Lincoln, Nebraska

{{Short description|Capital of Nebraska, United States}} {{Redirect|Lincoln, United States|the county|Lincoln County, Nebraska|the president of the United States|Abraham Lincoln|other places in the United States|Lincoln (disambiguation)#United States}} {{Good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Use American English|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Lincoln | settlement_type = [[List of capitals in the United States#State capitals|State capital city]] | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 280 | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | caption_align = center | image1 = Skyline of Downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, USA (2026).jpg | caption1 = Downtown Lincoln Skyline | image2 = Aerial view of the old Haymarket and West Haymarket, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg | caption2 = [[Haymarket District (Lincoln, Nebraska)|Haymarket District]] | image3 = Sunken Gardens (cropped).JPG | caption3 = [[Sunken Gardens (Nebraska)|Sunken Gardens]] | image4 = 091507-USCNeb-MemorialStadium.jpg | caption4 = [[Memorial Stadium (Lincoln)|Memorial Stadium]] | image5 = Lloyd G. Tanner Plaza & Morrill Hall, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg | caption5 = [[University of Nebraska State Museum]] | image6 = Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln, NE (cropped11).jpg | caption6 = [[Nebraska State Capitol]] }} | image_caption = | image_flag = Flag of Lincoln, Nebraska (2022).svg | image_seal = Lincoln-NE-seal-gold.png | image_blank_emblem = LincolnNEicon.png | blank_emblem_type = Logo | nickname = Star City<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Campus Guide: Lincoln lexicon |url=http://journalstar.com/article_6c3cf07d-ca9c-5e5b-85bb-466341c2a3da.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |date=August 22, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref> | motto = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | mapframe-point = none | pushpin_map = USA Nebraska#USA#North America | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Nebraska##Location within the United States | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label = Lincoln | coordinates = {{coord|40|48|37|N|96|40|29|W|region:US-NE|display=it}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States|size=23px}} | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] | subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Nebraska|County]] | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Nebraska}} | subdivision_name2 = [[Lancaster County, Nebraska|Lancaster]] | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = Founded  | established_date = 1856 (Lancaster) | established_title1 = Renamed | established_date1 = July 29, 1869 (Lincoln) | established_title2 = Incorporated | established_date2 = April 1, 1869 | named_for = [[Abraham Lincoln]] | government_type = Strong [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] | leader_title = [[List of mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska|Mayor]] | leader_name = [[Leirion Gaylor Baird]] | leader_party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]] | leader_title1 = [[City Council]] | leader_name1 = {{Collapsible list |title = Members |frame_style = border: none; padding: 0; |title_style = |list_style = text-align: left; |1=Tom Beckius |2=James Michael Bowers |3=Justin P. Carlson |4=Tom Duden |5=Bennie Shobe |6=Sändra Washington |7=Brodey Weber}} | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_Gaz_ua_national.txt |title=Urban Areas Gazetteer File |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref><ref name="CenPopGazetteer">{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_place_31.txt |title=2025 U.S. Gazetteer Files |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2025_Gazetteer/2025_gaz_counties_31.txt |title=State-Based Counties Gazetteer Files |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>{{ref label|idα|α|1}} | area_total_km2 = 269.10 | area_total_sq_mi = 103.90 | area_land_km2 = 265.58 | area_land_sq_mi = 102.54 | area_water_km2 = 3.52 | area_water_sq_mi = 1.36 | area_water_percent = 1.3 | area_urban_km2 = 243.9 | area_urban_sq_mi = 94.17 | area_metro_km2 = 3,683.66 | area_metro_sq_mi = 1,422.27 | area_blank1_title = [[Combined statistical area|CSA]] | area_blank1_sq_mi = 2,282.23 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name="USGS">{{cite web |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/837279 |title=Feature Details |website=United States Geological Survey |publisher=United States Department of the Interior |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> | elevation_ft = 1201 | population_total = 291082 | population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] | population_est = 300619 | pop_est_as_of = 2024 | population_footnotes = | pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="estimate">{{cite web | url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lincolncitynebraska,US/PST045221 |title=QuickFacts - Lincoln city, Nebraska; United States |date=July 1, 2024 |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>{{ref label|idα|α|2}} | population_density_km2 = 1117.13 | population_density_sq_mi = 2893.35 | population_urban = 291,217 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|139th]]) | population_urban_footnotes = {{ref label|idβ|β|^}} | population_density_urban_sq_mi = 3,092.3 | population_metro = 350,626 (US: [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|158th]]) | population_density_metro_sq_mi = 246.53 | population_blank1_title = [[Combined statistical area|CSA]] | population_blank1 = 372,313 (US: [[List of Combined Statistical Areas|109th]]) | population_blank2_title = [[Combined statistical area|CSA]] density | population_blank2 = 163.14/sq mi (62.99/km2) | population_demonym = Lincolnite | demographics_type2 = GDP | demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP30700 |title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Lincoln, NE (MSA) |date=December 4, 2024 |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]] |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Metro | demographics2_info1 = $27.995 billion (2023) | postal_code_type = [[ZIP code|ZIP code(s)]] | postal_code = 68501-68510, 68512, 68514, 68516-68517, 68520-68524, 68526-68529, 68531-68532, 68542, 68544, 68583, 68588 | area_codes = [[Area code 402|402]], [[Area code 531|531]] | website = [http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/ lincoln.ne.gov] | footnotes = α. ^ {{note label|idα||1}}{{note label|idα||2}} Area, state capital city density, metro population/density and CSA population/density as of the 2024 estimate.<ref name="csa">{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2024/metro/totals/csa-est2024-pop.xlsx |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Combined Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 (CSA-EST2024-POP) |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref><ref name="metro">{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2024/metro/totals/cbsa-met-est2024-pop.xlsx |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 (CBSA-MET-EST2024-POP) |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> β. {{note label|idβ||^}} Urban population/density as of the 2020 Census.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ua/2020_Census_ua_list_all.xlsx |title=List of 2020 Census Urban Areas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref> | leader_title2 = [[Nebraska's 1st congressional district|U.S. Congress]] | leader_name2 = [[Mike Flood (politician)|Mike Flood]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]) | timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]] | utc_offset = −6 | timezone_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]] | utc_offset_DST = −5 | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 31-28000 | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 837279<ref name=USGS /> | elevation_m = 366 }}

'''Lincoln''' is the [[List of capitals in the United States|capital city]] of the U.S. state of [[Nebraska]]. The city covers {{convert|103.9|sqmi|sqkm|1}} and had a population of 291,082 as of the 2020 census (300,619 estimated in 2024). It is the [[List of cities in Nebraska|second-most populous city in Nebraska]] and the [[List of United States cities by population|72nd-most populous in the United States]]. The [[county seat]] of [[Lancaster County, Nebraska|Lancaster County]], Lincoln is the economic and cultural anchor of the [[Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan area]], home to approximately 345,000 people.

Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster on the wild [[inland salt marsh|salt marshes]] and [[Arroyo (watercourse)|arroyos]] of what became Lancaster County. Renamed after President [[Abraham Lincoln]], it became Nebraska's state capital in 1869. The [[Bertram G. Goodhue]]–designed [[Nebraska State Capitol|state capitol building]] was completed in 1932, and is the nation's second-tallest capitol. As the city is the seat of government for the state of Nebraska, the state and the U.S. government are major employers. The [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]] was founded in Lincoln in 1869. The university is Nebraska's largest, with 23,954 students enrolled, and the city's third-largest employer. Other primary employers fall into the service and manufacturing industries, including a growing [[high-tech]] sector. The region makes up a part of what is known as the [[Silicon Prairie#Midwest Silicon Prairie|Midwest Silicon Prairie]].

Designated as a "refugee-friendly" city by the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] in the 1970s, the city was the 12th-largest resettlement site per capita in the country by 2000. Refugee [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]], [[Karen people|Karen]] (Burmese ethnic minority), [[Sudan]]ese and [[Yazidi]] (Iraqi ethnic minority) people, as well as refugees from [[Iraq]], the Middle East and Afghanistan, have resettled in the city. During the 2025–26 school year, [[Lincoln Public Schools]] provided support for about 3,500 students who spoke 67 languages other than English. {{TOC limit|3}}

==History== {{Main|History of Lincoln, Nebraska}}

===Natives=== Before the expansion westward of settlers, the prairie was covered with [[Bouteloua dactyloides|buffalo grass]]. [[Native American tribes in Nebraska|Plains Indians]], descendants of indigenous peoples who occupied the area for thousands of years, lived in and hunted along Salt Creek. The [[Pawnee people|Pawnee]], which included four tribes, lived in villages along the [[Platte River]]. The [[Great Sioux Nation]], including the ''Ihanktonwan-Ihanktonwan'' and the [[Lakota people|Lakota]], to the north and west, used Nebraska as a hunting and skirmish ground, but did not have any long-term settlements in the state. An occasional buffalo could still be seen in the plat of Lincoln in the 1860s.<ref name="1889 chapter 11" />

===Founding=== [[File:Lancaster (Lincoln), Nebraska, USA (1868).jpg|thumb|Lancaster (Lincoln), 1868]]

Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster and became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County in 1859.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neded.org/files/research/stathand/asect4.htm |title=Counties and County Seats by License Place Prefix Numbers |date=June 8, 2010 |website=Nebraska Databook |publisher=Nebraska Department of Economic Development |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=October 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020053612/http://www.neded.org/files/research/stathand/asect4.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The village was sited on the east bank of [[Salt Creek (Platte River)|Salt Creek]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/county-city_building.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040702173505/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/markers/texts/county-city_building.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 2, 2004 |title=County-City Building, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska |last=Lincoln Bar Association |date=May 1, 1970 |publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society |access-date=October 18, 2015}}</ref> The first settlers were attracted to the area due to the abundance of salt. Once [[J. Sterling Morton]] developed his salt mines in [[Kansas]], salt in the village was no longer a viable commodity.<ref name="Lincoln History UNL">{{cite web |url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/lancaster/lincoln/ |title=Lincoln — Lancaster County |website=Virtual Nebraska |publisher=University of Nebraska–Lincoln |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923224051/http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/lancaster/lincoln/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Captain W. T. Donovan, a former [[Steamboat|steamer]] captain, and his family settled on Salt Creek in 1856. In 1859, the village settlers met to form a county. A caucus was formed and the committee, which included Donovan, selected Lancaster as the county seat. The county was named Lancaster. After the passage of the 1862 [[Homestead Acts|Homestead Act]], homesteaders began to inhabit the area. The first [[plat]] was dated August 6, 1864.<ref name="1889 chapter 11">{{cite web |url=http://www.memoriallibrary.com/NE/Lancaster/1889/Chapters/11.htm |title=1889 History of Lincoln Nebraska – Chapter 11 |website=Memorial Library |publisher=CFC Productions |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=January 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115224755/http://www.memoriallibrary.com/NE/Lancaster/1889/Chapters/11.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

By the end of 1868, Lancaster had a population of approximately 500.<ref name="1889 chapter 12">{{cite web |url=http://www.memoriallibrary.com/NE/Lancaster/1889/Chapters/12.htm |title=1889 History of Lincoln Nebraska – Chapter 12 |website=Memorial Library |publisher=CFC Productions |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=January 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115073635/http://www.memoriallibrary.com/NE/Lancaster/1889/Chapters/12.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The township of Lancaster was renamed Lincoln, with the incorporation of the city of Lincoln on April 1, 1869. In 1869, the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]] was established in Lincoln by the state with a land grant of about 130,000 acres. Construction of University Hall, the first building, began the same year.{{sfn|Hays & Cox|p=234}}

===State capital=== {{See also|Nebraska State Capitol}} [[File:Nebraska State Capitol (at night, 2016), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=|Nebraska State Capitol]]

Nebraska was granted statehood on March 1, 1867. The capital of the [[Nebraska Territory]] had been [[Omaha, Nebraska|Omaha]] since the creation of the territory in 1854. Most of its population lived south of the Platte River. After much of the territory south of the Platte was considered annexation to Kansas, the territorial legislature voted to place the capital south of the river and as far west as possible.{{sfn|Hays & Cox|p=29}} Before the vote to remove the capital from Omaha, Omaha Senator J. N. H. Patrick made a last-ditch effort to derail the move by having the future capital named after recently assassinated President [[Abraham Lincoln]]. Many of the people south of the Platte had been sympathetic to the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] cause in the recently concluded [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. It was assumed that senators south of the river would not vote to pass the measure if the future capital was named after Lincoln. In the end, the motion to name the future capital Lincoln was ineffective in blocking the measure and the vote to move the capital south of the Platte was successful, with the passage of the Removal Act in 1867.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nebraskahistory.org/sites/kennard/stathood.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010121161100/http://nebraskahistory.org/sites/kennard/stathood.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 21, 2001 |title=More about Nebraska statehood, the location of the capital, and the story of the commissioner's home |date=March 20, 2000 |publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society |access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/341669/Lincoln |title=Lincoln, Nebraska, United States |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref>

The Removal Act called for the formation of a Capital Commission to site the capital on state-owned land. On July 18, 1867, the commission, composed of Governor [[David Butler (Nebraska governor)|David Butler]], Secretary of State [[Thomas Kennard]], and State Auditor John Gillespie, began to tour sites for the new capital. The village of Lancaster was chosen, in part due to its salt flats and marshes.<ref name="founding">{{cite web |url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/timeline/lincolns_founding.htm |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20061115222934/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/timeline/lincolns_founding.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=November 15, 2006 |title=Lincoln's Founding |date=January 11, 2006 |publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society |access-date=October 18, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-Midwest/Lincoln-History.html |title=Lincoln: History |website=City-Data.com |publisher=Advameg, Inc. |access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McGee |first=Jim |date=February 13, 2022 |title=Jim McKee: The birth of Antelope Park in Lincoln |url=https://norfolkdailynews.com/state/nebraska/jim-mckee-the-birth-of-antelope-park-in-lincoln/article_afe09bfc-8b72-5d58-9546-49b3d7d373f8.html |newspaper=Norfolk Daily News |location=Norfolk, NE |access-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-date=February 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213201033/https://norfolkdailynews.com/state/nebraska/jim-mckee-the-birth-of-antelope-park-in-lincoln/article_afe09bfc-8b72-5d58-9546-49b3d7d373f8.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lancaster had approximately 30 residents. Disregarding the original plat of the village of Lancaster, Kennard platted Lincoln on a broader scale. The plat of the village of Lancaster was not dissolved nor abandoned; it became Lincoln when the Lincoln plat files were finished on September 6, 1867.{{sfn|McKee2|p=95}} To raise money for the construction of a capital, an auction of lots was held.{{sfn|Hays & Cox|p=349}}

[[File:Thomas P. Kennard & John Gillespie Houses (1872), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|Kennard and Gillespie houses, 1872]] Newcomers began to arrive and Lincoln's population grew. The [[Nebraska State Capitol]] was completed on December 1, 1868, a two-story building constructed with native limestone with a central cupola. The [[Thomas P. Kennard House|Kennard house]], built in 1869, is the oldest remaining building in the original plat of Lincoln.<ref name="Kennard">{{cite web|title=More About Nebraska Statehood|url=http://nebraskahistory.org/sites/kennard/stathood.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010121161100/http://nebraskahistory.org/sites/kennard/stathood.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 21, 2001|website=Nebraska State Historical Society|access-date=August 17, 2016}}</ref>

In 1888, a new capitol building was constructed on the site of the first to replace the structurally unsound former capitol. The second building was a classical design by architect [[William H. Willcox]].<ref name=Capitol>{{cite web |url=https://capitol.nebraska.gov/index.php/building/history/nebraska-capitols |title=History of Nebraska's Capitols |website=Nebraska State Capitol |publisher=Nebraska Capitol Commission |access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref> It, too, had significant structural issues that, by the 1920s, made clear the need for the construction of a replacement. Construction began on a third capitol building in 1922. [[Bertram G. Goodhue]] was selected in a national competition as its architect. By 1924, the first phase of construction was completed and state offices moved into the new building. In 1925, the Willcox-designed capitol building was razed. The Goodhue-designed capitol was constructed in four phases, with the completion of the fourth phase in 1932.<ref name="journalstar1">{{cite news|last=Walton |first=Don |date=February 10, 2015 |title=Capitol may need earthquake evaluation |url=http://journalstar.com/legislature/capitol-may-need-earthquake-evaluation/article_28426201-ff8b-5d0a-902b-2dffd4303196.html| newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> It is the second-tallest capitol building in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Kori |date=November 4, 2015 |title=Assassinations, fires, and domes: 50 facts about 50 state capitol buildings |url=https://experience.usatoday.com/america/story/best-of-lists/2015/11/04/50-facts-state-capitols-buildings/75109094/ |department=Travel |newspaper=USA Today |edition=Experience America |location=Fairfax County, VA |access-date=May 30, 2016}}</ref>

===Growth and expansion===

The worldwide economic depression of 1890 saw Lincoln's population fall from 55,000 to 40,169 by 1900 (per the 1900 census). [[Germans from Russia|Volga-German immigrants from Russia]] settled in the North Bottoms neighborhood and as Lincoln expanded with the growth in population, the city began to annex nearby towns. Normal was the first town annexed in 1919.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McKee |first1=Jim |date=December 30, 2017 |title=Jim McKee: Traversing Lincoln via interurban railroads |url=http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/jim-mckee-traversing-lincoln-via-interurban-railroads/article_f5046847-5afb-564c-ad37-c73eb227d606.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> [[Bethany, Nebraska|Bethany]] Heights, incorporated in 1890, was annexed in 1922.<ref name="Lincoln History UNL" /> In 1926, the town of University Place was annexed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://casde.unl.edu/history/counties/lancaster/lincoln/index.php |title=Lincoln – Lancaster County |last1=Zimmer |first1=Edward |website=Virtual Nebraska – Nebraska ... Our Towns |publisher=[[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] |access-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315044654/http://casde.unl.edu/history/counties/lancaster/lincoln/index.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> College View, incorporated in 1892, was annexed in 1929. [[Union College (Nebraska)|Union College]], a [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh Day Adventist]] institution, was founded in College View in 1891. In 1930, Lincoln annexed the town of Havelock. Havelock actively opposed annexation to Lincoln and only relented due to a strike by the Burlington railroad shop workers which halted progress and growth for the city.<ref name="Lincoln History UNL" />

The [[Burlington and Missouri River Railroad]]'s first train arrived in Lincoln on June 26, 1870, and the [[Midland Pacific Railway|Midland Pacific]] (1871) and the [[Atchison and Nebraska Railroad|Atchison and Nebraska]] (1872) soon followed. The [[Union Pacific]] began service in 1877. The [[Chicago and North Western Transportation Company|Chicago and North Western]] and [[Missouri Pacific Railroad|Missouri Pacific]] began service in 1886. The [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific]] extended service to Lincoln in 1892. Lincoln became a rail hub.<ref name="Lincoln History UNL" />

[[File:Detroit-Lincoln-Denver Highway monument (from SW), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=refer to caption|Detroit-Lincoln-Denver (D-L-D) Highway monument]]

As automobile travel became more common, so did the need for better roads in Nebraska and throughout the U.S. In 1911, the Omaha-Denver Trans-Continental Route Association, with support from the [[Good Roads Movement]], established the Omaha-Lincoln-Denver Highway (O-L-D) through Lincoln. The goal was to have the most efficient highway for travel throughout Nebraska, from Omaha to Denver.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ashlandhistoricalsociety.org/Documents/US%206%20-%20O%20L%20D%20pres%20-%2012%20OCT%202013%20-%2049%20pg%20rev.pdf |title=Huebinger's Map & Guide for Omaha-Denver Transcontinental Route (condensed, edited & annotated edition) |last1=Ashland Historical Society |last2=Huebinger |first2=M. |date=October 12, 2013 |publisher=Ashland Historical Society / Saline Ford Historical Preservation Society, Nebraska |access-date=October 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903235447/http://www.ashlandhistoricalsociety.org/Documents/US%206%20-%20O%20L%20D%20pres%20-%2012%20OCT%202013%20-%2049%20pg%20rev.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 1920, the Omaha-Denver Association merged with the Detroit-Lincoln-Denver Highway Association. As a result, the O-L-D was renamed the Detroit-Lincoln-Denver Highway (D-L-D) with the goal of having a continuous highway from [[Detroit]] to [[Denver]]. The goal was eventually realized by the mid-1920s; {{convert|1,700|mi|km|abbr=on}} of constantly improved highway through six states.<ref name="idot">{{cite web |url=http://www.iowadot.gov/autotrails/dldhighway.html |title=Detroit, Lincoln and Denver (DLD) Highway |publisher=Iowa Department of Transportation |access-date=October 18, 2015}}</ref> The auto route's success in attracting tourists led entrepreneurs to build businesses and facilities in towns along the route to keep up with the demand. In 1924, the D-L-D was designated as [[U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska|Nebraska State Highway 6]]. In 1926, the highway became part of the Federal Highway System and was renumbered U.S. Route 38. In 1931, U.S. 38 was renumbered as a [[U.S. Route 6|U.S. 6]]/U.S. 38 overlap and in 1933, the U.S. 38 route designation was dropped.<ref name="nhhs">{{cite web |url=http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/docs/NE-Hist-hwy-surv.pdf |title=Nebraska Historic Highway Survey |last1=Mead & Hunt, Inc. |last2=Heritage Research, Ltd. |date=August 2002 |editor1-last=Jacobson |editor1-first=Kent A. |website=Nebraska Department of Roads |publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society / Nebraska Department of Roads |access-date=October 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116010548/http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/docs/NE-Hist-hwy-surv.pdf |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us6.cfm |title=U.S. 6 – The Grand Army of the Republic Highway |last1=Weingroff |first1=Richard F. |date=November 18, 2015 |department=Highway History |website=Federal Highway Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref>

In the early years of air travel, Lincoln had three airports and one airfield.<ref name="arrow">{{cite web |url=https://www.lincolnafb.org/airfields.php |title=Lincoln's Aviation Past |website=The Lincoln Air Force Base Online Museum |access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref> [[Union Airport (Nebraska)|Union Airport]], was established northeast of Lincoln in 1920. The Lincoln Flying School was founded by E.J. Sias in a building he built at 2145 [[O Street (Lincoln, Nebraska)|O Street]].{{sfn|McKee|p=116}} [[Charles Lindbergh]] was a student at the flying school in 1922. The flying school closed in 1947.{{sfn|McKee|p=116}} Some remnants of the Union Airport are still visible between N. 56th and N. 70th Streets, north of Fletcher Avenue; mangled within a slowly developing industrial zone.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/NE/Airfields_NE_NE.htm#lincoln |title=Union Airport, Lincoln, NE |last1=Freeman |first1=Paul |date=June 4, 2016 |website=Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields |page=Northeastern Nebraska |access-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref> Arrow Airport was established around 1925 as a manufacturing and test facility for [[Arrow Aircraft and Motors]] Corporation, primarily the [[Arrow Sport]]. The airfield was near Havelock; or to the west of where the North 48th Street Small Vehicle Transfer Station is today. Arrow Aircraft and Motors declared bankruptcy in 1939 and Arrow Airport closed roughly several decades later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arrow Aircraft and Motor Corporation (Lincoln, Neb.)|url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/business/arrow-aircraft.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195818/http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/business/arrow-aircraft.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 27, 2007|publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society|access-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref> An Arrow Sport is on permanent display, hanging in the Lincoln Airport's main passenger terminal.<ref name="arrow" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Nebraska Trailblazer No 18 – Aviation in Nebraska|url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb18.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616075051/http://nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb18.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 16, 2010|publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society|access-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref>

As train, automobile, and air travel increased, business flourished and the city prospered. Lincoln's population increased 38.2% from 1920 to a population of 75,933 in 1930.<ref name="population 1930 to 1980">{{cite web|url=http://www.neded.org/files/research/stathand/bsect5b.htm|title=Population of Nebraska Incorporated Places, 1930 to 1980|website=Nebraska Possibilities Endless|publisher=Nebraska Department of Economic Development Agency|access-date=April 30, 2015|archive-date=May 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508083952/http://www.neded.org/files/research/stathand/bsect5b.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1930, the city's small municipal airfield was dedicated to Charles Lindbergh and named Lindbergh Field for a short period as another airfield was named Lindbergh in California. It was north of Salt Lake, in an area known over the years as Huskerville, Arnold Heights and Air Park; and was approximately within the western half of the West Lincoln Township.<ref name="airpark">{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Jim |date=February 10, 2013 |title=Jim McKee: From Lincoln airport to Lincoln neighborhood| url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/jim-mckee-from-lincoln-airport-to-lincoln-neighborhood/article_5aa10b85-06e4-56d9-8a94-f334ea2b2940.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref><ref name="trailblazer aviation">{{cite web|title=Nebraska Trailblazer, Aviation in Nebraska|url=http://www.nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb18.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616075051/http://nebraskahistory.org/museum/teachers/material/trailblz/ntb18.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 16, 2010|website=Nebraska History.org|publisher=Nebraska State Historical Society|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name=freeman>{{cite web|last1=Freeman|first1=Paul|title=Abandoned & Little-Known Air Fields|url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/NE/Airfields_NE_NE.htm#lincoln|website=Air Fields|publisher=Paul Freeman|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> The air field was a stop for United Airlines in 1927 and a mail stop in 1928.<ref name=Branting>{{cite web|last1=Branting|first1=Robb|title=History|url=https://www.lincolnafb.org/history.php|website=The Lincoln Air Force Base Online Museum|access-date=May 15, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Arrow Sport, Lincoln Airport, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|right|alt=refer to caption|Arrow Sport, Lincoln Airport]] In 1942, the Lincoln Army Airfield was established at the site. During World War II, the U.S. Army used the facility to train over 25,000 aviation mechanics and process over 40,000 troopers for combat. The Army closed the base in 1945, but the Air Force reactivated it in 1952 during the Korean War. In 1966, after the Air Force closed the base, Lincoln annexed the airfield and the base's housing units.<ref name="airpark" /> The base became the [[Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)|Lincoln Municipal Airport]], and later the Lincoln Airport, under the Lincoln Airport Authority's ownership. The two main airlines that served the airport were [[United Airlines]] and [[Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)|Frontier Airlines]]. The Authority shared facilities with the Nebraska National Guard, who continued to own parts of the old Air Force base.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fact Sheet – History of the Nebraska Air National Guard |url=http://www.155arw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/afd-110617-039.pdf |publisher=155arw.ang.af.mil |access-date=May 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212453/http://www.155arw.ang.af.mil/shared/media/document/afd-110617-039.pdf |archive-date=January 15, 2016 }}</ref>

In 1966, Lincoln annexed the township of West Lincoln, incorporated in 1887. West Lincoln voters rejected Lincoln's annexation until the state legislature passed a bill in 1965 that allowed cities to annex surrounding areas without a vote.<ref name="westlincoln">{{cite news |last=McKee |first=Jim |date=March 5, 2016 |title=Jim McKee: West Lincoln almost an industrial success |url=http://journalstar.com/lifestyles/jim-mckee-west-lincoln-almost-an-industrial-success/article_80bdfa06-b94e-5de9-9c3a-f35d2f30d482.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=March 15, 2016}}</ref>

The downtown core retail district from 1959 to 1984 saw profound changes as retail shopping moved from downtown to the suburban Gateway Shopping Mall. In 1956, [[Ameritas|Bankers Life Insurance Company of Nebraska]] announced plans to build a $6 million shopping center next to their new campus on Lincoln's eastern outskirts. Gateway Shopping Center, now called [[Gateway Mall (Lincoln, Nebraska)|Gateway Mall]], opened at 60th and O streets in 1960.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=We're shopping for memories of Hovland-Swanson |url=http://journalstar.com/niche/neighborhood-extra/senior-scene/we-re-shopping-for-memories-of-hovland-swanson/article_1b93d780-c109-5b3c-b0cf-9332134a2e66.html| newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Gateway Mall emerged where cornfield had existed |url=http://journalstar.com/niche/neighborhood-extra/news/gateway-mall-emerged-where-cornfield-had-existed/article_8b6483bb-1735-59a4-8232-c7346d3035b0.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |date=January 6, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> By 1984, 75% of Lincoln's revenue from retail sales tax came from within a one-mile radius of the Mall. The exodus of retail and service businesses led the downtown core to decline and deteriorate.{{sfn|McKee|p=125}}

In 1969, the Nebraska legislature legislated laws for urban renewal. Soon afterward, Lincoln began a program of revitalization and beautification. Most of the urban renewal projects focused on downtown and the near South areas. Many ideas were considered and not implemented. Successes included Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, designed by [[Philip Johnson]]; new branch libraries, new street lighting, the First National Bank Building and the National Bank of Commerce Building designed by [[I.M. Pei]].{{sfn|McKee|pp=125–128}}

In 1971, an expansion of Gateway Mall was completed. 1974 marked a new assembly facility in Lincoln, a subsidiary of [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] in Japan to produce motorcycles for the North American market.<ref name="MCN 13 Feb 74"/> Lincoln's first woman mayor, [[Helen Boosalis]], was elected in 1975. Mayor Boosalis was a strong supporter of the revitalization of Lincoln with the downtown beautification project being completed in 1978. In 1979, the square-block downtown Centrum was opened and connected to buildings with a skywalk. The Centrum was a two-level shopping mall with a garage for 1,038 cars. With the beautification and urban renewal projects, many historic buildings were razed in the city.{{sfn|McKee|pp=125–128}} In 2007 and 2009, the city of Lincoln received beautification grants for improvements on O and West O Streets, west of the Harris Overpass, commemorating the history of the D-L-D.<ref name="idot" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Lincoln West "O" Historic Highway Project|url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/plan/mpo/tech/reports/2010/100826/westo.pdf|publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska|access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref>

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Vietnamese refugees created a large residential and business community along the 27th Street corridor alongside Mexican eateries and African markets.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Calvan|first1=Bobby Caina|title=How Asian Immigration Is Changing America's Heartland|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/how-asian-immigration-changing-americas-heartland-n129491|access-date=June 4, 2015|department=Asian America|agency=NBC News|date=June 18, 2014}}</ref> Lincoln was designated as a "Refugee Friendly" city by the [[U.S. Department of State]] in the 1970s. In 2000, Lincoln was the twelfth-largest resettlement site per capita in the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of New Americans Task Force|url=http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/natf/history.htm|website=City of Lincoln, Nebraska|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-date=June 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611032650/http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/natf/history.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2011, Lincoln had the second largest Karen (Burmese ethnic minority) population in the United States (behind Omaha),<ref>{{cite news |last=Kemmet |first=Kay |date=July 13, 2011 |title=Workshop gives insight into Karen culture |url=http://www.theindependent.com/news/local/workshop-gives-insight-into-karen-culture/article_51424395-515e-56db-8372-e94dbfa11dd3.html |newspaper=Grand Island Independent |location=Grand Island, NE |access-date=December 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karenksn.org/aboutus/ |title=Karen Society of Nebraska, Inc. |publisher=Karen Society of Nebraska |access-date=December 13, 2015}}</ref> with an estimated 1,500 in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lange-Kubicek |first1=Cindy |date=July 7, 2019 |title=Members of Karen community come together for garden with taste of home |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/members-of-karen-community-come-together-for-garden-with-taste/article_1b2d9d91-f1a0-5935-994d-d642a7f3ab67.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=July 8, 2019}}</ref> As of the same year, Nebraska was one of the largest resettlement sites for the people of Sudan, mostly in Lincoln and Omaha.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pascale |first=Jordan |date=January 14, 2011 |title=Thousands of Sudanese make pilgrimage to Omaha |url=http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/thousands-of-sudanese-make-pilgrimage-to-omaha/article_a3819c71-edb8-5247-bf3e-c7e35094feab.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 13, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, some social service organizations estimated that up to 10,000 Iraqi refugees had resettled in Lincoln.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Fred |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Yazidis And Other Iraqis In Lincoln Offer Different Perspectives On Crisis |url=http://netnebraska.org/article/news/932347/yazidis-and-other-iraqis-lincoln-offer-different-perspectives-crisis |agency=NET Radio |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=May 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Fred |date=December 12, 2017 |title=Iraqis A Fast-Growing Group In Nebraska |url=http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1108641/iraqis-fast-growing-group-nebraska |agency=NET Radio |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513012948/http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1108641/iraqis-fast-growing-group-nebraska |url-status=dead }}</ref> In recent years, Lincoln had the largest Yazidi (Iraqi ethnic minority) population in the U.S.,<ref>{{cite news |last=Siemaszko |first=Corky |date=November 26, 2015 |title= Yazidis in U.S. Grateful This Thanksgiving for Escaping ISIS |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-uncovered/yazidis-u-s-grateful-thanksgiving-escaping-isis-n468361 |agency=NBC News |access-date=April 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Mitch |date=September 7, 2015 |title=Yazidis Settle in Nebraska, but Roots Run Deep in Iraq |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/us/yazidis-settle-in-nebraska-but-roots-run-deep-in-iraq.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=December 13, 2015}}</ref> with over 2,000–3,000 having settled within the city (as of late 2017).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Jack |date=December 14, 2017 |title=Yazidis From Iraq Find Welcome Refuge In Nebraska |url=http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1108600/yazidis-iraq-find-welcome-refuge-nebraska |agency=NET Radio |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=May 12, 2018 |archive-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211132908/http://netnebraska.org/article/news/1108600/yazidis-iraq-find-welcome-refuge-nebraska |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Case |first1=Emily |date=July 23, 2018 |title=New downtown Lincoln Mediterranean market offers varied selection |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/new-downtown-lincoln-mediterranean-market-offers-varied-selection/article_e703f0b9-dc17-50ad-9bbf-05054c59de78.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=July 30, 2018}}</ref> In a three-year period, the immigrant and refugee student population at Lincoln Public Schools increased 52% - from 1,606 students in 2014, to 2,445 in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reist |first1=Margaret |date=June 4, 2017 |title=LPS strengthens trauma program to help refugee students |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/lps-strengthens-trauma-program-to-help-refugee-students/article_7907ee93-6fb1-55b6-b26a-605f247c3692.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=June 4, 2017}}</ref>

The decade from 1990 to 2000 saw a significant rise in population from 191,972 to 225,581. North 27th Street and Cornhusker Highway were redeveloped with new housing and businesses built. The boom housing market in south Lincoln created new housing developments including high end housing in areas like Cripple Creek, Williamsburg and The Ridge. The shopping center Southpointe Pavilions was completed in competition of Gateway Mall.{{sfn|McKee2|p=14}}

===Into the 21st century=== [[File:Nighttime skyline of downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, USA (2021, from Arnold Heights Park).jpg|thumb|Downtown Lincoln at night (2021)]] In 2001, [[Westfield Group|Westfield America Trust]] purchased the Gateway Mall<ref name="gateway">{{cite news|url=http://journalstar.com/gateway-history/article_3d369d67-8067-5c1f-a8ec-6161d1de1b17.html|title=Gateway history|author=|date=April 18, 2012|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|access-date=October 16, 2015|location=Lincoln, NE}}</ref> and named it Westfield Shoppingtown Gateway. In 2005, the company renamed it the Westfield Gateway.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=June 1, 2005 |title=Gateway a 'shoppingtown' no more |url=http://journalstar.com/business/gateway-a-shoppingtown-no-more/article_797054aa-729d-558d-b849-187430550924.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> Westfield made a $45 million makeover of the mall in 2005 including an expanded food court, a new west-side entrance and installation of an Italian carousel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=September 26, 2005 |title=Westfield Gateway unveils new amenities, food court |url=http://journalstar.com/business/westfield-gateway-unveils-new-amenities-food-court/article_9bc56e4f-639b-50ef-8b42-2f87d700c0c9.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> In 2012, Westfield America Trust sold Westfield Gateway to [[Starwood Capital Group]]. Starwood reverted the mall's name from Westfield Gateway to Gateway Mall and has made incremental expansions and renovations.<ref name="gateway" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=April 18, 2012 |title=Gateway mall sold |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/gateway-mall-sold/article_352377dc-ff8c-5f1e-93f8-2293d4185ac6.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> In 2021, Gateway Mall was sold to a subsidiary of Strategic Value Partners.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date= May 23, 2022 |title=Gateway Mall sold for $51.5 million |url=https://www.1011now.com/2022/05/23/gateway-mall-sold-515-million/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>

In 2015, ALLO Communications announced it would bring ultra-high speed fiber internet to the city. Speeds up to 1 gigabit per second were available for business and households by building off of the city's existing fiber network. Construction on the citywide network began in March 2016 and was estimated to be complete by 2019,<ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=November 17, 2015 |title=Ultra-fast Internet service is coming to Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/ultra-fast-internet-service-is-coming-to-lincoln/article_9f03e887-5ca2-5d2d-ba85-9f7821bb05cc.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=November 17, 2015}}</ref> making it one of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Riley |date=December 2, 2017 |title=In Allo's rapid digging, city and utilities encounter growing pains |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/in-allo-s-rapid-digging-city-and-utilities-encounter-growing/article_b5106c4e-869f-5616-9755-244c077a5acf.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref> Telephone and cable TV service were also included,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Nancy |date=December 7, 2015 |title=ALLO gets praise for bringing super fast Internet service to Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/allo-gets-praise-for-bringing-super-fast-internet-service-to/article_1e247e98-c510-5054-b4b0-9a3398677d4c.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 18, 2015}}</ref> making it the third company to compete for such services within the same Lincoln footprint. In April 2016, Windstream Communications announced that 2,300 customers in Lincoln had 1 gigabit per second fiber internet with an expected expansion of services to 25,000 customers by 2017.<ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=December 18, 2015 |title=Windstream bringing 1 gigabit Internet to Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/windstream-bringing-gigabit-internet-to-lincoln/article_de6abfc6-810d-5a37-b3f8-7a7da445dc48.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=April 4, 2016 |title=Windstream debuts 1G internet in Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/windstream-debuts-g-internet-in-lincoln/article_a5db296c-37c4-511d-8eb9-6778d28379c8.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=May 7, 2016}}</ref> On November 29, 2017, Lincoln was named a Smart Gigabit Community by U.S. Ignite Inc.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=December 11, 2017 |title=Lincoln now a Smart Gigabit Community |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/lincoln-now-a-smart-gigabit-community/article_7443c644-f75a-5601-bbce-5553bc50fc1c.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.us-ignite.org/news/us-ignite-inc-announces-lincoln-nebraska-will-join-rapidly-growing-network-of-smart-gigabit-communities/ |title=US Ignite, Inc. Announces Lincoln, Nebraska will Join Rapidly Growing Network of Smart Gigabit Communities |last1=Mohan |first1=Nishal |date=November 29, 2017 |publisher=US Ignite |access-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214015115/https://www.us-ignite.org/news/us-ignite-inc-announces-lincoln-nebraska-will-join-rapidly-growing-network-of-smart-gigabit-communities/ |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in early 2018, Spectrum joined the ranks of internet service providers providing 1 gigabit internet within the city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=April 25, 2018 |title=Charter now offering 1-gig internet in Lincoln, Southeast Nebraska |url=https://journalstar.com/business/local/charter-now-offering--gig-internet-in-lincoln-southeast-nebraska/article_4ee48ad4-a63e-5e05-b27c-968adc36c3dc.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2025, 2 gigabit internet service was available by ALLO.<ref>{{cite news |last=Badura |first=Sara |date=April 2, 2025 |title=ALLO Fiber brings 2-Gig Internet speeds to Lincoln |url=https://www.1011now.com/2025/04/02/allo-fiber-brings-2-gig-internet-speeds-lincoln/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref>

In 2021, Lincoln's second-tallest skyscraper was completed downtown. Second in height to the State Capitol by law, the [[Lied Place Residences]] was 250 feet, or 20 floors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=August 4, 2021 |title=Topped-out Lied Place Residences in line for more TIF money |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/topped-out-lied-place-residences-in-line-for-more-tif-money/article_6d5ae338-5b3c-5948-95ac-64f7909a247b.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> The Lied Place Residences surpassed the U.S. Bank Tower (formerly the First National Bank Building), completed in 1970, by 30 feet.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=November 7, 2021 |title=Downtown Lincoln's tallest office building has new owner |url=https://journalstar.com/business/local/downtown-lincolns-tallest-office-building-has-new-owner/article_c0e84fa0-4d3e-5936-b5fc-edc8141446fb.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> A least one taller building had been proposed since 2021, but any construction had been delayed due to inflation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=November 13, 2023 |title=Planned downtown Lincoln skyscraper would grow taller than Lied Place |url=https://journalstar.com/business/local/planned-downtown-lincoln-skyscraper-would-grow-taller-than-lied-place/article_d4c8004f-5482-554e-84ca-c66a78990977.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sangimino |first1=Patt |date=October 5, 2023 |title=Lincoln Bold on hold until interest rates make project more feasible |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/business/lincoln-bold-skyscraper-steve-glenn-interest-rates/article_583e6d8c-62e5-11ee-aca7-9f332cdb9362.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 11, 2025}}</ref>

In 2022, the City of Lincoln adopted a new flag, called "All Roads Lead to Lincoln".<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Flag |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Mayor/City-Communications/City-Flag |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www.lincoln.ne.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> In late 2022, Nebraska Highway 2 was diverted onto a newly constructed 11-mile long freeway, dubbed the South Beltway, on the Lincoln's south edge.<ref>{{cite news |last=Knapp |first=Fred |date=December 14, 2022 |title=Lincoln South Beltway project opens, helped by creative financing |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/es/news/news-articles/lincoln-south-beltway-project-opens-helped-by-creative-financing/ |agency=Nebraska Public Media |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref> The realignment marked the first time the eastern segment of Nebraska 2 was largely outside of the city in its history.

In 2023, unbeknownst to local leaders, Governor Jim Pillen announced that a new state correctional facility would be built on the east edge of Lincoln. The new facility would replace the aging [[Nebraska State Penitentiary]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Knapp |first=Fred |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Pillen announces new prison to be built in Lincoln |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/pillen-announces-new-prison-to-be-built-in-lincoln/ |agency=Nebraska Public Media |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> Controversy ensued as the area selected by the state was stated for future housing development by the city. Months later, the city entered an agreement with the state for a land swap and the new facility would instead be built on the northeast edge of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grinvalds |first=John |date=August 29, 2023 |title=New Nebraska state prison location moving north of I-80 in Lincoln |url=https://www.1011now.com/2023/08/30/governor-mayor-plan-joint-announcement-prison-location/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> It is unclear whether the old Nebraska State Penitentiary would be closed after the new facility is completed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wendling |first=Zach |date=June 16, 2025 |title=Correctional Services says new Nebraska prison bids would stay within proposed budget |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/06/16/correctional-services-says-new-nebraska-prison-bids-would-stay-within-proposed-budget/ |agency=Nebraska Examiner |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref>

Also in 2023, [[Google]] announced that a large data center was to be constructed on Lincoln's northeast edge. Construction began prior to the announcement the same year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gonzalez |first=Cindy |date=August 22, 2023 |title=Google confirms Lincoln's $600M data center, touts this year's $1.2B spend on NE infrastructure |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/google-confirms-lincolns-600m-data-center-touts-this-years-1-2b-spend-on-ne-infrastructure/ |agency=Nebraska Examiner |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> An upgrade of U.S. Highway 77 (Homestead Expressway) to freeway standards began in 2025,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reist |first1=Margaret |date=August 31, 2025 |title=U.S. 77 upgrade kicks off; Warlick bridge, ramps done by fall 2027 |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/article_706e1e00-ce3d-453d-afd7-07c75a7b1f0f.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> along with a renewed push by regional leaders for an East Beltway.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reist |first1=Margaret |date=September 1, 2025 |title=Lincoln, Lancaster County leaders encourage state to plan for East Beltway |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/government-politics/article_af33d83c-6732-11ef-84a6-eb12650c49ad.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mittlieder |first=Matthew |date=December 2, 2025 |title=Renewed enthusiasm from community leaders brings hope for Lincoln's east beltway |url=https://www.1011now.com/2025/12/03/renewed-enthusiasm-community-leaders-brings-hope-lincolns-east-beltway/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref>

==Geography== [[File:2007 ISS Lincoln, Nebraska 1.jpg|thumb|East Lincoln from [[International Space Station]], 2007]]

Lincoln has an area of {{convert|103.901|sqmi|sqkm|3}}, of which {{convert|102.54|sqmi|sqkm|3}} is land and {{convert|1.361|sqmi|sqkm|3}} is water, according to the United States Census Bureau in 2024.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer" />

Lincoln is one of the few large cities of Nebraska not along either the Platte River or the [[Missouri River]]. The city was originally laid out near [[Salt Creek (Nebraska)|Salt Creek]] and among the nearly flat [[salinity|saline]] [[wetland]]s of northern Lancaster County.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resource Categorization of Nebraska's Eastern Saline Wetlands|url=http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/parksfacilities/wetlands/links/rcategor.pdf|publisher=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nebraska Game U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Parks Commission, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|access-date=13 September 2016}}</ref> The city's growth has led to development of the surrounding land, much of which is composed of gently rolling hills. In recent years, Lincoln's northward growth has encroached on the habitat of the endangered [[Salt Creek tiger beetle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/invertebrates/saltcreektiger/ |title=Endangered Species of the Mountain-Prairie Region – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior |access-date=August 2, 2014 |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810065003/http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/invertebrates/saltcreektiger/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Metropolitan area=== {{Main|Lincoln, Nebraska metropolitan area}}

The Lincoln Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Lancaster County and [[Seward County, Nebraska|Seward County]]. Seward County was added to the metropolitan area in 2003. Lincoln is also in the Lincoln-Beatrice Combined Statistical Area which consists of the Lincoln metropolitan area and the micropolitan area of [[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]]. The city of Beatrice is the county seat of [[Gage County, Nebraska|Gage County]]. The Lincoln-Beatrice combined statistical area is home to 372,313 people (2024 estimate) making it the [[Combined statistical area|109th-largest combined statistical area]] in the United States.<ref name="csa" />

===Neighborhoods=== [[File:View of South Lincoln.jpg|thumb|right|alt=|South Lincoln from top of Nebraska State Capitol, 2012]] {{See also|Neighborhoods in Lincoln, Nebraska}}

Lincoln's neighborhoods include both old and new development. Some neighborhoods in Lincoln were formerly small towns that Lincoln later [[Annexation|annexed]], including [[Nebraska Wesleyan University|University Place]] in 1926, Belmont, Bethany (Bethany Heights) in 1922, College View in 1929, Havelock in 1930, and West Lincoln in 1966.<ref name="Lincoln History UNL"/> A number of [[Historic Districts]] are near downtown Lincoln, while newer neighborhoods have appeared primarily in the south and east.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/plan/long/hp/histlist.htm |title=lincoln.ne.gov – Planning Department – Long Range Planning – Historic Preservation – Sites and Districts |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref> As of December 2013, Lincoln had 45 registered [[neighborhood association]]s within the [[city limits]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/urban/Neighborhoods/NAstatistics.htm |title=lincoln.ne.gov – Urban Development – Neighborhood Statistics |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref>

One core neighborhood that has seen rapid residential growth in recent years is the downtown Lincoln area. In 2010, there were 1,200 downtown Lincoln residents; in 2016, there were 3,000 (an increase of 140%).<ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=June 17, 2016 |title=Biz Bits: DLA may soon stand for Downtown 'Living' Association |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/biz-bits-dla-may-soon-stand-for-downtown-living-association/article_93bcdcd0-352f-5d8c-a410-d456607e8274.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref> Around the middle of the same decade, demand for housing and rent units began outpacing supply. With Lincoln's population expected to grow to more than 311,000 people by 2020, prices for homes and rent costs have risen. Home prices rose 10% from the first quarter of 2015 to the first quarter of 2016; rent prices rose 30% from 2007 to 2017 with a 5–8% increase in 2016 alone.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=May 8, 2016 |title=Lincoln home prices hitting once unthinkable levels |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/lincoln-home-prices-hitting-once-unthinkable-levels/article_2308a1ae-26fc-52e0-8035-d1357a63f3a9.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Brandi B. |date=July 7, 2017 |title=More people and needs means higher rent |url=https://www.1011now.com/content/news/More-people-more-needs-higher-rent-433206743.html |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Climate=== Located in the [[Great Plains]], far from the moderating influences of mountains and large bodies of water, Lincoln has a highly variable four season [[humid continental climate]] (Köppen [[Humid continental climate#Hot summer subtype|''Dfa'']], [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]] ''Dcao''): Winters are cold; summers are hot and humid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/usa.htm |title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated - Map for the United States of America |last1=Brugger |first1=Katharina |date=2017 |website=Blocktraining |publisher=Climate Change & Infectious Diseases Group |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref> With little wet precipitation during the winter, precipitation is instead concentrated during the warmer months. When thunderstorms do transverse, occasional tornadoes are produced. Snow averages {{convert|26.0|in|cm}} per season, but seasonal accumulations have ranged from {{convert|7.2|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1967–1968 to {{convert|55.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 2018–2019. Snow tends to fall in lighter amounts, though variable and blizzards are possible. There is an average of 38 days with a snow depth of {{convert|1|in|cm|abbr=on}} or more. The average window for freezing temperatures is from October 7 through April 25, allowing for a growing season of 164 days.<ref name= NOAA/>

The monthly daily average temperature range is from {{convert|25.0|°F|1}} in January to {{convert|78.1|°F|1}} in July. However, the city is subject to episodes of bitter cold during the winter and heat waves in the summer, with 10.1 nights of {{convert|0|°F|0}} or lower for lows, 41.8 days of {{convert|90|°F|0}}+ and 3.5 days of {{convert|100|°F|0}}+ for highs.<ref name= NOAA/> The city straddles the boundary of [[Hardiness zone|USDA Plant Hardiness Zone]]s 5b and 6a.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://garden.org/nga/zipzone/?zip=68501 |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |publisher=National Gardening Association |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref> Temperature extremes have ranged from {{convert|−33|°F|1}} on January 12, 1974, to {{convert|115|°F|1}} on July 25, 1936. Readings as high as {{convert|105|°F|0}} or as low as {{convert|−20|°F|0}} occur somewhat rarely; the last occurrence of each was August 24, 2023 and February 16, 2021. The second lowest temperature ever recorded in Lincoln was {{Convert|-31|F|C|1}} on February 16, 2021, which broke the monthly record of {{Convert|-26|F|C|1}} set a day earlier.<ref name= NOAA/> It occurred during the wider [[February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm]], which impacted the [[Great Plains]], [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] and [[Northeastern United States|Northeastern]] United States as a whole.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Brad |last2=Goldberg |first2=Barbara |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Texas deep freeze leaves millions without power, 21 dead |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather-idUSKBN2AG257/ |work=Reuters |location=Lubbock, TX |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref>

On May 5, 2019, an EF2 tornado hit parts of western Lincoln, although no major injuries occurred.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/oax/20190505_Lincoln_Tor#:~:text=Rating:%20EF-2%20Estimated%20Peak,End%20Location:%203.5%20WSW%20of |title=May 5, 2019: EF-2 Tornado Confirmed in Lincoln |date=May 6, 2019 |website=National Weather Service |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref> On April 26, 2024, a stronger EF3 tornado destroyed the Garner Industries building in northeast Lincoln, causing three injuries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarty |first1=Joseph |last2=Johnson |first2=McKenzie |date=April 26, 2024 |title='It was crazy': Tornado slams building near Lincoln, injuring three |url=https://www.klkntv.com/it-was-crazy-tornado-slams-building-near-lincoln-injuring-three/ |agency=KLKN-TV (8) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/oax/april262024 |title=Tornado Outbreak of April 26, 2024 |website=National Weather Service |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref> However, in recent years with the changing climate, severe hail and windstorms have become increasingly more common.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nancy |first=Gaarder |date=June 26, 2023 |title=Scientists weigh in on Nebraska's unusual hail storms and whether they are the new norm |url=https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/scientists-weigh-in-on-nebraskas-unusual-hail-storms-and-whether-they-are-the-new-norm/article_82a04dbb-9c61-5ae0-aba2-1883239e9710.html | newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 5, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Meyer |first=Joseph |date=January 1, 2026 |title=2025: A wild weather year for Nebraska and Iowa |url=https://www.3newsnow.com/weather/2025-a-wild-weather-year-for-nebraska-and-iowa |agency=KMTV-TV (3) Weather |location=Omaha, NE |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Based on 30-year averages obtained from NOAA's [[National Climatic Data Center]] for December, January and February, the [[Weather Channel]] ranked Lincoln the seventh-coldest major U.S. city in a 2014 article.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://weather.com/sports-recreation/ski/news/20-coldest-large-cities-america-20140107 |title=America's 20 coldest major cities |last1=Erdman |first1=Jon |date=January 27, 2014 |website=The Weather Channel |publisher=The Weather Company, LLC |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref> In 2014, the Lincoln-[[Beatrice, Nebraska|Beatrice]] area was among the "Cleanest U.S. Cities for Ozone Air Pollution" in the [[American Lung Association]]'s "State of the Air 2014" report.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stateoftheair.org/2014/assets/ALA-SOTA-2014-Full.pdf |title=State of the Air 2014 |publisher=American Lung Association |access-date=April 30, 2014 |archive-date=April 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430150152/http://www.stateoftheair.org/2014/assets/ALA-SOTA-2014-Full.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Weather box | collapsed = true | location = [[Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)|Lincoln Airport]], Nebraska, 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean maxima and minima (i.e., the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) is calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1887–present{{efn|Official records for Lincoln were kept at the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] (Weather Bureau) from January 1887 to December 1947, the Lincoln Municipal Airport from January 1948 to June 1954, Lincoln University (campus) from July 1954 to August 1955, the Weather Bureau in downtown Lincoln from September 1955 to August 1972, and at the Lincoln Airport since September 1972.<ref>{{cite web|title=Threaded Station Extremes|url=https://threadex.rcc-acis.org/|website=ThreadEx|publisher=NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the National Weather Service (NWS), the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC)|access-date=13 September 2016}}</ref>}} |single line = Y |Jan record high F = 73 |Feb record high F = 83 |Mar record high F = 97 |Apr record high F = 97 |May record high F = 104 |Jun record high F = 108 |Jul record high F = 115 |Aug record high F = 110 |Sep record high F = 106 |Oct record high F = 98 |Nov record high F = 85 |Dec record high F = 75 |year record high F = 115 |Jan avg record high F = 58.9 |Feb avg record high F = 64.9 |Mar avg record high F = 77.9 |Apr avg record high F = 86.5 |May avg record high F = 91.9 |Jun avg record high F = 96.6 |Jul avg record high F = 100.1 |Aug avg record high F = 98.6 |Sep avg record high F = 94.6 |Oct avg record high F = 86.9 |Nov avg record high F = 73.4 |Dec avg record high F = 60.7 |year avg record high F = 101.7 |Jan high F = 35.6 |Feb high F = 40.6 |Mar high F = 53.6 |Apr high F = 64.8 |May high F = 75.0 |Jun high F = 85.2 |Jul high F = 89.4 |Aug high F = 87.2 |Sep high F = 80.1 |Oct high F = 66.6 |Nov high F = 51.7 |Dec high F = 39.4 |year high F = 64.1 |Jan mean F = 25.0 |Feb mean F = 29.5 |Mar mean F = 41.2 |Apr mean F = 52.0 |May mean F = 63.1 |Jun mean F = 73.7 |Jul mean F = 78.1 |Aug mean F = 75.6 |Sep mean F = 67.2 |Oct mean F = 53.8 |Nov mean F = 39.8 |Dec mean F = 28.8 |year mean F = 52.3 |Jan low F = 14.4 |Feb low F = 18.4 |Mar low F = 28.7 |Apr low F = 39.2 |May low F = 51.2 |Jun low F = 62.1 |Jul low F = 66.7 |Aug low F = 64.1 |Sep low F = 54.3 |Oct low F = 41.0 |Nov low F = 28.0 |Dec low F = 18.2 |year low F = 40.5 |Jan avg record low F = -7.7 |Feb avg record low F = -2.4 |Mar avg record low F = 7.5 |Apr avg record low F = 21.2 |May avg record low F = 34.7 |Jun avg record low F = 47.9 |Jul avg record low F = 54.0 |Aug avg record low F = 51.2 |Sep avg record low F = 37.4 |Oct avg record low F = 22.7 |Nov avg record low F = 10.7 |Dec avg record low F = -2.5 |year avg record low F = -11.7 |Jan record low F = −33 |Feb record low F = −31 |Mar record low F = −19 |Apr record low F = 3 |May record low F = 24 |Jun record low F = 39 |Jul record low F = 45 |Aug record low F = 39 |Sep record low F = 26 |Oct record low F = 3 |Nov record low F = −15 |Dec record low F = −27 |year record low F = -33 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation inch = 0.73 |Feb precipitation inch = 0.89 |Mar precipitation inch = 1.55 |Apr precipitation inch = 2.69 |May precipitation inch = 4.91 |Jun precipitation inch = 4.48 |Jul precipitation inch = 3.25 |Aug precipitation inch = 3.32 |Sep precipitation inch = 2.90 |Oct precipitation inch = 2.14 |Nov precipitation inch = 1.30 |Dec precipitation inch = 1.18 |year precipitation inch = 29.34 |Jan snow inch = 6.5 |Feb snow inch = 7.1 |Mar snow inch = 3.4 |Apr snow inch = 1.2 |May snow inch = 0.1 |Jun snow inch = 0.0 |Jul snow inch = 0.0 |Aug snow inch = 0.0 |Sep snow inch = 0.0 |Oct snow inch = 0.9 |Nov snow inch = 1.5 |Dec snow inch = 5.3 |year snow inch = 26.0 |unit precipitation days = 0.01 in |Jan precipitation days = 5.9 |Feb precipitation days = 6.1 |Mar precipitation days = 8.1 |Apr precipitation days = 9.7 |May precipitation days = 11.8 |Jun precipitation days = 10.4 |Jul precipitation days = 8.9 |Aug precipitation days = 8.8 |Sep precipitation days = 7.2 |Oct precipitation days = 7.1 |Nov precipitation days = 5.4 |Dec precipitation days = 5.9 |year precipitation days = 95.3 |unit snow days = 0.1 in |Jan snow days = 5.0 |Feb snow days = 4.5 |Mar snow days = 2.2 |Apr snow days = 0.6 |May snow days = 0.1 |Jun snow days = 0.0 |Jul snow days = 0.0 |Aug snow days = 0.0 |Sep snow days = 0.0 |Oct snow days = 0.3 |Nov snow days = 1.4 |Dec snow days = 3.8 |year snow days = 17.9 |Jan humidity = 70.3 |Feb humidity = 72.5 |Mar humidity = 69.1 |Apr humidity = 63.6 |May humidity = 66.9 |Jun humidity = 65.2 |Jul humidity = 65.4 |Aug humidity = 68.9 |Sep humidity = 70.1 |Oct humidity = 67.1 |Nov humidity = 71.5 |Dec humidity = 73.1 |year humidity = 68.6 |Jan sun = 176.8 |Feb sun = 167.6 |Mar sun = 211.9 |Apr sun = 236.4 |May sun = 273.3 |Jun sun = 314.4 |Jul sun = 329.9 |Aug sun = 294.9 |Sep sun = 236.4 |Oct sun = 216.9 |Nov sun = 156.4 |Dec sun = 146.8 |year sun = 2761.7 |Jan percentsun = 59 |Feb percentsun = 56 |Mar percentsun = 57 |Apr percentsun = 59 |May percentsun = 61 |Jun percentsun = 70 |Jul percentsun = 72 |Aug percentsun = 69 |Sep percentsun = 63 |Oct percentsun = 63 |Nov percentsun = 52 |Dec percentsun = 51 |year percentsun = 61 |Jan dew point C = -10.4 |Feb dew point C = -7.4 |Mar dew point C = -2.1 |Apr dew point C = 3.3 |May dew point C = 10.1 |Jun dew point C = 15.1 |Jul dew point C = 17.9 |Aug dew point C = 17.2 |Sep dew point C = 12.3 |Oct dew point C = 5.2 |Nov dew point C = -1.7 |Dec dew point C = -8.3 |source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990){{efn|Only 20 to 22 years of data were used to calculate relative humidity normals.}}<ref name= NOAA >{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=oax |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Weather Service Forecast Office |access-date = November 4, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals - 1991-2020">{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014939&format=pdf |title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = November 4, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240110092307/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/servicesdata/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014939&format=pdf |archive-date = 2024-01-10}}</ref><ref name = NOAAsun >{{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72551.TXT |title = WMO Climate Normals for LINCOLN/MUNICIPAL ARPT NE 1961–1990 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = November 4, 2021 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240110092411/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72551.TXT |archive-date = 2024-01-10}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1870 = 2441 | 1880 = 13003 | 1890 = 55164 | 1900 = 40169 | 1910 = 43973 | 1920 = 54948 | 1930 = 75933 | 1940 = 81984 | 1950 = 98884 | 1960 = 128521 | 1970 = 149518 | 1980 = 171932 | 1990 = 191972 | 2000 = 225581 | 2010 = 258379 | 2020 = 291082 | estyear = 2024 | estimate = 300619 | estref = <ref name="estimate" /> | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref> }}

Lincoln is Nebraska's second-most-populous city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neded.org/files/research/stathand/bsect5c.htm |title=Population of Nebraska Incorporated Places |date=March 9, 2015 |website=Nebraska Databook |publisher=Nebraska Department of Economic Development |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=January 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115033002/http://www.neded.org/files/research/stathand/bsect5c.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 1970s, The [[U.S. government]] designated Lincoln a refugee-friendly city due to its stable economy, educational institutions, and size. Initially, refugees from Vietnam settled in Lincoln. Later, more refugees came from other countries, including [[Mexico]], [[Guatemala]] and [[India]], as well as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Iraq,<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Kurdish Community in Lincoln protests removal of US troops |url=https://www.1011now.com/content/news/Kurdish-Community-in-Lincoln-protests-removal-of-US-troops-563425121.html |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burleigh |first1=Nina |date=October 10, 2010 |title=We've Found Peace in This Land |url=http://parade.com/115078/ninaburleigh/10-from-the-mideast-to-the-midwest/ |journal=Parade |edition=Parade Digital | publisher=Athlon Media Group |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> Afghanistan and [[Myanmar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://app.lincoln.ne.gov/city/natf/pdf/surveyreport2020.pdf|title=New Americans Task Force > About Us > History}}</ref> In 2013, Lincoln was named one of the "Top Ten Most Welcoming Cities in America"<ref>{{cite news |last=Pascale |first=Jordan |date=June 21, 2013 |title=Lincoln designated Welcoming City for immigrants |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/lincoln-designated-welcoming-city-for-immigrants/article_5ca2fb0a-e802-560d-b764-46a6a6d473f5.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> and in 2025, 4-star Certified Welcoming by Welcoming America.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cobb |first=Sam |date=September 7, 2025 |title=Lincoln nationally recognized as welcoming community |url=https://www.1011now.com/2025/09/08/lincoln-nationally-recognized-welcoming-community/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 4, 2026}}</ref>

===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Lincoln, Nebraska – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lincoln city, Nebraska |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US3128000|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lincoln city, Nebraska |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3128000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] }}</ref> !{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lincoln city, Nebraska|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3128000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] }}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH) |198,087 |214,739 |style='background: #ffffe6; |222,749 |87.81% |83.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |76.52% |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH) |6,803 |9,541 |style='background: #ffffe6; |13,224 |3.02% |3.69% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.54% |- |[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH) |1,354 |1,611 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,644 |0.60% |0.62% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.56% |- |[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH) |7,006 |9,711 |style='background: #ffffe6; |13,765 |3.11% |3.76% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.73% |- |[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH) |127 |128 |style='background: #ffffe6; |162 |0.06% |0.05% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06% |- |[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH) |326 |353 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,282 |0.14% |0.14% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44% |- |[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH) |3,724 |6,114 |style='background: #ffffe6; |13,322 |1.65% |2.37% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.58% |- |[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race) |8,154 |16,182 |style='background: #ffffe6; |24,934 |3.61% |6.26% |style='background: #ffffe6; |8.57% |- |'''Total''' |'''225,581''' |'''258,379''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''291,082''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |- |}

The [[2020 United States census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-12-18 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> counted 291,082 people, 115,930 households, and 67,277 families in Lincoln. The population density was 2,937.6 per square mile (1,134.2/km{{sup|2}}). There were 122,048 housing units at an average density of 1,231.7 per square mile (475.6/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup was 78.66% (228,956) White, 4.67% (13,605) Black or African-American, 0.89% (2,589) Native American, 4.77% (13,871) Asian, 0.07% (196) Pacific Islander, 3.5% (10,175) from other races, and 7.45% (21,690) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 7.0% (22,321) of the population.

Of the 115,930 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18; 43.8% were married couples living together; 27.1% had a female householder with no husband present. 31.0% of households consisted of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0.

21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 99.4 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year [[American Community Survey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-12-18|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> estimates show that the median household income was $60,063 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,248) and the median family income $79,395 (+/- $1,992). Males had a median income of $37,646 (+/- $1,251) versus $27,411 (+/- $805) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $31,869 (+/- $455). Approximately, 7.5% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.4% of those under the age of 18 and 6.2% of those ages 65 or over.

==Economy== [[File:Linc 2008 2.jpg|thumb|Fort Western store]]

Lincoln's economy is fairly typical of a mid-sized American city; most economic activity is derived from the service and manufacturing industries.<ref name="npr">{{cite news |last=Schaper |first=David |date=March 2, 2015 |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/03/02/388740062/nation-s-nearly-recession-proof-city-sees-new-challenges |title=A Nearly Recession-Proof City Is Not Slowing Down |edition=Morning |agency=National Public Radio |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref> Government and the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] are both large contributors to the local economy. Other prominent industries in Lincoln include finance, insurance, publishing, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, railroads,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://col.ionwave.net/extract.aspx?file=output%255ccol%255c2014_7%255cad721af7-1f60-4422-9a76-c0be9500449e.pdf&name=14-140+Revised+Specifications.pdf |title=Revised Specifications 2014 Transit Development Plan City Of Lincoln, Nebraska – Startran Request For Proposals |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> high technology,<ref name="npr" /> information technology, medical, education and truck transport.

For September 2025, the Lincoln Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) unemployment rate was 2.7% (not seasonally adjusted).<ref name="unemplrate">{{cite web |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LINC731URN |title=Unemployment Rate in Lincoln, NE (MSA) |date=December 17, 2025 |publisher=Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> With a tight labor market, Lincoln has seen rapid wage growth. From the summer of 2014 to the summer of 2015, the average hourly pay for both public and private employees have increased by 11%. From October 2014 to October 2015, wages were also up by 8.4%.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sparshott |first=Jeffrey |date=December 17, 2015 |title=In Lincoln, Neb., a View of Full Employment |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-lincoln-neb-a-view-of-full-employment-1450394644 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=New York, NY |access-date=December 18, 2015}}</ref>

One of the largest employers is [[Bryan Health]], which consists of two major hospitals and several large outpatient facilities across the city. Healthcare and medical jobs account for a large portion of Lincoln's employment: as of 2009, full-time healthcare employees in the city included 9,010 healthcare practitioners in technical occupations, 4,610 workers in healthcare support positions, 780 licensed and vocational nurses, and 150 medical and clinical laboratory technicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collegedegreereport.com/cities/lincoln |title=Lincoln Career, Salary & Employment Info |publisher=College Degree Report|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008221049/http://www.collegedegreereport.com/cities/lincoln |archive-date=October 8, 2010 }}</ref>

Several national businesses were originally established in Lincoln; these include student lender [[Nelnet]], [[Ameritas]], [[Assurity Life Insurance Company|Assurity]], [[Fort Western Stores]], [[CliffsNotes]] and [[HobbyTown USA]]. Regional restaurant chains [[Runza (restaurant)|Runza Restaurants]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.runza.com/about/history |title= History |publisher= Runza |access-date= January 4, 2018}}</ref> and [[Valentino's]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://valentinos.com/history/ |title= Valentino's History |publisher= Valentino's of America |access-date= August 3, 2014}}</ref> began in Lincoln.

The Lincoln area makes up a part of what is known as the greater Midwest [[Silicon Prairie]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://siliconprairienews.com/2015/09/7-reasons-why-you-should-pay-attention-to-lincoln/ |title= 7 reasons why you should pay attention to Lincoln |last=Pendell |first=Ryan |date= September 30, 2015 |website= Silicon Prairie News |access-date= May 22, 2016}}</ref> The city is also a part of a rapidly growing [[Microbrewery|craft brewing]] industry.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=May 22, 2017 |title=Local tourism promotion focusing on craft beer |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/local-tourism-promotion-focusing-on-craft-beer/article_fa377f5a-eedc-57ed-9c62-415e22f88ab2.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=May 22, 2017}}</ref>

===Principal employers=== According to the city's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/finance/accounting/2024-acfr.pdf |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, for the Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2024 |department=Accounting Division of the Finance Department |website=InterLinc |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=October 14, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430161129/https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/finance/accounting/2024-acfr.pdf |archive-date= April 30, 2025 }}</ref> the principal employers of the city are:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! # ! Employer ! # of Employees |- |1 |[[Nebraska|State of Nebraska]] |7,501—9,999 |- |2 |[[Lincoln Public Schools]] |7,501—9,999 |- |3 |[[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] |5,000—7,500 |- |4 |[[Bryan Health]] |2,500—4,999 |- |5 |[[Nelnet|Nelnet Diversified Services]] | |- |6 |[[Federal government of the United States|US Government]] |2,500—4,999 |- |7 |B&R Stores | |- |8 |City of Lincoln |2,500—4,999 |- |9 |[[Kawasaki Motors|Kawasaki Motors Mfg. Corp.]] | |- |10 |[[St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center|Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center]] |1,000—2,499 |- |}

===Automotive and technology=== 1974 saw the establishment of a [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] motorcycles assembly facility named the American Kawasaki Motors Corporation (KMC), to complete Japan-produced components into finished products for the North American market.<ref name="MCN 13 Feb 74">Kawasaki's US factory. ''[[Motor Cycle News|Motorcycle News]]'', 13 February 1974, p.7. Retrieved March 14, 2022</ref><ref>"[https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rider/kawasakis-plant-in-lincoln-nebraska/ Kawasaki's Plant in Lincoln, Nebraska]", ''Cycle World'', July 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2022.</ref> Incorporated in 1981, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. (KMM) and assumed control of KMC. As of 2022, their webpresence named tallies "All-Terrain Vehicles, Utility Vehicles, Personal Watercraft, Recreation Utility Vehicles, and Passenger Rail Cars" as their range.<ref>"[https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nebraska/articles/2021-07-19/kawasaki-plans-200m-expansion-that-would-add-550-new-jobs Kawasaki Plans $200M Expansion That Would Add 550 New Jobs]", ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'', July 19, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2022.</ref><ref>"[https://www.kawasakilincoln.com/ KMM Home]", kawasakilincoln.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.</ref>

Kawasaki is one of Lincoln's largest private employers with over 2,400 employees, and it has the largest square footage of manufacturing space. Newer product lines are rail cars and aircraft cargo doors.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://journalstar.com/business/local/kawasaki-to-expand-in-lincoln-add-hundreds-of-jobs/article_9f4aaf69-d72c-502a-bc35-a3495785ae75.html |title=Kawasaki to expand in Lincoln, add hundreds of jobs |website=[[Lincoln Journal Star]] |date=February 7, 2022|access-date= March 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |first1=Matt |last1=Olberding }}</ref>

===Military=== {{See also|Lincoln Air National Guard Base}} The Nebraska Air and Army National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters are in Lincoln along with other major units of the Nebraska National Guard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ne.ng.mil/Resource/Pages/About-Us.aspx |title=About Us |publisher=Nebraska National Guard |access-date=May 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518105007/http://ne.ng.mil/Resource/Pages/About-Us.aspx |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the early years of the [[Cold War]], the Lincoln Airport was the [[Lincoln Air Force Base]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnafb.org/history.php |title=The History of the Former Lincoln Air Force Base |publisher=lincolnafb.org |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> the Nebraska Air National Guard and the Nebraska Army National Guard now have joint-use facilities with the Lincoln Airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lincoln Air National Guard Base|url=http://www.militarybases.us/air-force/lincoln-air-national-guard-base/|website=Military Bases US|access-date=September 6, 2016}}</ref> Alongside the National Guard, the [[55th Wing]] of Offutt Air Force Base was temporarily headquartered in Lincoln through September 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hammack |first=Zach |date=April 16, 2021 |title=Officials welcome Offutt planes to temporary home -- 'Lincoln Air Force Base' |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/officials-welcome-offutt-planes-to-temporary-home-lincoln-air-force-base/article_4409865e-09a6-5598-bf39-58e58c21798b.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>

==Arts and culture== [[File:14th and O facing east.JPG|thumb|alt=|Downtown Lincoln, 14th and [[O Street (Lincoln, Nebraska)|O Streets]]]]

Since [[Pinnacle Bank Arena]] opened in 2013, Lincoln's music scene has grown to the point where it is sometimes called a "Music City".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bragg |first=Meghan |date=February 16, 2016 |title=Lincoln's Music Scene Continues to Grow |url=https://www.1011now.com/content/news/Lincolns-Music-Scene-Continues-to-Grow--368913251.html |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=February 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wolgamott |first1=L. Kent |date=December 14, 2016 |title=On the Beat: Music scene puts Lincoln on top destinations list |url=http://journalstar.com/entertainment/music/on-the-beat-music-scene-puts-lincoln-on-top-destinations/article_0b3b3b87-3c46-5df5-bc7e-1ca03f247fb2.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wolgamott |first=L. Kent |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Lincoln's live-music scene: 'When you've got great venues, things fall into place' |url=https://journalstar.com/entertainment/music/lincoln-s-live-music-scene-when-you-ve-got-great/article_e9f7544e-9194-5096-b1a7-b22db19ea1d7.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> Primary venues for live music include Pinnacle Bank Arena,<ref name="pinnacle">{{cite web|url=https://www.pinnaclebankarena.com/info/ |title=Pinnacle Bank Arena – Arena Info – About Us |publisher=Pinnacle Bank Arena |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> Bourbon Theatre, Duffy's Tavern, and the [[Zoo Bar (Lincoln, Nebraska)|Zoo Bar]]. The Pla-Mor Ballroom is a classic Lincoln music and dance scene with its in-house Sandy Creek Band. Pinewood Bowl hosts a range of performances, from national music performances to local plays, during the summer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pinewoodbowltheater.com/venue/about |title=About Pinewood Bowl Theater |publisher=Pinewood Bowl Theater |access-date=February 16, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212192519/http://pinewoodbowltheater.com/venue/about |archive-date=February 12, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The [[Lied Center for Performing Arts|Lied Center]] is a venue for national tours of Broadway productions, concert music, and guest lectures, and regularly features its resident orchestra, the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liedcenter.org/about-lied-center-performing-arts |title=About the Lied Center for Performing Arts – Performing Arts Theater Events Entertainment Lincoln Nebraska (NE) – Lied Center for Performing Arts |publisher=Lied Center for Performing Arts |access-date=August 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725002804/http://www.liedcenter.org/about-lied-center-performing-arts |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lincoln has several [[performing arts]] venues. Plays are staged by UNL students in the Temple Building;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arts.unl.edu/theatre-and-film/buildings/temple-building |title=Temple Building – Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts – University of Nebraska–Lincoln |publisher=[[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] |access-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref> community theater productions are held at the Lincoln Community Playhouse,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnplayhouse.com/about/mission.html |title=Lincoln Community Playhouse – About – Mission Statement |publisher=Lincoln Community Playhouse |access-date=August 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060320/http://www.lincolnplayhouse.com/about/mission.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> the Loft at The Mill, and the Haymarket Theater.

Lincoln has a growing number of arts galleries, including the [[Sheldon Museum of Art]], Burkholder Project and Noyes Art Gallery.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.noyesartgallery.com/about.html |title=Noyes Art Gallery - About the gallery... |date=November 4, 2016 |publisher=Weebly |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref>

For movie viewing, [[Marcus Theatres]] owns 32 screens at four locations, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's [[Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center]] shows independent and foreign films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theross.org/about/ |title=Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center |publisher=Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> Standalone cinemas in Lincoln include the [[Joyo Theatre]] and Rococo Theater. The Rococo Theater also hosts benefits and other engagements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rococotheatre.com/about.php |title=Rococo Theatre – Lincoln, Nebraska |publisher=rococotheatre.com |access-date=August 2, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628222012/http://www.rococotheatre.com/about.php |archive-date=June 28, 2014 }}</ref> The downtown section of [[O Street (Lincoln, Nebraska)|O Street]] is Lincoln's largest bar and nightclub district.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.movoto.com/blog/opinions/move-to-lincoln/ |title=29 Things You Need To Know About Lincoln Before You Move There |last1=Wunder |first1=Michael |date=March 11, 2014 |website=Movoto Blog |publisher=Movoto Real Estate |access-date=September 12, 2016}}</ref>

Lincoln is the hometown of [[Zager and Evans]], known for their international hit record "[[In the Year 2525]]" (1969).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zagerguitar.com/about/ |title=Zager and Evans, In the Year 2525 |publisher=Zager Guitars |access-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref> It is also the hometown of several notable musical groups, such as [[Remedy Drive]], [[VOTA]], [[For Against]], [[Lullaby for the Working Class]], [[Matthew Sweet]], Dirtfedd, [[The Show is the Rainbow]] and Straight. Lincoln is home to [[Maroon 5]] guitarist [[James Valentine (musician)|James Valentine]].

===Annual cultural events=== {{Main|List of annual cultural events in Lincoln, Nebraska}}

Annual events in Lincoln have come and gone throughout time, such as [[Band Day]] at the University of Nebraska's Lincoln campus<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nsbma.org/resources/historical-resources/chapter-7.html |title=History of The Band Movement In Nebraska – Chapter 7 – Contests and Festivals |publisher=Nebraska State Bandmasters Association |access-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518101654/http://www.nsbma.org/resources/historical-resources/chapter-7.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Star City Holiday Parade.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Star City Holiday Parade Suspended for 2010 |url=http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/100625084.html |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |date=August 13, 2010 |access-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101054300/http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/100625084.html |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> However, some events have never changed while new traditions have been created. Current annual cultural events in Lincoln include the Lincoln National Guard Marathon and Half-Marathon in May,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolnmarathon.org/course/ |title=Lincoln Marathon and Half-Marathon – The Course |publisher=Lincoln Track Club |access-date=May 2, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427055258/http://www.lincolnmarathon.org/course/ |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Celebrate Lincoln in early June,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinnaclebankarena.com/events/detail/celebrate-lincoln |title=Pinnacle bank Arena – Celebrate Lincoln |publisher=Pinnacle bank Arena |access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> the Uncle Sam Jam around July 3,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/mayor/cic/july4/ |title=lincoln.ne.gov – Mayor – Citizen Information Center – Uncle Sam Jam |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref> and Boo at the Zoo in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lincolnzoo.org/events/boo_at_the_zoo.html |title=Boo at the Zoo |publisher=Lincoln Children's Zoo |access-date=May 2, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152400/http://www.lincolnzoo.org/events/boo_at_the_zoo.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref> A locally popular event is the Haymarket Farmers' Market, running from May to October in the Historic Haymarket,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lincolnhaymarket.org/events/haymarket-events.html#evt61883 |title=Historic Haymarket – Events – Haymarket Events |publisher=Historic Haymarket |access-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502054752/http://lincolnhaymarket.org/events/haymarket-events.html#evt61883 |url-status=dead }}</ref> one of several farmers markets throughout the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://food.unl.edu/farmer-market |title=Farmers Markets – UNL Food – University of Nebraska–Lincoln |publisher=UNL Food Team, University of Nebraska–Lincoln |access-date=May 2, 2015}}</ref>

===Tourism=== {{Main|Tourism in Lincoln, Nebraska}}

Tourist attractions and activities include the [[Sunken Gardens (Nebraska)|Sunken Gardens]],<ref name="sunken">{{cite web|url=http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/parksfacilities/publicgardens/sunken/index.htm |title= Lincoln Parks & Recreation – Sunken Gardens |publisher=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |access-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref> basketball games at Pinnacle Bank Arena,<ref name="pinnacle" /> the [[Lincoln Children's Zoo]], the [[Dairy Store]] at UNL's East Campus,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dairystore.unl.edu/icecream.shtml |title=Ice Cream – UNL Dairy Store – University of Nebraska–Lincoln |publisher= UNL Dairy Store, University of Nebraska–Lincoln |access-date=April 30, 2015}}</ref> and Mueller Planetarium on the city campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://museum.unl.edu/museum_info/planetarium.html |title=Visitor Information – Mueller Planetarium |publisher=[[University of Nebraska State Museum]] |access-date=April 30, 2015 |archive-date=May 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509101149/http://museum.unl.edu/museum_info/planetarium.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Nebraska State Capitol,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://capitol.nebraska.gov/visit |title=Explore the Building and Plan a Visit – Nebraska State Capitol – Lincoln, NE |publisher=capitol.nebraska.gov |access-date=April 30, 2015}}</ref> which is also the tallest building in Lincoln,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/attorn/lmc/ti27/ch2756.pdf |title=Chapter 27.56 – Capitol Environs District – Lincoln Municipal Code |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224130630/https://lincoln.ne.gov/city/attorn/lmc/ti27/ch2756.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> offers tours.

The [[Museum of American Speed|Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed]] preserves, interprets, and displays physical items significant in racing and automotive history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museumofamericanspeed.com/default.dlp|title=Museum of American Speed Home Page – Museum of American Speed|website=museumofamericanspeed.com|access-date=March 24, 2016|archive-date=March 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328075143/http://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/default.dlp|url-status=dead}}</ref> The National Museum of Roller Skating extends public knowledge of roller skating history and seeks to preserve its legacy for future generations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollerskatingmuseum.org/about-us|title=About|website=National Museum of R}}</ref>

The [[Lester F. Larsen Tractor Museum]], operated by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is a small museum featuring vintage American tractors and documenting the history of Nebraska's tractor test law. The museum is housed in the original Nebraska Tractor Test Lab building, located at the university's east campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tractormuseum.unl.edu/|title=Lester F. Larsen Tractor Test and Power Museum | Nebraska|website=tractormuseum.unl.edu}}</ref>

===Library=== {{Main|Lincoln City Libraries}}

The city's public library system is [[Lincoln City Libraries]], which has eight branches as well as a [[bookmobile]].<ref name="libraries">{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnlibraries.org/visit/locations-and-hours/ |title=Locations and Hours |publisher=Lincoln City Libraries, Nebraska |access-date=February 26, 2026}}</ref> As of 2025, Lincoln City Libraries circulated roughly three million items per year to the residents of Lincoln and Lancaster County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnlibraries.org/media/fpzl32vq/lcl_annual_report_2024-2025.pdf |title=Annual Report 2024-2025 |publisher=Lincoln City Libraries, Nebraska |access-date=February 26, 2026}}</ref> The library system is also home to Polley Music Library and the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska authors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnlibraries.org/visit/polley-music-library/ |title=Polley Music Library |publisher=Lincoln City Libraries, Nebraska |access-date=February 26, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnlibraries.org/visit/heritage-room-of-nebraska-authors/ |title=Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors |publisher=Lincoln City Libraries, Nebraska |access-date=February 26, 2026}}</ref>

==Sports== {{see also|Nebraska Cornhuskers|Nebraska Cornhuskers football}} [[File:091507-USCNeb-MemorialStadium.jpg|thumb|alt=Memorial Stadium|Memorial Stadium]]

Lincoln is home to the University of Nebraska's sports teams, the Cornhuskers. In total, the university fields 22 men's and women's teams in 14 [[Division I (NCAA)|NCAA Division I]] sports.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.com/schools/nebraska |title= University of Nebraska |website=NCAA |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. |access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref> Nebraska football began play in 1890.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huskers.com//pdf5/40179.pdf?ATCLID=2722&SPSID=8&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100|title=Husker Football History|access-date=September 6, 2016|publisher=Huskers.com|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213658/http://www.huskers.com//pdf5/40179.pdf?ATCLID=2722&SPSID=8&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100|url-status=dead}}</ref> Of the 128 [[Football Bowl Subdivision|Division I-A]] football teams, Nebraska is one of nine to have won 900 or more games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2019-09-22/college-footballs-9-winningest-teams|title=College football's 9 winningest teams | NCAA.com|website=www.ncaa.com}}</ref> Notable coaches include [[Tom Osborne]] and [[Bob Devaney]]. Devaney coached from 1962 to 1972; the university's indoor arena, the [[Bob Devaney Sports Center]], is named for him. Osborne coached from 1972 to 1997.

Other sports teams are the [[Nebraska Wesleyan]] Prairie Wolves, an [[NCAA]] Division III University;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/student-life/athletics/become-prairie-wolf |title=Become a Prairie Wolf |publisher=Nebraska Wesleyan University |access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref> the [[Lincoln Saltdogs]], an [[American Association of Independent Professional Baseball|American Association]] independent [[minor league baseball]] team;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saltdogs.com/ |title=Lincoln Saltdogs |website=Lincoln Saltdogs |publisher=NEBCO, Inc. |access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref> the [[Lincoln Stars]], a [[United States Hockey League|USHL]] junior [[ice hockey]] team;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lincolnstars.com/history/ |title=Lincoln Stars Junior Hockey Club |publisher=Lincoln Stars Hockey |access-date=August 2, 2014 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and the [[No Coast Derby Girls]], a member of the [[Women's Flat Track Derby Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nocoastderbygirls.com/?page_id=3040 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611041658/http://nocoastderbygirls.com/?page_id=3040 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 11, 2014 |title=About – No Coast Derby Girls |publisher=No Coast Derby Girls |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref>

[[Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)|Lincoln Airpark]] hosts [[Sports Car Club of America|SCCA]] Solo Nationals each September.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=PROGRAMS - Autocross |url=https://www.scca.com/pages/autocross |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Sports Car Club of America |language=en}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation== {{Main|Parks in Lincoln, Nebraska}}{{multiple image | width1 = 150 | width2 = 150 | footer = | image1 = Sunken Gardens (inside 1), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg | alt1 = | caption1 = Sunken Gardens | image2 = MoPac Trail East (entrance at Novartis Trailhead), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = MoPac Trail East, Novartis Trailhead entrance. }}

Lincoln has an extensive park system, with over 168 individual parks connected by a {{convert|186|mi|km|abbr=on}} system of recreational trails, along with other additional facilities.<ref name="rec">{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation |title=Parks and Recreation |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> The [[MoPac Trail]] is a bicycling, equestrian and walking trail built on an abandoned [[Missouri Pacific Railroad]] corridor which runs for {{convert|27|mi|km}} from the University of Nebraska's Lincoln campus eastward to [[Wabash, Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stark|first1=Laura|title=Nebraska's MoPac Trail East and West|url=http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2015/may/12/nebraskas-mopac-trail-east-and-west/|website=Rails to trails conservancy|date=May 12, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2016}}</ref>

Regional parks include Antelope Park from S. 23rd and "N" Streets to S. 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Antelope-Park |title=Antelope Park |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Holmes Park at S. 70th Street and Normal Boulevard,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Holmes-Lake-Park |title=Holmes Lake Park |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> and Union Plaza between N. 21st and N. 22nd Streets, north of "O" Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Union-Plaza |title=Union Plaza |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Pioneers Park includes the [[Pioneers Park Nature Center]] at S. Coddington Avenue and W. Calvert Streets.<ref name="pioneers">{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Pioneers-Park |title=Pioneers Park |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Pioneers-Park-Nature-Center |title=Pioneers Park Nature Center |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>

Community parks include Ballard Park, Belmont Park, Bethany Park, Bowling Lake Park, Densmore Park, Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park, Erwin Peterson Park, Huskerville Park, Irvingdale Park, Mahoney Park, Max E. Roper Park East and West, Oak Lake Park, Peter Pan Park, Peterson Park, Sawyer Snell Park, Seacrest Park, Seng Park at University Place, Sherman Field, Tierra Park, Van Dorn Park, and Woods Park.<ref name="parks">{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z |title=Parks A to Z |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>

Other notable parks include Cascade Fountain,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Public-Gardens/Cascade-Fountain |title=Cascade Fountain |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Hamann Rose Garden,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Public-Gardens/Hamann-Rose-Garden |title=Hamann Rose Garden |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Iron Horse Park,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Iron-Horse-Park |title=Iron Horse Park |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Tower Square,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Tower-Square |title=Tower Square |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> [[Nine Mile Prairie]] owned by the University of Nebraska Foundation,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Riley |date=September 27, 2020 |title=Nine-Mile Prairie preservers hope planners care for it as Lincoln grows |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_1e4eaec1-9c29-52d9-ae05-48bd079b6c80.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Sunken Gardens,<ref name="sunken" /> Veterans Memorial Garden,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Public-Gardens/Veterans-Memorial-Garden |title=Veterans Memorial Garden |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> and [[Wilderness Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Facilities/Parks-A-to-Z/Wilderness-Park |title=Wilderness Park |website=Lincoln Parks & Recreation |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Smaller neighborhood parks are scattered throughout the city.<ref name="parks" /> Additionally, there are six public recreation centers, nine outdoor public pools, five public golf courses not including private facilities, and five dog runs in Lincoln.<ref name="rec" />

==Government== {{see also|List of mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska}} [[File:County-City Building, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|alt=|County-City Building]]

Lincoln has a [[mayor–council]] government. The mayor and a seven-member [[city council]] are selected in [[Non-partisan democracy|nonpartisan]] elections. Four members are elected from city council districts; the remaining three members are elected at-large.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/council/members.htm |title=InterLinc – City Council Members |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> Lincoln's health, personnel, and planning departments are joint city/county agencies; most city and Lancaster County offices are in the County/City Building. The most recent city general election was held on May 2, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=May 2, 2023 Lincoln City General Election Results |url=https://www.lancaster.ne.gov/1376/May-2-2023-Lincoln-City-General-Election |access-date=February 17, 2025 |publisher=Lancaster County, Nebraska}}</ref>

Since Lincoln is the state capital, many Nebraska state and [[United States Government]] offices are in Lincoln. The city lies within the Lincoln Public Schools school district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lps.org/about/districtmap/2013-08-22/highschool.pdf |title=Lincoln Public Schools 2013–2014 High School Attendance Areas |publisher=Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> The Lincoln Fire and Rescue Department shoulders the city's fire fighting and emergency ambulatory services while private companies provide non-emergency medical transport<ref>{{cite news |last=Andersen |first=Mark |date=October 25, 2011 |title=New oversight for Lincoln-area ambulance service |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/new-oversight-for-lincoln-area-ambulance-service/article_19bb31ed-127a-5854-a9e9-177c3227d1ae.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> and volunteer fire fighting units support the city's outlying areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lincoln.ne.gov/city/fire/maid/pdf/bound.pdf |title=Lancaster County Rural Fire Districts |publisher=Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Department, Nebraska |access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref>

==Education== [[File:Lincoln Public School District Office (new), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|Lincoln Public Schools district office]]

===Primary and secondary education=== Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) is the public school district which includes the majority of the city limits.<ref name=Censusschoolmap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st31_ne/schooldistrict_maps/c31109_lancaster/DC20SD_C31109.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lancaster County, NE|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2022-11-27}}</ref> It includes eight traditional high schools: [[Lincoln High School (Lincoln, Nebraska)|Lincoln High]], [[Lincoln East High School|East]], [[Lincoln Northeast High School|Northeast]], Northwest, [[Lincoln North Star High School|North Star]], [[Lincoln Southeast High School|Southeast]], [[Lincoln Southwest High School|Southwest]], and [[Standing Bear High School|Standing Bear]]. LPS is also home to special interest high school programs, including the Air Force [[Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps|JROTC]], [[Arts and Humanities Focus Program]], Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program, Bay High Focus Program, Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program, the Lincoln High International Baccalaureate Program, Nebraska Business Focus Program, [[Science Focus Program]] (Zoo School), and The Career Academy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lps.org/about/highschools.html |title=High Schools / Specialty Programs |publisher=Lincoln Public Schools |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Other specialty programs include Bryan Community School, the Don D. Sherrill Education Center, Graduation Pathways, Independence Academy, Nuernberger Education Center, Pathfinder Education Program, the Student Support Program, and the Yankee Hill Educational Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lps.org/about/programs.html |title=Communities, Education Centers and Other Programs |publisher=Lincoln Public Schools |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>

Some outerlying sections of Lincoln are in other school districts: [[Norris School District 160]] and [[Waverly School District 145]].<ref name=Censusschoolmap2020/>

There are several private [[Parochial school|parochial]] elementary and middle schools throughout the community.<ref name="parochial">{{cite web |url=http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/main/ed_proch.htm |title=InterLinc – Education – Parochial & Private Schools |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=August 2, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053343/http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/main/ed_proch.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Like Lincoln Public Schools, these schools are broken into districts, but most will allow attendance outside of boundary lines. Lincoln's private high schools are College View Academy, [[Lincoln Christian High School|Lincoln Christian]], [[Lincoln Lutheran Middle/High School|Lincoln Lutheran]], Parkview Christian School and [[Pius X High School (Nebraska)|Pius X High School]].<ref name="parochial" />

===Colleges and universities=== Lincoln has twelve colleges and universities. The [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]], the main campus of the [[University of Nebraska system]], is the largest university in Nebraska, with 19,378 undergraduate, 3,959 postgraduate students and 617 professionals enrolled in 2025. Out of the 23,954 enrolled, 453 undergraduate and 1,094 postgraduate students/professionals were international. With approximately 60 countries outside of the U.S. represented, the five countries with the highest international enrollment were Brazil, China, Ghana, India, and Vietnam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iea.unl.edu/publication/fact-book/ |title=Fact Book |date=Fall 2025 |website=Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics |publisher=University of Nebraska-Lincoln |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref> Recent and ongoing student visa concerns on the national level has led to a concerning overall steady decrease of international students at the university.<ref>{{cite news |last=Loomis |first=Nick |date=April 19, 2025 |title=UNL international students get visas revoked |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/international-student-visas-revoked-at-the-university-of-nebraska/ |agency=Nebraska Public Media |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lucrece |first=karen |date=April 17, 2025 |title=UNL international students share their fears amid mass visa revocation |url=https://www.klkntv.com/unl-international-students-share-their-fears-amid-mass-visa-revocation/ |agency=KLKN-TV (8) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=January 3, 2026}}</ref>

[[Nebraska Wesleyan University]], as of 2020, has 1,924 undergraduate and 151 postgraduate students.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/nebraska-wesleyan-university-2555/student-life |title=Nebraska Wesleyan University Student Life |department=Education |website=U.S. News & World Report |publisher=U.S. News & World Report LP |access-date=July 2, 2022}}</ref> The school teaches in the tradition of a [[Liberal arts colleges in the United States|liberal arts college]] education. It remains affiliated with the [[United Methodist Church]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/about-nwu |title=About NWU – Nebraska Wesleyan University |publisher=Nebraska Wesleyan University |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809073003/http://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/about-nwu |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Union Adventist University]] is a [[Private university|private]] [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] four-year coeducational university with 911 students enrolled 2013–14.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uau.edu/ |title=Union Adventist University |website=Union Adventist University |access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucollege.edu/about-us |title=Welcome to Union College – Union College |publisher=Union College |access-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref>

[[Bryan Health|Bryan College of Health Sciences]] offers undergraduate degrees in nursing and other health professions; a Masters in Nursing; a Doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia practice, as well as certificate programs for ancillary health professions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bryanhealth.com/AbouttheCollege |title=About the College Lincoln, Nebraska (NE) – Bryan Health |publisher=Bryan Health |access-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref> Universities with satellite locations in Lincoln are [[Bellevue University]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bellevue.edu/about/at-a-glance/locations/lincoln/ |title=Lincoln – Bellevue University |publisher=Bellevue University |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506222200/http://www.bellevue.edu/about/at-a-glance/locations/lincoln/ |archive-date=May 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Concordia University, Nebraska|Concordia University (Nebraska)]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cune.edu/resources/docs/Campus/Lincoln-site-FALLBROOK_Map_latest.pdf |title=Concordia University Nebraska College of Graduate Studies |publisher=Concordia University, Nebraska |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211915/http://www.cune.edu/resources/docs/Campus/Lincoln-site-FALLBROOK_Map_latest.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Doane University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doane.edu/campus-map-lincoln |title=Campus Map – Lincoln |publisher=Doane University |access-date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=May 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515035554/http://www.doane.edu/campus-map-lincoln |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lincoln also hosts the College of Hair Design and Joseph's College of Cosmetology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collegeofhairdesign.com/about/ |title=College of Hair Design – About Us |publisher=College of Hair Design |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043809/http://www.collegeofhairdesign.com/about/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.josephscollege.edu/AboutUs.aspx |title=About Us – Joseph's College – Cosmetology |publisher=Joseph's College |access-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref>

[[Southeast Community College]] is a [[community college]] system in southeastern Nebraska, with three campuses in Lincoln and an enrollment of 9,505 students as of spring 2024. The two-year Academic Transfer program is popular among students who want to complete their general education requirements before they enroll in a four-year institution. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is the most popular transfer location.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/southeast-community-college-area-CC07954 |title=Southeast Community College Area Overview |department=Education |website=U.S. News & World Report |publisher=U.S. News & World Report LP |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SCC Sees 12% Spring Enrollment Increase |url=https://www.southeast.edu/about/news/spring-2024-enrollment-increase.php#:~:text=Southeast%20Community%20College%20achieved%20an,for%20the%202020%20Spring%20Semester. |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.southeast.edu}}</ref>

==Media== [[File:Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET), Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg|thumb|alt=|Headquarters of Nebraska Public Media]]

===Television=== Lincoln has four licensed broadcast full power television stations; and one serving the city, but licensed to an area outside its limits:<ref name="tv">{{cite web|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?state=NE&call=&arn=&city=lincoln&chan=&cha2=69&serv=&type=0&facid=&asrn=&list=1&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9 |title=TV Query Results – Video Division (FCC) USA |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> *[[KSNB-TV]] (Channel 4; 4.1 [[digital television|DT]]) - [[NBC]] affiliate ** [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate 4.2 ** [[ION Television|ION]] affiliate 4.3 ** [[Oxygen (TV network)|Oxygen]] affiliate 4.5 ** Outlaw affiliate 4.6<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ksnblocal4.com/programming/schedule/ |title=TV Listings |date=January 11, 2026 |website=KSNB-TV|publisher=Gray Local Media |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref> *[[KLKN]] (Channel 8; 8.1 DT) – [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate ** [[Grit (TV network)|Grit]] affiliate 8.2 ** [[Ion Mystery]] affiliate 8.3 ** [[Laff (TV network)|Laff]] affiliate 8.4 ** [[Bounce TV|Bounce]] affiliate 8.6<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.klkntv.com/watch/tv-schedule/ |title=TV Schedule |date=January 11, 2026 |website=KLKN Lincoln Operations, LLC |publisher=Standard Media Company |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref> *[[KOLN]] (Channel 10; 10.1 DT) – [[CBS]] affiliate ** [[Start TV]] affiliate 10.2 ** [[Court TV]] affiliate 10.3 ** [[Heroes & Icons|H&I]] affiliate 10.4 ** 365BLK affiliate 10.5 ** [[True Crime Network]] affiliate 10.6<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.1011now.com/programming/schedule/ |title=Programming Schedule |date=January 11, 2026 |website=KOLN-TV|publisher=Gray Local Media |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref> *[[Nebraska Public Media|KUON]] (Channel 12; 12.1 DT) – [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] affiliate, [[Nebraska Public Media]] Television flagship station ** NE-W ([[World (TV network)|World]]) ** NE-C ([[Create (TV channel)|Create]]) ** NE-KIDS ([[PBS Kids]]) ** NE-FNX ([[First Nations Experience]]) affiliate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/schedules/ |title=Schedules |date=January 11, 2026 |website=Nebraska Public Media |publisher= Nebraska Public Media Foundation |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref> *[[KFXL-TV|KFXL]] (Channel 15; 51.1 DT) – [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate<ref>{{cite web |url=https://foxnebraska.com/station/schedule |title=SCHEDULE |date=January 11, 2026 |website=KFXL-TV |publisher=Sinclair, Inc. |access-date=January 11, 2026}}</ref> The headquarters of [[Nebraska Public Media]], which is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service and [[National Public Radio]], are in Lincoln.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/ |title=Home: Nebraska Public Media |publisher=Nebraska Public Media |access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref> The city has two low power digital TV stations in Lincoln area: including the translator [[KFDY-LD]] (simulcast of ([[KOHA-LD]])) owned by Flood Communications of Nebraska LLC, including for main Spanish-language network affiliate [[Telemundo]] on 27.1, [[News Channel Nebraska|NCN]] [[Independent station (North America)|(Ind.)]] on 27.2, and religious network affiliate [[Three Angels Broadcasting Network|3ABN]] on 27.3 in Lincoln area only, on virtual channel 27, digital channel 27; and another low power digital [[KCWH-LD]] on [[The CW Plus|CW+]] affiliate, owned by [[Gray Television|Gray]] on channel 18.1 included sub-channels like [[Ion Television|Ion]] on 18.2, and [[CBS]] (Simulcast of [[KOLN]]) on 18.3.<ref name="tv" />

===Radio=== [[File:US Navy 110906-N-CI293-168 Rear Adm. Douglas J. McAneny, commandant of the National War College, is interviewed by Dennis Kellog of KLIN News Talk.jpg|thumb|right|alt=|Radio station studio KLIN-AM]]

There are 18 radio stations licensed in Lincoln, not including radio stations licensed outside of the city that serve the Lincoln area. Most areas of Lincoln also receive radio signals from Omaha and other surrounding communities.

[[FM broadcasting|FM]] stations include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=&filenumber=&state=NE&city=LINCOLN&freq=88.1&fre2=107.9&serv=&status=&facid=&asrn=&class=&list=0&NextTab=Results+to+Next+Page%2FTab&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9 |title=FM Query Results |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> *[[KLCV]] (88.5) – Religious talk *[[KZUM]] (89.3) – Independent [[Community Radio]] *[[KRNU]] (90.3) – Alternative / UNL college radio *[[KUCV]] (91.1) – National Public Radio *[[K-Love|K220GT]] (91.9) – Contemporary Christian *[[KBBK|K233AN]] (94.5) – Top 40 *[[KNNA-LP]] (95.7) – Christian *KDPP-LP (97.3) - Independent Community / Urban *[[KZLW|K255CS]] (98.9) – Christian *[[KLIN|K257GN]] (99.3) - News/Talk *[[KFOR (AM)|K268DF]] (101.5) – News/Talk *[[KFRX|K277CA]] (103.3) – Hot AC *[[KLNC]] (105.3) – Classic Rock *[[KFRX]] (106.3) – Top 40 *[[KCRO|K294DJ]] (106.7) – Christian *[[KBBK]] (107.3) – Hot AC *[[KJTM-LP]] (107.9) – Contemporary Christian

[[AM broadcasting|AM]] stations include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?call=&filenumber=&state=NE&city=LINCOLN&freq=530&fre2=1700&type=0&facid=&class=&hours=&list=1&NextTab=Results+to+Next+Page%2FTab&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9 |title=AM Query Results |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> *[[KFOR (AM)|KFOR]] (1240) – News/Talk *[[KLIN]] (1400) – News/Talk

===Print=== The ''[[Lincoln Journal Star]]'' is the city's major daily newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://journalstar.com/services/about-us/?fn |title=About the Lincoln Journal Star – Services |publisher=journalstar.com |access-date=August 2, 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Nebraska Examiner]]'', headquartered in Lincoln, is an independent and non-profit state news publishing [[wire service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/about/ |title=Nebraska Examiner - ABOUT US |date=2025 |website=Nebraska Examiner |publisher=States Newsroom |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> ''[[The Daily Nebraskan]]'', UNL's [[student newspaper]], publishes daily news on its website and a monthly print magazine, and ''[[The DailyER]]'' is the university's biweekly satirical paper.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Jessica |date=April 19, 2017 |title=The Daily Nebraskan to replace biweekly newspaper with monthly magazine |url=http://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/the-daily-nebraskan-to-replace-biweekly-newspaper-with-monthly-magazine/article_eb1cb09e-24af-11e7-be18-37098b8e3b1f.html |newspaper=Daily Nebraskan |location=University of Nebraska Lincoln |access-date=January 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thedailyer.com/about/ |title=The DailyER - About |publisher=DailyER |access-date=January 27, 2018}}</ref> Other university newspapers include the ''Reveille'', the official periodical campus paper of Nebraska Wesleyan University and the ''Clocktower'', the official weekly campus paper of Union Adventist University.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/academics/academic-departments-and-programs/english-department |title=English Department – Nebraska Wesleyan University |publisher=Nebraska Wesleyan University |access-date=March 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316120814/http://nebrwesleyan.edu/academics/academic-departments-and-programs/english-department |archive-date=March 16, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ucollege.edu/about-us |title=About Union College |website=The Clocktower |publisher=Union College Associated Student Body |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref>

==Infrastructure== ===Transportation=== ====Major highways==== Lincoln is served by [[Interstate 80 in Nebraska|Interstate 80]] via seven [[Interchange (road)|interchanges]], connecting the city to [[San Francisco]] in the west and [[Teaneck, New Jersey]] in the [[New York City metropolitan area]] in the east.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table01.cfm?redirect |title=FHWA Route Log and Finder List: Table 1 – Interstate System – Design – FHWA |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |access-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref> Other Highways that serve the Lincoln area are [[Interstate 180 (Nebraska)|Interstate 180]], [[U.S. Route 6 in Nebraska|U.S. Route 6]], [[U.S. Route 34 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 34]], [[U.S. Route 77 in Nebraska|U.S. Highway 77]] and nearby [[Nebraska Highway 79]]. The eastern segment of [[Nebraska Highway 2]] is a primary trucking route that connects the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]] (Interstate 29) to the I-80 corridor in Lincoln.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/projects/south-beltway/docs/12-2013-project-update-sheet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162438/http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/projects/south-beltway/docs/12-2013-project-update-sheet.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |title=Nebraska Department of Roads – Lincoln South Beltway – As of December 2013 |publisher=Nebraska Department of Roads |access-date=March 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A few additional minor State Highway segments are located within the city as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/maps/docs/county%20maps/pdfs/cntylanc.pdf |title=General Highway Map, Lancaster County, Nebraska |publisher=Nebraska Department of Roads |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002345/http://www.transportation.nebraska.gov/maps/docs/county%20maps/pdfs/cntylanc.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Mass transit==== A public bus transit system, [[StarTran]], operates in Lincoln. StarTran's fleet consists of 67 full-sized buses and 13 Handi-Vans. The transit system has 18 bus routes, with a circular bus route downtown. Annual ridership for the fiscal year 2017–18 was 2,463,799.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/startran/fact-sheet.htm |title=StarTran Bus Service Fact Sheet |website=InterLinc |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=October 18, 2018 |archive-date=October 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019041240/https://lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/startran/fact-sheet.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

StarTran also offers a door-to-door van service called VANLNK to customers with the mobile app. The service has vehicles that are smaller than StarTran's buses. Departures can only be in the Lincoln city limits, and the service is a shared-ride service, meaning it optimizes trips to carry people along routes on the same schedule. All VANLNK vehicles are accessible by disabled people using lifts and ramps. However, although service animals are allowed, non-service animals must be on a pet carrier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VANLNK - StarTran On-Demand Service |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/StarTran/Apps/VANLNK |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.lincoln.ne.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Intercity transit==== [[File:Lincoln Airport (Neb., USA) - New Terminal 2023.jpg|thumb|right|alt=|Lincoln Airport passenger terminal]]

The [[Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)|Lincoln Airport]] currently provides passengers with daily non-stop service to [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago O'Hare International Airport]] and [[Denver International Airport]]. Twice weekly non-stop service is provided to [[Harry Reid International Airport]] in [[Las Vegas]] and [[Orlando International Airport]], with through service to [[John Wayne Airport]] in [[Orange County, California]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Carrera |first=Abigail |date= November 4, 2025 |title=Lincoln Airport adds flights to Las Vegas and Orange County |url=https://www.1011now.com/2025/11/04/lincoln-airport-adds-flights-las-vegas-orange-county/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=March 27, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Shenk |first=Danielle |date=December 18, 2025 |title=American Airlines to launch new nonstop flights from Lincoln to Dallas, Chicago, Phoenix |url=https://www.1011now.com/2025/12/18/american-airlines-launch-new-nonstop-flights-lincoln-dallas-chicago-phoenix/ |agency=KOLN/KGIN-TV (10/11) News |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=March 27, 2026}}</ref> [[General aviation]] support is provided through several private aviation companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnairport.com/general-aviation/pilot-charter-services/ |title=Pilot & Charter Services – Lincoln Airport |publisher=The Lincoln Airport Authority, Nebraska |access-date=November 27, 2013}}</ref> The Lincoln Airport was among the emergency landing sites for the NASA [[Space Shuttle]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Airport Master Plan |url=https://lincolnairport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Lincoln-Master-Plan.pdf |publisher=Lincoln Airport |pages=3–15|date=August 2007|access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> The site was chosen chiefly because of a {{convert|12,901|ft|m}} runway; the longest of three at the airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=LNK&AptSecNum=3&SpecRWYid=1730434 |title=AirportIQ 5010 – Runway Information – 18/36 |publisher=GCR Inc. |access-date=April 6, 2015 |archive-date=April 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414142847/http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=LNK&AptSecNum=3&SpecRWYid=1730434 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lincoln is served by both Express Arrow and [[Burlington Trailways]] for regional bus service between Omaha, Denver and points beyond.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://expressarrow.com/route-schedules/ |title=route schedules |website=Express Arrow |publisher=Patrick Casey Design |access-date=May 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://documentstndot.s3.amazonaws.com/NDOR_Documents/LOIBPublicMeeting2020Round3.pdf |title=Lincoln/Omaha Intercity Bus Feasibility Study |date=February 2020 |website=Nebraska Public Transit |publisher=Nebraska Department of Transportation |access-date=February 25, 2020}}</ref> Megabus, in partnership with Windstar Lines, provides bus service between Lincoln and Chicago with stops in Omaha, Des Moines, Iowa City and Moline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=February 21, 2017 |title=Megabus bringing service to Lincoln on March 1 |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/megabus-bringing-service-to-lincoln-on-march/article_25fd4cec-88db-5b92-85e5-b84f8578b891.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref>

[[Amtrak]] provides service to [[Lincoln station (Nebraska)|Lincoln station]], operating its [[California Zephyr]] daily in each direction between [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]] and [[Emeryville, California]], using BNSF's Lincoln – Denver route through Nebraska.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=LNK|title=Lincoln, NE Train Station (LNK) {{!}} Amtrak|website=www.amtrak.com|access-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> The city is an Amtrak crew-change point.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=January 20, 2017 |title=Amtrak wants to move 21 employees from Denver to Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/amtrak-wants-to-move-employees-from-denver-to-lincoln/article_7c380232-8cbd-5143-b8f2-1d37877f7bad.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref>

====Rail freight==== [[Rail freight transport|Rail freight]] travels coast-to-coast, to and through Lincoln via [[BNSF Railway]], the [[Union Pacific Railroad]], Lincoln's own [[Omaha, Lincoln and Beatrice Railway]] Company and an [[Omaha Public Power District]] rail line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olbrailway.com/ |title=OL&B Railway – Home |publisher=NEBCO |access-date=November 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oppd.com/media/158313/official-statement-12_22_14.pdf |title=Omaha Public Power District (Nebraska) |publisher=Omaha Public Power District |access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> Lincoln was once served by the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad]] (Rock Island), the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac) and the [[Chicago and North Western Transportation Company]] (C&NW). The abandoned right-of-way of these former railroads have since been turned into bicycle trails.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/rtsd/background.htm |title=lincoln.ne.gov – RTSD – Background |publisher=Lincoln.ne.gov |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060925/http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/rtsd/background.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Cycling modes==== Lincoln has a third-generation dock-based [[Bicycle-sharing system|bike share program]] that began in mid-April 2018, called BikeLNK. The first phase of the program included 19 docks and 100 bicycles, scattered throughout downtown and around the UNL City, UNL East & Nebraska Innovation campuses.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salter |first1=Peter |date=April 12, 2018 |title=Rolling start: What you need to know about Lincoln's rental bikes |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/rolling-start-what-you-need-to-know-about-lincoln-s/article_3ee119cb-50c9-5d9a-b617-c3ca6c57029c.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> A second phase in 2019 increased the number of docks to 21, total bicycles to 105 and expanded to a location outside of downtown.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salter |first1=Peter |date=February 24, 2019 |title=On a roll: Bike-share program expanding in second year |url=https://journalstar.com/news/local/on-a-roll-bike-share-program-expanding-in-second-year/article_c318937c-f0c5-5fb9-beca-f29d1c4f36cc.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> Lincoln also has a fleet of commercial pedicabs that operates in the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lincolnpedalpushers.com/ |title=Lincoln Pedal Pushers |publisher=Pedalpushers |access-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507233846/http://lincolnpedalpushers.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Modal characteristics==== In 2016, 80.5 percent of working Lincoln residents commuted by driving alone, 9.6 percent carpooled, 1.1 percent used public transportation, and 3.1 percent walked. About 2.4 percent used all other forms of transportation, including taxis, bicycles, and motorcycles as well as ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber which entered the Lincoln market in the summer of 2014. About 3.3 percent worked at home.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Census Reporter|title=Means of Transportation to Work by Age|access-date=May 6, 2018|url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US3128000&primary_geo_id=16000US3128000}}</ref>

In 2015, 6.3 percent of city of Lincoln households were without a car, which decreased slightly to 5.8 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Lincoln averaged 1.78 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8 per household.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|date=December 9, 2014 |url=https://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Utilities=== Power in Lincoln is provided by the Lincoln Electric System (LES). The LES service area covers {{convert|200|sqmi|km2}}, serving Lincoln and several outlying communities. A [[public utility]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.les.com/about-les/mission-background |title=Mission and Background |publisher=Lincoln Electric System |access-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-date=March 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318001406/http://www.les.com/about-les/mission-background |url-status=dead }}</ref> as of 2023, LES's electric rates are the 10th lowest in the nation, according to a nationwide competitive market study conducted by LES in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.les.com/sites/default/files/competitive-market-study.pdf |title=2025 LES Competitive Market Study |date=January 28, 2025 |publisher=Lincoln Electric System |access-date= December 31, 2025}}</ref> Current LES power supply resources are 35% renewable, 34% oil and gas and 31% coal.<ref name="LES facts">{{cite web |url=https://www.les.com/sites/default/files/resource-items/key-facts.pdf |title=KEY FACTS |date=December 31, 2024 |publisher=Lincoln Electric System |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref> [[Renewable resource]]s have increased with partial help from the addition of an LES-owned five [[megawatt]] [[solar energy]] farm put into service June, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergin |first1=Nicholas |date=September 16, 2016 |title=LES dedicates solar park |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/les-dedicates-solar-park/article_4b931af7-02e2-515a-a541-46416fb6ed29.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref> The solar farm produces enough energy to power 900 homes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bergin |first1=Nicholas |date=August 19, 2016 |title=LES plans to dedicate solar park |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/les-plans-to-dedicate-solar-park/article_72d5e7bf-a12a-584a-b5f6-196f9938602f.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref> LES once owned two [[wind turbine]]s, the first in the state, on the northeast edge of the city but were removed in 2024 due to age and state acquisition of part of the property that they stood on.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanderford |first=Aaron |date=June 17, 2024 |title=Dust in the wind: Nebraska's oldest operating wind turbines to be removed |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/dust-in-the-wind-nebraskas-oldest-operating-wind-turbines-to-be-removed/ |agency=Nebraska Examiner |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 31, 2025}}</ref>

Water in Lincoln is provided through the Lincoln Water System.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/water/ |title=Lincoln Water System |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref> In the 1920s, the city of Lincoln undertook the task of building the Lincoln Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant (designed by [[Fiske & Meginnis]]). The building worked as the main hub for water from nearby wells and power in Lincoln for decades until it was replaced and turned into an apartment building.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Zimmer|first1=Edward F.|title=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form — Municipal Lighting and Waterworks Plant|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail?assetID=919c2b4b-e09e-4b74-88db-14291646ed21|website=National Park Service Gallery|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=13 September 2016}}</ref> Most of Lincoln's water originates from wells along the Platte River near [[Ashland, Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hovey |first=Art |date=August 4, 2012 |title=Dry Platte River threatens Lincoln's water supply |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/dry-platte-river-threatens-lincoln-s-water-supply/article_07570764-78c2-5f7b-a0c4-8a15bb084356.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> [[Wastewater]] is in turn collected by the Lincoln Wastewater System. The city of Lincoln owns both systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/waste/wstwater/ |title=Lincoln Wastewater System |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=March 3, 2015 |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325065020/http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/pworks/waste/wstwater/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Natural gas]] is provided by [[Black Hills Corporation|Black Hills Energy]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Olberding |first=Matt |date=July 13, 2008 |title=Black Hills will bring more jobs to Lincoln, state |url=http://journalstar.com/business/black-hills-will-bring-more-jobs-to-lincoln-state/article_c77a604d-67fb-517b-96e8-5a3e679a078e.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref>

[[Landline|Landline telephone]] service has had a storied history within the regional Lincoln area with the Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company, founded in 1880. In its history, LT&T introduced the first [[rotary dial]] telephone exchange in the U.S. in 1904; the first [[Radiotelephone]] in 1946; and piloted the first 911 system in the nation in 1968.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Final Call for Lincoln Telephone |url=https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/series-media/nebraska-stories-video/season-10-video-15886/final-call-for-lincoln-telephone-50007854/ |access-date=December 6, 2021 |series=Nebraska Stories |first=Kay |last=Hall |network=Public Broadcasting Service |station=Nebraska Public Media |date=January 31, 2019 |season=10 |minutes=4:30 |language=en-us}}</ref> Many years later, LT&T was renamed Aliant Communications and shortly thereafter merged in 1998 with [[Alltel]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Fischer |first=Lawrence M. |date=December 19, 1998 |title=Alltel Buying Top Phone Company in Nebraska for $1.5 Billion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/19/business/alltel-buying-top-phone-company-in-nebraska-for-1.5-billion.html |department=Business Day |newspaper=New York Times |location=New York, NY |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> In 2006, [[Windstream Communications]] was formed with the spinoff of Alltel and a merge with [[VALOR Communications]] Group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Company History |url=https://www.windstream.com/about |access-date=March 4, 2015 |publisher=Windstream Communications}}</ref> Windstream Communications provides telephone service both over [[VoIP]] and conventional telephone circuits to the Lincoln area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windstreambusiness.com/shop/products/ne/lincoln |title=Broadband High-Speed Internet Provider in Lincoln, NE 68502 |publisher=Windstream Communications |access-date=March 4, 2015}}</ref> Spectrum<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olberding |first1=Matt |date=November 15, 2016 |title=TWC becomes Charter Spectrum in Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/twc-becomes-charter-spectrum-in-lincoln/article_a2d2c5ef-e940-5a3e-85ef-ccfad65b3fd3.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=February 3, 2017}}</ref> offers telephone service over VoIP on their [[cable network]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Nancy |date=December 16, 2014 |title=Time Warner cries foul over city's Windstream proposal |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/time-warner-cries-foul-over-city-s-windstream-proposal/article_600b627b-7835-59ea-b654-6f2361b767bc.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/phone/features/phone-unlimited-calling.html?iid=phone_hero_unlimitedcalling_learnmore |title=Unlimited Calling — Time Warner Cable |publisher=Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC |access-date=March 4, 2015}}</ref> In addition, ALLO Communications provides telephone, television and internet service over their underground fiber network to all parts of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Nancy |date=November 19, 2015 |title=Cable board likes service promises in ALLO contracts |url=http://journalstar.com/business/local/cable-board-likes-service-promises-in-allo-contracts/article_1fd964d7-d0ad-51e8-af2c-fd21809b4d7b.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Nancy |date=December 7, 2015 |title=ALLO gets praise for bringing super fast Internet service to Lincoln |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/allo-gets-praise-for-bringing-super-fast-internet-service-to/article_1e247e98-c510-5054-b4b0-9a3398677d4c.html |newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star |location=Lincoln, NE |access-date=December 7, 2015}}</ref>

===Health care=== {{multiple image | width1 = 150 | width2 = 150 | footer = | image1 = CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg | alt1 = | caption1 = CHI Health St. Elizabeth | image2 = Bryan Medical Center East, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Bryan Medical Center East }} Lincoln has three major hospitals within two health care systems serving the city: Bryan Health and [[St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center|CHI Health St. Elizabeth]]. Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is a geriatric facility and a physical medicine & rehabilitation center. Lincoln has two specialty hospitals: Lincoln Surgical Hospital<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lincolnsurgery.com/about-lincoln-surgical-hospital |title=About Us |website=Lincoln Surgical Hospital |publisher=The Nunneley Group, LLC |access-date=May 7, 2016 |archive-date=November 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104222039/http://lincolnsurgery.com/about-lincoln-surgical-hospital/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Nebraska Heart Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neheart.com/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=Nebraska Heart Institute |access-date=May 7, 2016}}</ref> A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is in Lincoln (Lincoln VA Clinic, part of the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nebraska.va.gov/locations/Lincoln_CBOC.asp |title=Lincoln |website=VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System |publisher=U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |access-date=May 7, 2016}}</ref>

===Police=== The Lincoln Police Department has just under 375 police officers. The police per capita rate is extremely low at 1.2 officers per 1,000 people<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/2/police/annual-reports/lpd-annual-reports/2024.pdf |title=Lincoln Police Department 2024 Annual Report |website=Lincoln Police Department |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref> (the average being approximately 1.94 in 2020),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bjs.ojp.gov/media/68016/download |title=Local Police Departments Personnel, 2020 |last1=Goodison, PhD |first1=Sean E. |date=November 2022 |website=Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics |publisher=United States Department of Justice |access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref> and the violent crime rate of 354 per 100,000 people.{{efn|Violent crime rate was established by using the five year average.}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/229/police/crime-analysis/weeklystats.pdf |title=Lincoln Police Department City Stats |website=Lincoln Police Department |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref> The department is nationally accredited by the [[Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://search.calea.org/Details.aspx?ProgramID=87011401 |title=CALEA Client Database |publisher=Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. |access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref> and was the first law enforcement agency in Nebraska to become so. LPD shares its headquarters with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Police/About-LPD/Frequently-Asked-Questions |title=Frequently Asked Questions |website=Lincoln Police Department |publisher=City of Lincoln, Nebraska |access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lancaster.ne.gov/271/OriginalCurrent-Home |title=Original/Current Home |website=Lancaster County Sheriff's Office |publisher=CivicPlus |access-date=January 8, 2026}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of people from Lincoln, Nebraska]] * [[List of mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska]] * [[History of Lincoln, Nebraska]]

==References==

===Notes=== {{notelist}}

===Citations=== {{Reflist|30em}}

===Cited works=== * {{cite book |last1= Hayes |first1= A.B. |last2= Cox |first2= Sam D. |date= 1889 |title= 1889 History of the City of Lincoln, Nebraska |url = https://archive.org/details/historycityoflin00haye |publisher= State Journal Company |ref = {{sfnRef|Hays & Cox}} }} * {{cite book |last= McKee |first= James L. |date=1984 |title= Lincoln: The Prairie Capital |publisher= Windsor Publications |isbn= 0897811097 |ref = {{sfnRef|McKee}} }} * {{cite book |last= McKee |first= James L. |date=2007 |title= Visions of Lincoln; Nebraska's Capital City in the Present, Past and Future |publisher= TankWorks, LLC |isbn= 978-0979879401 |ref = {{sfnRef|McKee2}} }}

==External links== {{sister project links|collapsible=yes|voy=Lincoln (Nebraska)}} *[http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/ Official website]

{{Lincoln, Nebraska}} {{Lancaster County, Nebraska}} {{Nebraska}} {{United States state capitals}} {{Midwestern United States}} {{Abraham Lincoln}} {{USPopulousCities}} {{Nebraska county seats}}{{Portal bar|United States|Nebraska|North America|Geography|Cities}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lincoln, Nebraska| ]] [[Category:Cities in Nebraska]] [[Category:Cities in Lancaster County, Nebraska]] [[Category:County seats in Nebraska]] [[Category:Lincoln metropolitan area, Nebraska]] [[Category:Monuments and memorials to Abraham Lincoln in the United States]] [[Category:History of Lincoln, Nebraska]] [[Category:1856 establishments in Nebraska Territory]] [[Category:Ukrainian communities in the United States]] [[Category:State capitals in the United States]] [[Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1856]]