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Lincoln, Illinois
Lincoln is a city of 13,281 people in Logan County, Illinois, founded in 1853.
Why visit Lincoln
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lincoln College, Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln Public Library and Hoblit House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 18°F.
Weather in Lincoln
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lincoln
Lincoln is a city in and the county seat of Logan County, Illinois, United States. First settled in the 1830s, it is the only town in the U.S. that was named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president. As a lawyer, he pled cases in courtrooms there from 1847 to 1859. Lincoln is home to two prisons.
From the Wikipedia article Lincoln, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do3
Lincoln College
School · 0.7 mi
Private college in Lincoln, Illinois, USA
Lincoln Christian University
School · 0.7 mi
Private Christian university in Lincoln, Illinois, U.S.
Museums and landmarks10
Lincoln Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Public library in Lincoln, Illinois
725 Pekin Street, Lincoln
Hoblit House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Illinois, United States
Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Lincoln, IL, listed on the NRHP in Illinois
Stephan A. Foley House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Lincoln, Illinois, NRHP-listed
University Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building at Lincoln College, Lincoln, Illinois, USA
Heritage in Flight Museum
Museum · 1.8 mi
Aviation museum in Illinois, US
1351 Airport Road, Lincoln
Lincoln Heritage Museum
Museum · 0.8 mi
1115 Nicholson Road, Lincoln
Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00; Sa 13:00-16:00; PH off
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes9
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 0.5 mi
410 Keokuk Street, Lincoln
Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00
History
The town's standard history holds that it was officially named on August 27, 1853, in an unusual ceremony. Abraham Lincoln, having assisted with the platting of the town and working as counsel for the newly laid Chicago & Mississippi Railroad which led to its founding, was asked to participate in a naming ceremony for the town. On this date, the first sale of lots took place in the new town.
Ninety were sold at prices ranging from $40 to $150. According to tradition Lincoln was present. At noon he purchased two watermelons and carried one under each arm to the public square. There he invited Latham, Hickox, and Gillette, proprietors, to join him, saying, "Now we'll christen the new town," squeezing watermelon juice out on the ground.
Legend has it that when it had been proposed to him that the town be named for him, he had advised against it, saying that in his experience, "Nothing bearing the name of Lincoln ever amounted to much." The town of Lincoln was the first city named after Abraham Lincoln, while he was a lawyer and before he was President of the United States.
From the History section of Lincoln, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Quality Inn & Suites Lincoln near I-55
Motel and hotel · 2.1 mi
2811 Woodlawn Road, Lincoln
Churches and places of worship21
Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Lincoln, Illinois)
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · Methodist · 0.7 mi
Jefferson Street Christian Church
Church · Christian · 1.0 mi
North Jefferson Street, Lincoln
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries21
Healthcare1
Map of Lincoln
96 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 18°F | 2.2 in | 5.7 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 22°F | 1.9 in | 6.2 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 31°F | 2.7 in | 1.8 in |
| Apr | 64°F | 41°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 61°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 53°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 42°F | 3.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 51°F | 32°F | 2.9 in | 0.6 in |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.3 in | 4.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lincoln Hcn (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Logan County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-08-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2007-02-09: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2006-03-28: Tornadoes And Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (SPI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 27 miles away.
- Hartsburg 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Atlanta 11 mi northeast, about 17 min by car
- Springfield 29 mi southwest, about 46 min by car
- Bloomington 31 mi northeast, about 50 min by car
- Decatur 31 mi southeast, about 50 min by car
- East Peoria 37 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Chatham 37 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Peoria 44 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Canton 45 mi northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Jacksonville 54 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lincoln Illinois Courthouse, Katherine Johnson from Springfield, IL, CC BY 2.0
- Lincoln, Illinois (2015), David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Lincoln Public Library, Nyttend, Public domain
- University Hall, Lincoln College, Nyttend, Public domain
- Lincoln, Illinois (7235203164), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lincoln, Illinois (7235202498), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Allen Chapel AME, Lincoln, Nyttend, Public domain
- Lincoln Tower - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- West Lincoln township building 2026-07-05, User:Visviva, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Eaton Corp. Lincoln Tower - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Handmade baskets, Trecie1976, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stephan A. Foley House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Hoblit House, Nyttend, Public domain
- Strange spot for a phone booth (6192159658), stacey shintani, CC BY-SA 2.0
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