Lincoln

Formed January 1, 1875 (59^th county)

Lincoln County (28,421), Merrill (9,356)

The outstanding red/brown brick Neo-Classical courthouse was built in 1903.  The courthouse is on a square at Main, Court, 1^st, and Center streets.  United States Highway 51 is Center in the town.  Van Ryn & De Gelleke are the architects.  The courthouse features a tower.  The county was founded on January 1, 1875 from Marathon County as the 59^th county and Merrill has always been the county seat.  Lincoln County is named for United States President Abraham Lincoln.  The county seat was named for railroad officer S. S. Merrill. 

Lincoln County government consists of a sheriff and 16 Supervisors.  Two Circuit Court Judges and One Municipal Court Judge serve Lincoln County.  Lincoln County is in the northern part of the state.  Green Bay, Wisconsin is southeast and Minneapolis, Minnesota is west of the county.  The county center is 14 miles North of Merrill nearer Irma.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Oneida, Langlade, Marathon, Taylor, and Price counties. 

The area of the county is 879.0 square miles.  It is 21 out of 72 in the state.  It ranks 45 out of 72 in population in the state.  It has a density of 32.3 persons per square mile making it 48 out of 72 in the state.  Lincoln County has 45.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 8 enters the northern part of the state from Oneida County and exits to the west, Clark County.  United States Highway 51 comes from Oneida County, north, and goes to Marathon County, south.  The county is a rectangle.  Merrill is located near the southern border of the county.  Merrill is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 32.9% of the county population.  This county is in the Merrill Micropolitan Statistical Area.