Lincoln

by The Linguist

Lincoln, Nebraska by Population

Lincoln, Nebraska

Lincoln is the capital city of the state of Nebraska in the United States. With a population of 289,102 as of 2019, it is the second-most populous city in Nebraska and the 71st-largest city in the United States. Lincoln is located in southeastern Nebraska in Lancaster County.

Founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster, Lincoln was renamed after President Abraham Lincoln in 1867. It was chosen as the state capital shortly after and has served in that role ever since. Lincoln’s economy is diverse, with government, health care, insurance, finance, and education being major industries.

History

For thousands of years, the plains of Nebraska were inhabited by Native American tribes. The Pawnee, Otoe, Missouri, and Omaha nations were among the early inhabitants of the region. European exploration of Nebraska began in the 17th century with Spanish and French fur traders navigating the area.

Permanent European settlement of Lincoln began in 1856 when Lancaster County was founded. Lancaster was chosen as the site for the state capitol in 1867 and renamed Lincoln shortly after. The city was incorporated in 1869. Lincoln experienced rapid growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its central location made it an important hub on the Transcontinental Railroad, contributing to its economic success.

For more on Lincoln’s history, visit the Lincoln, Nebraska Wikipedia page.

Geography and Climate

Lincoln is located in southeastern Nebraska at the coordinates 40.813611, -96.7025. It sits in the Salt Creek valley and lies near the center of population of the United States. Lincoln has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. The average high in July is 87F (31C) and the average low in January is 14F (-10C). Rainfall averages 28 inches per year.

Demographics

As of 2019, Lincoln had an estimated population of 289,102, making it the 71st largest city in the U.S. The racial makeup of the city is 82.7% White, 4.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 4.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. 7.4% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 113,969 households in Lincoln with an average of 2.38 persons per household. 64.9% of households are family households. The median age is 32.8 years. Lincoln’s population is 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

Economy

Lincoln has a diverse economy based around government, healthcare, insurance, finance, and education. The three largest employers are the State of Nebraska, Lincoln Public Schools, and Bryan Health. Other major employers include Duncan Aviation, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.

For more on Lincoln’s economy, visit the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development website at https://www.selectlincoln.org/lincoln-economy/.

Attractions and Landmarks

Lincoln has numerous attractions and landmarks for visitors and residents to enjoy. Some of the most popular include:

  • State Capitol – The capitol building offers tours and houses Nebraska’s single legislative chamber.
  • University of Nebraska State Museum – With world-class exhibits on natural history, cultural history, and anthropology.
  • Sunken Gardens – A beautiful public sunken garden located on the University of Nebraska campus.
  • Pinnacle Bank Arena – A large event arena that hosts concerts and sporting events.
  • Lincoln Children’s Zoo – A zoo with over 400 animals located in Pioneers Park.
  • Memorial Stadium – The football stadium for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Here are the GPS coordinates for some of Lincoln’s most popular landmarks:

  • State Capitol: 40.810001, -96.699987
  • Memorial Stadium: 40.818499, -96.699997
  • Pinnacle Bank Arena: 40.813778, -96.704184

Government

As Nebraska’s state capital, Lincoln’s government is tied closely to the state government. The mayor of Lincoln is Leirion Gaylor Baird, who took office in 2019. The city uses a strong mayor form of government. Lincoln has seven city council members elected from districts. The city government website can be found at https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/ and their phone number is (402) 441-7547.

Lincoln resides in Lancaster County. The county website is https://lancaster.ne.gov/ and their phone number is (402) 441-7447.

Transportation

Lincoln’s main public transportation system is StarTran, which provides bus service throughout the city. The Lincoln Airport offers daily flights to major hub airports. Lincoln also has an Amtrak station with service on the California Zephyr route between Chicago and San Francisco.

Major highways serving Lincoln include Interstate 80, U.S. Route 77, and U.S. Route 34.

Education

Lincoln Public Schools operates over 40 public schools in the city. There are six public high schools in Lincoln – East, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest, and Lincoln High. Lincoln is also home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska’s land grant university.

Lincoln Public Schools: https://home.lps.org/

University of Nebraska-Lincoln: https://www.unl.edu/

Sports

Lincoln has an active sports culture, especially around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic teams. The Nebraska Cornhuskers football team plays at Memorial Stadium and has a devoted fanbase throughout the state. Other popular teams include basketball, baseball, volleyball, and more.

The Lincoln Saltdogs are a minor league baseball team playing in the Atlantic League. They play their home games at Haymarket Park in the downtown area.

For more on the Saltdogs, visit their website at https://www.saltdogs.com/.

Local Resources

Here are some additional resources to help you explore Lincoln: