# Lincoln County, Minnesota *County in Minnesota, United States* Lincoln County is one of the counties of [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 5,640 residents, and Ivanhoe is the county seat.[^1] The county sits on Minnesota's boundary with South Dakota.[^2] The county was created by an act of the [[Minnesota Legislature]] passed on March 6, 1873. The act split Lyon County into two roughly equal parts and named the western part for President [[Abraham Lincoln]]. Earlier attempts in 1861, 1866 and 1870 had not succeeded.[^3] Voters ratified the division in November 1873, and Governor [[Horace Austin]] proclaimed the county on December 5, 1873.[^3] ## History Efforts in the Minnesota legislature to name a county for Lincoln began during the American Civil War and continued after it. Acts were put forward in 1861, 1866 and 1870, and each one failed: it was voted down or the residents of the county concerned disregarded it.[^3] The act that succeeded passed on March 6, 1873. It divided Lyon County into halves of about equal size and gave the name Lincoln to the western half.[^3] County voters approved the act at the November 1873 election. On December 5, 1873, Governor Horace Austin issued a proclamation establishing the county, with Lake Benton as its seat.[^3] In 1900 a new town was laid out closer to the middle of the county. In 1902 the county seat was transferred to that town, Ivanhoe.[^3] ## Geography The county borders South Dakota.[^2] The Lac qui Parle River runs northeast across the upper eastern part of the county and later empties into the [[Minnesota River]].[^2] The land is rolling and given over mainly to farming. It slopes downward toward the north and east, and its highest elevation is 1,991 feet (607 m) above sea level, on the lower part of the western boundary.[^2] The county covers 548 square miles (1,420 km²) in all. Of that area, 537 square miles is land and 12 square miles (2.1%) is water.[^2] Lakes in the county include Lake Benton, Lake Shaokatan, Lake Stay, Dead Coon Lake, Hawks Nest Lake and part of Lake Hendricks.[^2] The county is crossed by U.S. Highways 14 and 75 and by Minnesota State Highways 19, 23, 68 and 271.[^2] Three Minnesota counties border it: Yellow Medicine County to the north, Lyon County to the east and Pipestone County to the south. Three South Dakota counties also border it: Deuel County to the northwest, Brookings County to the west and Moody County to the southwest.[^2] Protected lands include Hole in the Mountain County Park and a number of state wildlife management areas, among them Ash Lake, Blue Wing, Hendricks and Ivanhoe.[^2] ## Demographics The 2020 census counted 5,640 people in the county, and their median age was 45.8 years. Of these residents, 23.4% were under 18 and 25.3% were 65 or older.[^4] In census race categories, 95.9% were recorded as White and 2.6% as two or more races. Residents who were Hispanic or Latino, of any race, made up 1.9%.[^4] The census classed fewer than 0.1% of residents as urban and placed the rest in rural areas.[^4] The county had 2,452 households in 2020, and 51.1% of them were married-couple households. There were 3,051 housing units, and 19.6% of them stood vacant. Owners occupied 79.3% of the occupied units, and renters occupied 20.7%.[^4] The 2000 census had recorded 6,429 people, 2,653 households and 1,785 families, at a density of 12.0 people per square mile.[^4] Between the two censuses the recorded population fell from 6,429 to 5,640.[^4] ## Communities The county has five cities: Arco, Hendricks, Ivanhoe (the county seat), Lake Benton and Tyler. Its unincorporated communities are Marshfield, Thompsonburg, Verdi and Wilno.[^5] The source lists fifteen townships: Alta Vista, Ash Lake, Diamond Lake, Drammen, Hansonville, Hendricks, Hope, Lake Benton, Lake Stay, Limestone, Marble, Marshfield, Royal, Shaokatan and Verdi.[^5] ## Government and politics The cached Wikipedia article calls Lincoln County a swing county over recent decades. It reports that, through 2016, the county voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in 56% of elections held since 1980. It also says the Republican Party has gained ground there in recent years.[^6] The pack carries no certified election returns. The record here therefore does not establish vote totals, margins or the year-by-year results behind these figures.[^6] ## In the Minnesota record ### When - March 6, 1873: the legislature passed the act dividing Lyon County. Voters approved it at the November 1873 election.[^3] - December 5, 1873: Governor Horace Austin proclaimed the county's existence, with Lake Benton as county seat.[^3] - 1900: a town nearer the county's center was platted. In 1902 the county seat moved there, to Ivanhoe.[^3] ### Why - The legislature sought to name a county for Abraham Lincoln. Acts proposed for that purpose in 1861, 1866 and 1870 each failed, either by vote or because the county's citizens ignored them.[^3] The record does not establish the reasons for those failures beyond that statement. ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lincoln County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1375330384, retrieved 2026-10-25) — status as a Minnesota county, 2020 census population, county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lincoln County, Minnesota*, "Geography" section (revision 1375330384, retrieved 2026-10-25) — South Dakota border, river, terrain, elevation, area, lakes, highways, adjacent counties, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lincoln County, Minnesota*, "History" section (revision 1375330384, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 1861/1866/1870 proposals, March 6, 1873 act, November 1873 vote, December 5, 1873 proclamation, 1900 platting and 1902 seat move. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lincoln County, Minnesota*, "Demographics" section (revision 1375330384, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lincoln County, Minnesota*, "Communities" section (revision 1375330384, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Lincoln County, Minnesota*, "Government and politics" section (revision 1375330384, retrieved 2026-10-25) — swing-county description and presidential voting share through 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_County,_Minnesota