Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster and became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County in 1859.
The village was sited on the east bank of Salt Creek.
The first settlers were attracted to the area due to the abundance of salt.
Once J. Sterling Morton developed his salt mines in Kansas, salt in the village was no longer a viable commodity.
Captain W. T. Donovan, a former steamer captain, and his family settled on Salt Creek in 1856.
In the fall of 1859, the village settlers met to form a county.
A caucus was formed and the committee, which included Captain Donovan, selected the village of Lancaster to be the county seat.
The county was named Lancaster.
After the passage of the 1862 Homestead Act, homesteaders began to inhabit the area.
The first plat was dated August 6, 1864.

By the close of 1868, Lancaster had a population of approximately 500 people.
The township of Lancaster was renamed Lincoln with the incorporation of the city of Lincoln on April 1, 1869.
In 1869, the University of Nebraska was established in Lincoln by the state with a land grant of about 130,000 acres.
Construction of University Hall, the first building, began the same year.
Lincoln was founded in 1856 as the village of Lancaster and became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County in 1859. The village was sited on the east bank of Salt Creek. The first settlers were attracted to the area due to the abundance of salt. Once J. Sterling Morton developed his salt mines in Kansas, salt in the village was no longer a viable commodity. Captain W. T. Donovan, a former steamer captain, and his family settled on Salt Creek in 1856. In the fall of 1859, the village settlers met to form a county. A caucus was formed and the committee, which included Captain Donovan, selected the village of Lancaster to be the county seat. The county was named Lancaster. After the passage of the 1862 Homestead Act, homesteaders began to inhabit the area. The first plat was dated August 6, 1864.
By the close of 1868, Lancaster had a population of approximately 500 people. The township of Lancaster was renamed Lincoln with the incorporation of the city of Lincoln on April 1, 1869. In 1869, the University of Nebraska was established in Lincoln by the state with a land grant of about 130,000 acres. Construction of University Hall, the first building, began the same year.
Lincoln, Nebraska