Lincoln was set off from Smithfield and incorporated as a Rhode Island town in 1871. Lincoln preserves in a rural setting, the homes of some of Rhode Island's first white settlers and the remains of small-scale industrialization. The earliest settlement in the town area took place about 1650. The area now constituting the City of Central Falls was once part of the town but it was separated and incorporated as a separate entity in 1895.
Manufacturing is the principal source of income today. Jewelry, silverware and primary metals are the leading manufacturing groups, but recent years have shown a trend toward increased diversification, with the advent and growth of newer industries.
Lincoln is located in Providence County. Accommodations in Lincoln include Whipple-Cullen Farmstead Bed & Breakfast.
