Both the city and the county were named for General Benjamin Lincoln, who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

[5] Lincolnton was founded in 1798 as seat of the newly formed Lincoln County.

[7] U.S. Route 378 passes through the center of town as Washington Street, leading southwest 17 miles (27 km) to Washington, and northeast 14 miles (23 km) to McCormick, South Carolina.

A historical site, Elijah Clark State Park, is 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Lincolnton at the Savannah River.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,480 people, 708 households, and 442 families residing in the city.