Lincoln was settled in the 17th century as part of the Louisquisset grant, and several colonial stone-enders still exist in the town.

Lincoln became an important mill town in the late 19th century, with many textile factories running along the Blackstone River.

Lincoln's villages include Manville, Albion, Lime Rock, Lonsdale, Fairlawn, Quinnville, and Saylesville.

[5] Lincoln is in the lower Blackstone Valley of Rhode Island and in the John H. Chafee, Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, New England's historic National Park area.

The town is also home to William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School, a technical school serving students throughout the state, and the Community College of Rhode Island's Flanagan Campus is situated in Lincoln as well.

QARC's primary support comes from federal grants at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and contracts with the pharmaceutical industry.

The company mostly underwrites policies for property and casualty insurance, which includes automobiles, homeowners, and personal liabilities.

Beacon Design by ChemArt is a U.S. wholesale manufacturer and the industry leader in metal-etched keepsakes.

Beacon Design consists of the custom and retail ornaments and keepsakes, while ChemTec serves the company's industrial sector.