Lincoln

Formed June 1, 1780 (3^rd county)

Lincoln County (24,276), Stanford (3,655)

A Justice Center built in 2004 across the street supports the 1909 dark red brick courthouse.  The courthouse is at Main, 3^rd, Church, and 4^th streets.  Main Street is United States Highway 150 in the town.  The courthouse was enlarged in 1941.  Previous courthouses existed from 1787 and 1832 in Stanford, the only county seat.  The current Classical Revival courthouse was designed by Frank P. Milburn.  The courthouse features columns and the grounds have veteran memorials.  Lincoln County was one of the original three counties (3^rd county) formed on June 1, 1780.  The county is named for Revolutionary War General Benjamin Lincoln.  The county seat is named for Stamford, England. 

Lincoln County government consists of a sheriff, County Judge Executive, and 4 Magistrates.  Two Circuit Court Judges, Three District Court Judges, and One Family Court Judge serve Lincoln, Pulaski, and Rockcastle counties.  The county is in south central Kentucky.  Lexington, Kentucky is north and Bowling Green, Kentucky is southwest of the county.  The county center is 4.6 miles South-Southeast of Stanford nearer Halls Gap.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Garrard, Rockcastle, Pulaski, Casey, and Boyle counties. 

The area of the county is 337 square miles.  It is 54 out of 120 in the state.  It ranks 47 out of 120 in population in the state.  It has a density of 72.0 persons per square mile making it 50 out of 120 in the state.  Lincoln County has 19.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 27 goes north to south through the county from Garrard County to Pulaski County.  United States Highway 127 cuts the western part from Boyle County to Casey County.  United States Highway 150 travels northwest to east from Boyle County to Rockcastle County.  Stanford is in the northern quarter of the county.  Stanford is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 15.1% of the county population.  This county is in the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area.