a maritime county of England, on the E. coast, bounded N. by the estuary of the Humber, N.W. by Yorkshire, W. by the Trent and Nottinghamshire, S.W. by the counties of Leicester and Rutland, S. by those of Northampton and Cambridge, and E. by the North Sea. It is 73 miles in length from N. to S., by 46 miles in breadth; and contains an area of 2776 square miles, or 1,776,788 acres, being the second largest county in England. The shire is divided into three trithings or districts, viz.—Linsey, Kesteven, and Holland. The first is by far the largest division, and includes the whole of N. Lincolnshire; its boundary line reaching as far S. as the Foss Dyke and River Witham; following the course of the latter to a point opposite Thornton-le-Fen, where it crosses the country to the sea near Friskney. Kesteven trithing, on the other hand, comprehends the S.W. part of the county, while Holland occupies the flat lands of the Wash. These divisions are again subdivided into wapentakes, sokes, and hundreds; amounting, in all, to thirty parts.

The aggregate population of the whole county was, in 1821, 283,058; in 1831, 317,465; in 1841, 362,602; and in 1851, 407,222. The numbers of males and females in 1851 were,—males, 205,083; females, 202,139; showing a marked deficiency in the latter. Of towns containing more than 5000 inhabitants, in 1851, in this county, there were eight, viz.—Lincoln, with 17,536; Boston, 17,518; Great Grimsby, 12,263; Grantham, 10,813; Louth, 10,467; Stamford, 8935; Spalding, 7627; Gainsborough, 7506.

In relation to the character of its surface, Lincolnshire may again be divided into three parts—the Wolds, the Heaths, and the Fens; which occupy positions corresponding generally with the three territorial divisions mentioned above. The Wolds are chalk downs which traverse the N. part of the county, from Barton to Burgh, in a S.E. direction for nearly 50 miles, and have an average breadth of 6 miles. They form the back-bone of the geological formation of the shire; and are skirted on the W. by a band of green-sand and one of iron-sand, which form another range of uplands running almost parallel with the Wolds. The Heaths occupy the land W. of the Wolds, stretching N. and S. from the Humber to Grantham. Their formation belongs to the Oxford clay, and widens in extent as it proceeds southwards until it ultimately dips under the fen land near the last-named town. The north-western corner of the shire is occupied by Permian strata, which follow the Trent into Nottingham, and westwards into York. Gypsum is found in the Isle of Axholme. The Fens cover the rest of Lincolnshire, from Wainfleet in the N., to the southern boundaries of the county, occupying the greater part of the district called Holland. They are intersected in every direction by drains, some of which are navigable; and the soil is now very productive. (See Bedford Level.)

The principal rivers in the county are the Trent, Witham, Ancholme, Welland, and Nene, with their tributaries. The first enters Lincolnshire from Notts., a little above Rampton, when it becomes the boundary between the two shires, and continues to be so until it receives, on the left, the waters of the Idle. About a mile below its junction with that stream, the Trent leaves Nottingham, and flows in a northerly course through Lincolnshire for nearly 20 miles, when it falls into the Humber, by a mouth a mile in width. The Trent becomes navigable for vessels drawing 12 feet of water at Gainsborough; whilst its waters are affected by the tide for some miles above that town. It forms the eastern boundary of the Isle of Axholme, which is inclosed on the S. by the Idle, and on the W. by the old River Don. The former stream is navigable for small craft as far up as E. Retford. Although not so large as the Trent, the Witham is the most important river of Lincolnshire. It rises in Rutland, enters Lincoln near S. Witham, and flows northwards through a comparatively high valley to Grantham. From this it continues, for a short distance, its northern course, then turns to the W.; and again, at Long Bennington, changes to N.E., in which direction it flows to the town of Lincoln, where it receives the Brant on the left. Here the river becomes navigable for barges, and is connected with the Trent by the Foss Dyke Canal. Here, also, it enters on the flat lands, flowing first E. as far as Bardney, where the Langworth and S. Beck are received on the left; then, turning gradually to the S.E., reaches Tattershall, where it is joined on the right by the Sleaford, and on the left by the Bain. From Tattershall to Boston the Witham occupies an artificial bed; but from the latter town to the Wash it keeps its natural course. Vessels of 300 tons can ascend to Boston. North Lincolnshire is drained by the Ancholme, which rises near Spridlington, flows northwards till it enters the Humber, near Ferriby, and is navigable for about 20 miles. The Welland enters South Lincolnshire at Stamford, where it is navigable, and keeps an eastern course to Market Deeping. Six miles therefrom it penetrates the county of Lincoln; and, after receiving the Glen near its mouth, enters the Wash. Connected with all these rivers, there are extensive drainage and canal systems, which have, in some cases, taken the place of the natural courses of the streams. In the trithing of Holland, especially, draining has been carried on so universally, that it is difficult to discover whether the streams are natural or conducted by the hand of man. This system, indeed, has rendered the soil of this part of Lincolnshire one of the most productive in England; when, formerly, it was little better than moor or bog.

The climate of the shire is as good as in most of the other English counties, except in those flat lands that have not been thoroughly drained, where cases of ague are not uncommon among the inhabitants. The soil is varied, but generally very rich. In the Fens it produces excellent pasture, and in some parts extraordinary crops of grain, particularly oats. Here, however, the water is bad; and still considerable tracts of land are fit for no more profitable purpose than the breeding and rearing of geese. These are kept principally for the sake of their quills and feathers, which are plucked four or five times in the year. During breeding season they are lodged in wicker pens, closely attended by a herd. The Fens were long the resort of vast flocks of wild fowl, the entrapping of which formed an important branch of employment to the inhabitants; but of late years their numbers have been so reduced that they now only engage the attention of the sportsman. The aquatic birds which still frequent the marshy portions of Holland are chiefly swans, wild geese, mallards, shovellers, godwits, and occasionally spoonbills. Agriculture is conducted with considerable skill and judgment in this county; and the land produces ample crops of wheat, oats, barley, and beans, and in some parts hemp and flax. In the Wolds, where the soil is chalky, sainfoin is sometimes grown besides the usual crops; while cabbages and carrots are found to succeed well in those parts of the W. and S.E. of the county where the soil is found most suited for their production. Wherever the soil is apt to grow thin, the farmers here are in the habit of making the streams or "cuts" overflow their banks, and thus deposit a layer of rich silt on which beans, oats, and woad are produced. But however well adapted some parts of Lincolnshire are to the growing of grain, it is undoubtedly on the whole a pastoral county, as it has perhaps the richest grass grown in the kingdom. Breeding and rearing of cattle, sheep, and horses, for the London market, form the main pursuits of the population. The two original breeds of cattle in the county were the Lincolnshire short-horned, and Leicestershire long-horned; but these have been much improved by frequent and judicious crossings, and the oxen of Lincolnshire are now proverbial for their excellence. There are also many cattle from other parts fattened here for the metropolitan market. Of sheep, the principal breeds are the native Lincoln and New Leicester. The former are of large size, and produce heavy fleeces of long wool. Their flesh, however, has a rankish flavour, and is not generally relished. The New Leicester, on the other hand, obtained by crossing the native race with other breeds, has now become more numerous, and is highly prized. The total number of sheep in the county has been estimated at two millions and a half, and the yearly produce of wool at twenty million pounds. Lincolnshire has also been long famous for its breed of horses, including drays, hunters, and carriage horses. They are generally reared on the uplands, but afterwards removed to the "flats" to get flesh before being sent to Hornscliff, the great horse market of the shire. Some good breeds of swine are to be found in the county, but less attention has been directed to them than to cattle. Stilton cheese is made here, but there are few large dairies, as most of the farmers keep milk cows only for domestic use. Manufacture is almost wholly wanting in Lincolnshire, and trade is consequently confined to natural produce, such as grain, cattle, wool, and feathers. In minerals it is likewise deficient, with the exception of excellent freestone, quarried near Ancaster, in Kesteven; sul- plate of lime, found in the Isle of Axholme; and some lime burnt in the Wolds. Means of communication are, however, abundant both by rail and canal, as well as by the sea coast. The Great Northern Railroad crosses the S.W. corner of the county through Grantham, and sends a branch along its eastern border by Spalding, Boston, Alford, and Louth to Great Grimsby, with a sub-branch from Boston to Lincoln. From the Midland Railway at Nottingham a line goes to Lincoln, and thence, by Market-Rasen, to Blanford Brigg; while the Manchester and Sheffield line sends a branch by Gainsborough to the same place, and then northwards to New Holland, and southwards to Great Grimsby. Canals are still more numerous; in fact, no county in the United Kingdom is so well supplied with such channels of communication. The principal ones are the Foss Dyke, connecting the Trent and Witham; the Car Dyke, connecting the Welland and Witham; the Stainforth and Keadley Canal, connecting the Don and Trent, across the Isle of Axholme; the Louth Canal, running between that town and the Humber; the Sleaford Navigation, communicating with the Witham; and the Grantham and Nottingham Canal. The sea coasts of Lincolnshire are not, however, favourable for navigation. From the Wash to the Firth of Humber, the shore is low and lined with sandbanks, except near Grimsby, where it rises into cliffs. In the basin of the Wash are many sandbanks which become dry at low water; the greatest depth of water is at Boston Deep, where it averages from 3 to 8 fathoms. A sea-wall extends also along the coast of this estuary from the Welland to the Nene, to protect the land from the encroachments of the sea. There are three chief seaports in Lincolnshire,—New Holland, on the Humber, opposite Hull; Great Grimsby, at the mouth of the Humber, carrying on a pretty extensive foreign trade; and Boston, on the Witham, 6 miles from the sea, which exports the produce of the county, and imports from the Baltic. Gainsborough, situate on the Trent, 21 miles from the Humber, has also a considerable export and import trade; vessels of 300 tons being able to ascend to the town.

Lincolnshire returns 13 members to parliament,—2 from Lindsey, or North Lincoln; 2 from Kesteven and Holland, or South Lincoln; and 9 from the boroughs of Lincoln (2), Boston (2), Grantham (2), Stamford (2), and Great Grimsby (1). The place of election for North Lincoln is Lincoln, and for South Lincoln, Sleaford. This county also belongs to the Midland Circuit; and the assizes are held in Lincoln, where the county jail is situated; while the quarter sessions are held throughout the county. According to the Poor Law Commission, the shire is divided into the 14 unions of Boston, Bourne, Caistor, Gainsborough, Glanford-Briggr, Grantham, Holbeach, Horncastle, Lincoln, South Sleaford, Spalding, Spilsby, and Stamford. Ecclesiastically, the county belongs to the diocese of Lincoln and province of Canterbury. In 1851 there were 1501 churches in the shire, with 281,266 sittings. Of the former, 657 belonged to the Established Church, 703 to the Methodists, 62 to the Baptists, 38 to the Independents, and 13 to the Roman Catholics. There were also in that year 1420 day schools in the county, with an aggregate of 52,163 scholars; 457 of the former being public, with 32,267 scholars; and 963 private, with 19,896 scholars. Of Sunday-schools in the same year, there were 830, with an aggregate of 37,120 scholars. 432 of these belonged to the Established Church, and 318 to the Methodists. There were also 23 literary and scientific institutions, with an aggregate of 22,654 volumes in their libraries, and an average of 120 members to each association. The principal mansion-houses in the county are,—Aswarby Hall, Whichcote, Bart.; Belton Park, Earl Brounlow; Blankney Hall, C. Chaplin, Esq.; Brocklesby Park, Earl Yarborough; Buckminster, Lord Huntingtower; Burton Hall, Lord Monson; Casewick Hall, Sir J. Trollope, Bart.; Colby Hall, Sir C. Tempest, Bart.; Glentworth House, G. Gregory, Esq.; Haverholme Priory, Earl Winchelsea; Nocton Park, Earl Ripon; Normanby Hall, Sir R. Sheffield, Knt.; Redbourne, Duke of St Albans; Revesby Abbey, J. B. Stanhope, Esq.; Risegholme Palace, Bishop of Lincoln; Somerly Hall, Sir T. Beckett, Bart.; Stubton Hall, G. Neville, Esq.; Thurby Hall, Sir E. G. Bromhead, Bart.; Uffington Hall, Earl Lindsey. When the Romans conquered Britain, Lincolnshire seems to have been occupied by the Coritavi, or Coriatai, who are mentioned by Ptolemy as having Lindum and Rhage (Lincoln and Leicester) for their chief towns. After the subjugation of the county, Lincolnshire formed part of the province of Flavia Caesarisana, a division the boundaries of which are given only on the questionable authority of Rufus Festus, but which seems to have comprised all the midland and eastern counties of England. Ermine Street, with its two branches, the Fosseway and Upper Saltway, was the road by which the Romans kept up their communications through the province. The Upper Saltway communicated between the salt works of Worcestershire and the coast. Lindum (Lincoln), Conisbrough (probably Ancaster), Ad Alburn (probably near Winterton), were the principal Roman stations; and hypocausts, sarcophagi, urns, altars, coins, and tessellated pavements have been found as traces of the Roman occupancy. At Scampton, a Roman villa of very large size was traced in massive and well-preserved foundations. Two camps, undoubtedly Roman, existed at Gainsborough and Aukborough, with well-defined characteristics, as late as the beginning of the present century; and two others near Holbeach and Grantham are known, but their antiquity is not so certain. The Saxon province of Lindsey did not embrace the whole of Lincolnshire; but we find the Saxon Lindo-Collyne as the name of the capital, a word which easily slid into the Nichol of the Normans, when they gained possession of the county about the year 880. Lincolnshire after this for a long time part of the Danegeld, or territory ceded to the Danes, and ultimately came under the Anglo-Saxon crown. In the civil wars the most memorable events are the siege of Lincoln (1141), and the insurrection of Sir Robert Wells against Edward IV. At the Reformation an attempt was made to resist the suppression of the monasteries, but it was soon defeated. In the parliamentary wars Lincolnshire was the scene of several actions. Charles I. captured Grantham in 1642; and the parliamentary forces were victorious at Grantham, Ancaster, Gainsborough, and Horncastle in that same year.

The antiquities of Lincolnshire are numerous. Almost all the churches are fine specimens of ancient architecture; and it is somewhat remarkable that the most beautiful edifices are to be found in the lowest and most fenney situations, when, at the time of their erection, the means of communication must have been very limited; yet, under these disadvantages, were built the churches of Boston, Pinchbeck, Spalding, Holbeach, and other places. The ecclesiastical buildings in the division of Lindsey, with the exception of Lincoln Cathedral, are generally inferior to those in Kesteven and Holland; but Barton-upon-Humber, in that division, contains one of the only two churches in England which are considered to be of undoubted Saxon origin.

The other most interesting antiquities, besides the Roman and other remains in Lincoln itself, are Crowland Abbey, which was founded in 716, and was formerly a place of great importance. Near it is the old triangular bridge, which is supposed to have been built about 860, and has been stated to be the oldest bridge in England. Torksey Castle, at the junction of the Foss Dyke with the Trent; Thornton Abbey, near the Humber, founded about the year 1139; Whykham Chapel, near Spalding, built about 1292; Bardney Abbey, on the banks of the Witham; Tattershall Castle, on the same river, erected about 1440; and Somerton Castle, in the parish of Boothby.

Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Burghley, Lord Bolingbroke, Stukeley the antiquarian, Wesley the founder of Methodism, and Fox, the author of the Book of Martyrs, were, amongst many other eminent men, natives of this county.