LINCOLN

lincoln, a city and the county-seat of logan county, illinois, u.s.a., in the n. central part of the state, 156 m. s.w. of chicago, and about 28 m. n.e. of springfield. pop. (1900) 8962, of whom 940 were foreign-born; (1910 census) 10,892. it is served by the illinois central and the chicago & alton railways and by the illinois traction interurban electric line. the city is the seat of the state asylum for feeble-minded children (established at jacksonville in 1865 and removed to lincoln in 1878), and of lincoln college (presbyterian) founded in 1865. there are also an orphans' home, supported by the independent order of odd fellows, and a carnegie library. the old court-house in which abraham lincoln often practised is still standing. lincoln is situated in a productive grain region, and has valuable coal mines. the value of the factory products increased from $375,167 in 1900 to $784,248 in 1905, or 109%. the first settlement on the site of lincoln was made in 1835, and the city was first chartered in 1857.