General Info
Lancaster County was originally inhabited by Oto and Pawnee Indians until land was ceded. The county was organized in 1859 and named after the original county seat, Lancaster. The city of Lancaster was renamed Lincoln in 1867 and was also selected as the state capital. Pioneers arrived to establish homesteads and the area began to thrive as the railroad was constructed. Railway junctions became communities and early industry was led by agriculture. A courthouse was built in 1887 and by 1900 the population of Lancaster County had reached 11,416. Today Lancaster County is home to approximately 281,531 residents.