Lincoln

Formed March 18, 1895 (21^st county)

Lincoln County (5,123), Shoshone (1,656)

A classic red brick and stone courthouse for Lincoln County sits on B Street, Greenwood Street, C Street, and Apple Street.  Greenwood Street is United States Highway 93 passing through the town.  The Romanesque style courthouse was built in 1904.  H. J. Hefty is the architect.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The structure is under renovation 2023.  The county was formed on March 18, 1895 from Blaine County as the 21^st county with Shoshone as the only county seat.  It later provided land for Gooding, Minidoka, and Jerome counties.  President Abraham Lincoln provided the inspiration for the county’s name.  The county seat is named for the Native American tribe.  Shoshone County is also named for the tribe. 

Lincoln County government consists of a sheriff, a prosecuter, a coroner, a clerk, a treasurer, and an assessor (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Six Circuit Court Judges and a Magistrate Court Judge serve Lincoln, Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Minidoka, and Twin Falls counties (judicial.) Lincoln County is in south central Idaho.  Twin Falls, Idaho is south and Boise, Idaho is west of the county.  The county center is 15.8 miles Northeast of Shoshone nearer Richfield.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Blaine, Minidoka, Jerome, Gooding, and Camas counties. 

The area of the county is 1206 square miles.  It is 25 out of 44 in the state.  It ranks 37 out of 44 in population in the state.  It has a density of 4.2 persons per square mile making it 31 out of 44 in the state.  Lincoln County has 46.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 26 crosses the county from northeast to west from Blaine County to Gooding County.  United States Highway 93 enters joined with United States Highway 26 from Blaine County, splits, and travels south into Jerome County.  The county is overall rectangular with some additions on the southern border.  Shoshone is located in the southwest quarter of the county.  Shoshone is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 32.3% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced SHOW-SHOEN.