 2.31% |
| 1940 | 2,627 | 47.32% | 2,896 | 52.16% | 29 | 0.52% |
| 1944 | 2,723 | 53.75% | 2,328 | 45.95% | 15 | 0.30% |
| 1948 | 2,348 | 47.68% | 2,518 | 51.14% | 58 | 1.18% |
| 1952 | 3,422 | 63.31% | 1,974 | 36.52% | 9 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 3,114 | 57.77% | 2,273 | 42.17% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1960 | 3,211 | 58.77% | 2,248 | 41.14% | 5 | 0.09% |
| 1964 | 2,911 | 55.84% | 2,299 | 44.10% | 3 | 0.06% |
| 1968 | 2,994 | 59.25% | 1,721 | 34.06% | 338 | 6.69% |
| 1972 | 3,647 | 69.14% | 1,453 | 27.55% | 175 | 3.32% |
| 1976 | 2,925 | 57.57% | 1,978 | 38.93% | 178 | 3.50% |
| 1980 | 3,324 | 62.28% | 1,597 | 29.92% | 416 | 7.79% |
| 1984 | 3,474 | 66.90% | 1,671 | 32.18% | 48 | 0.92% |
| 1988 | 2,689 | 57.89% | 1,884 | 40.56% | 72 | 1.55% |
| 1992 | 2,152 | 43.59% | 1,653 | 33.48% | 1,132 | 22.93% |
| 1996 | 2,587 | 51.40% | 1,806 | 35.88% | 640 | 12.72% |
| 2000 | 3,546 | 68.23% | 1,417 | 27.27% | 234 | 4.50% |
| 2004 | 4,015 | 69.09% | 1,706 | 29.36% | 90 | 1.55% |
| 2008 | 3,803 | 63.30% | 2,032 | 33.82% | 173 | 2.88% |
| 2012 | 4,063 | 68.74% | 1,673 | 28.30% | 175 | 2.96% |
| 2016 | 4,108 | 70.09% | 1,244 | 21.23% | 509 | 8.68% |
| 2020 | 5,150 | 73.23% | 1,713 | 24.36% | 170 | 2.42% |
| 2024 | 5,272 | 73.80% | 1,678 | 23.49% | 194 | 2.72% |
The county is dependent on agriculture, primarily wheat farming. Lincoln County is generally considered the second-largest producer of wheat in the United States (followingWhitman County, Washington), sometimes producing 25 million bushels (680,000 t) per year.[23] Only about 500,000 of 900,000 acres (2,000 of 3,600 km2 (1,390 sq mi)) of farmland in the county are planted in any given year due to the practice of typically harvesting one crop every two years ("summer-fallow"), a necessity in a region with only 12 inches (300 mm) of precipitation annually.
Livestock husbandry is also a significant county activity, although to a significantly lower degree. For example, in 1954 the county was #3 in the state for crop income, but was only #21 in the state for income from livestock and livestock products.[6]
Places adjacent to Lincoln County, Washington | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofLincoln County, Washington,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
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