Lincoln County is a county in the U.S. state of Wyoming. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 19,581. Its western border abuts the eastern borders of the states of Idaho and Utah.

History

Lincoln County was created February 21, 1911, with land detached from Uinta County. Its government was organized in 1913.

The county was named for Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth president of the United States.

In 1921, portions of Lincoln County were annexed to create Sublette County and Teton County, leaving Lincoln County with its present borders.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

  • Teton County – north
  • Sublette County – northeast
  • Sweetwater County – east
  • Uinta County – south
  • Rich County, Utah – southwest
  • Bear Lake County, Idaho – west
  • Caribou County, Idaho – northwest
  • Bonneville County, Idaho – northwest

National protected areas

  • Bridger-Teton National Forest (part)
  • Caribou-Targhee National Forest (part)
  • Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
  • Fossil Butte National Monument

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 19,581 people, 7,545 households, and 5,386 families in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The population density was 4.8 per square mile (1.9/km), and the housing unit density was 2.3 per square mile (0.9/km).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Lincoln County, Wyoming – Rracial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>

!Race / ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!

!% 2000

!% 2010

!

|-

|White alone (NH)

|14,002

|16,930

|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,737

|96.08%

|93.50%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |90.58%

|-

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|14

|32

|style='background: #ffffe6; |34

|0.10%

|0.18%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.17%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|67

|126

|style='background: #ffffe6; |101

|0.46%

|0.70%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52%

|-

|Asian alone (NH)

|32

|55

|style='background: #ffffe6; |96

|0.22%

|0.30%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.49%

|-

|Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|7

|4

|style='background: #ffffe6; |21

|0.05%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.11%

|-

|Other race alone (NH)

|2

|11

|style='background: #ffffe6; |91

|0.01%

|0.06%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%

|-

|Mixed-race or Mmultiracial (NH)

|134

|167

|style='background: #ffffe6; |542

|0.92%

|0.92%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.77%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|315

|781

|style='background: #ffffe6; |959

|2.16%

|4.31%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.90%

|-

|Total

|14,573

|18,106

|style='background: #ffffe6; |19,581

|100.00%

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

|}

The racial makeup of the county was 91.8% white or European American (90.58% non-Hispanic white), 0.2% black or African-American, 0.6% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 2.2% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.9% of the population. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.3. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 15.5% of the population.

There were 9,489 housing units, of which 20.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.4% were owner-occupied and 20.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.5%. Males had a median income of $49,994 (+/- $2,287) versus $25,055 (+/- $1,647) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $34,877 (+/- $3,801). Approximately 3.4% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those ages 65 or over.

2014 American Community Survey

According to the 2014 American Community Survey, the largest ancestries/ethnicities in Lincoln County, Wyoming were:

  • 27.3% were of English ancestry.
  • 17.9% were of German ancestry.
  • 10.6% were of American ancestry.
  • 7.5% were of Irish ancestry.
  • 4.2% were of Italian ancestry.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 18,106&nbsp;people, 6,861&nbsp;households, and 4,957&nbsp;families in the county. The population density was . There were 8,946 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% white, 0.8% American Indian, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 2.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.3% of the population.

Of the 6,861&nbsp;households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.8% were non-families, and 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 37.4 years.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 14,573 people, 5,266 households, and 3,949 families in the county. The population density was . There were 6,831 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.15% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 2.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.0% were of English, 14.6% German, 9.5% American and 6.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 5,266 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.23.

The county population contained 30.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,794, and the median income for a family was $44,919. Males had a median income of $37,353 versus $20,928 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,533. About 6.4% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

There are three school districts that cover portions of the county:

  • Lincoln County School District Number 1, which includes Kemmerer High School
  • Lincoln County School District Number 2, which includes Star Valley High School.
  • Sublette County School District 9

Politics

Lincoln County voters are reliably Republican. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party nominee.

<!-- PresRow should be -->

Communities

City

  • Kemmerer (county seat)

Towns

  • Afton
  • Alpine
  • Cokeville
  • Diamondville
  • La Barge
  • Opal
  • Star Valley Ranch
  • Thayne

Census-designated places

  • Alpine Northeast
  • Alpine Northwest
  • Auburn
  • Bedford
  • Etna
  • Fairview
  • Fontenelle
  • Freedom
  • Grover
  • Nordic
  • Oakley
  • Osmond
  • Smoot
  • Taylor
  • Turnerville

Unincorporated communities

  • Alpine Junction
  • Border Junction
  • Frontier
  • Hamsfork
  • Sage

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Wyoming
  • Wyoming
  • List of cities and towns in Wyoming
  • List of counties in Wyoming
  • Wyoming statistical areas

References