Lincoln County is a county in Arkansas, United States, in the Arkansas Delta near the confluence of Cane Creek and Bayou Bartholomew. It had a population of 12,941 at the 2020 census and covers 572.17 square miles (1,481.9 km2) centred near 33°57′35″N 91°43′07″W.
Star City is the county seat, and its postal code is 71667. The county has three incorporated cities and 46 unincorporated communities and ghost towns, runs on Central time, and carries FIPS code 05079.
Towns & Villages in Lincoln County
Lincoln County has just three incorporated municipalities — Star City, Gould and Grady — alongside dozens of unincorporated communities and former settlements scattered across its farmland and bottomland forest. Most of the unincorporated names below are historic crossroads, mill sites or rail sidings; several are now ghost towns with no current population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star City | City · seat | 7,059 | 71667 |
| Gould | City | 913 | 71643 |
| Grady | City | 478 | 71644 |
| Yorktown | Unincorp. | — | 71678 |
| Avery | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Branchville | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Cades | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Calhoun | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Cornerville | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Crigler | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Cummins | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Douglas | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Feenyville | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Flynn | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Fresno | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Garnett | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Garrett Bridge | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Glendale | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Gourd | Unincorp. | — | 71643 |
| Little Garnett | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Meroney | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Mills | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Nebo | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Palmyra | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Phenix | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Relfs Bluff | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Rose Hill | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Sarassa | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Shannon Tank | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Tarry | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Tyro | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Varner | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Warrenton | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Whitefield | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
| Woodville | Unincorp. | — | 71667 |
All 34 unincorporated names from the county’s settlement list are carried over unchanged; none duplicated another entry.
ZIP Codes
- 71667 — Star City (also serves most of the county’s unincorporated crossroads)
- 71643 — Gould
- 71644 — Grady
- 71678 — Yorktown (PO Box only)
Every unincorporated community without its own post office is served by the Star City ZIP.
Geography
Lincoln County sits in the Arkansas Delta, its flat farmland broken by the bottomland forest along Bayou Bartholomew and Cane Creek, which meet inside Cane Creek State Park. Land covers 561.20 square miles and water 10.97 square miles of the county’s total. It borders Jefferson County to the north, Arkansas County and Desha County to the east, Drew County to the south, and Cleveland County to the west.
Cane Creek State Park, where Cane Creek meets Bayou Bartholomew near Star City, protects one of the largest remaining tracts of Delta bottomland hardwood forest in southeast Arkansas. It draws hikers, paddlers and hunters from across the region and is the county’s best-known natural landmark.
Demographics
Lincoln County had 12,941 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 23 people per square mile. Star City, with 7,059 residents, is by far the largest place, followed by Gould at 913. Median household income runs well below the Arkansas median of $58,700, reflecting the county’s dependence on agriculture and public-sector prison employment; the population has declined steadily from a mid-20th-century peak as farm mechanization reduced the need for rural labor.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the rural economy, with row crops and timber the mainstays on the Delta bottomland. The Arkansas Department of Correction operates two major prison units in the county — among its largest employers — alongside county government and the Star City School District. Cane Creek State Park adds a small tourism draw, and the county’s Delta soil supports cotton, soybeans, corn and rice alongside cattle grazing on its western uplands.
History
Lincoln County was created on March 28, 1871, during Reconstruction, carved from parts of Arkansas, Bradley, Desha, Drew and Jefferson counties. It is named for President Abraham Lincoln. The county carries nine National Register of Historic Places listings, preserving its 19th- and early-20th-century Delta history. Star City was platted as the new county seat soon after the county’s formation, chosen for its central location, and grew around the courthouse square that still anchors the town today.
Getting There
U.S. Route 65 and U.S. Route 425 cross the county, along with Arkansas Highways 11, 54, 83, 114, 199, 212, 293, 388 and 980.
- Pine Bluff — 20 miles north
- Dumas — 20 miles southeast
- Monticello — 25 miles south
- Little Rock — 65 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, roughly 65 miles north via U.S. 65.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lincoln County, Arkansas?
It lies in the Arkansas Delta south of Pine Bluff, along U.S. Route 65 and U.S. Route 425.
What is the population of Lincoln County?
12,941 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Lincoln County?
572.17 square miles (1,481.9 km2), including 10.97 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Lincoln County?
Star City, the largest city in the county.
How many towns are in Lincoln County?
Three incorporated cities — Star City, Gould and Grady — plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Lincoln County?
71643 (Gould), 71644 (Grady), 71667 (Star City) and 71678 (Yorktown, PO Box only).
Where does Lincoln County get its name?
It honors President Abraham Lincoln; the county was formed in 1871.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Arkansas.