12 Businesses & Amenities We Desperately Need In Lincoln, ND

What businesses or amenities do we need in Lincoln, North Dakota to really make it a city?

First off, I'm not officially a resident of Lincoln, North Dakota.  I live a few miles south of the city and drive by it every day to work.  I get gas in Lincoln (Cenex) and shop at the little grocery store (John's Super Foods).

I consider the city of Lincoln, my adopted hometown.  I even have it as my home on my Facebook page.

According to World Population Review, the city of Lincoln, North Dakota is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.  The 2024 population has grown to 4,445, which makes it the 15th largest city in the state (Lincoln recently passed Grafton, North Dakota).

Lincoln already has a gas station, a couple of banks, bars, restaurants, an auto repair shop, a gym, and an elementary school.

There's a new strip mall on Lincoln Road that appears ready to open up some new businesses too.

However, as much as I like small-town Lincoln, it does need some obvious businesses to improve the quality of life within the city.

I recently asked on-air, on our social media pages and our apps what businesses or amenities do we desperately need in Lincoln, and here's what our listeners came up with.

A Lincoln "wish list" if you will.

1. Car Wash.  The obvious answer would be adding one at the Cenex gas station.  They certainly have the room.  I have spoken to Cenex Managers about this in Mandan and Bismarck and there has been talk.  However, it appears that's all it is at this point.  "Talk".  "They're very expensive and Bismarck isn't that far away" is what I've been told.

I have to disagree, as I've found by the time you drive 5 or 6 miles into town to get that car wash, by the time you turn around and come back home, your car is already dirty again.

2. Subway.  We have a very good pizza place already (DJ's), but it would be nice to have some sort of fast-food option.  The city of Lincoln is certainly big enough to support a Subway, as they are located in much smaller towns in North Dakota already.

3. Medical clinic.  This would just be convenient as it's a long drive to Sanford or St. Alexius downtown, or to the clinics up north.

4. City outdoor swimming pool & splash park.  It certainly seems like there is plenty of room for this.

5. Outdoor hockey-skating rink.  Plenty of room at the park for this.

6. Tennis courts.  This could also work in the city park.

7. Hardware store.  How about a Menards south?  I might be asking for a little too much here but even an Ace would be awesome.

8. Post office.  Who mails anything anymore?  My listeners thought it would be convenient.

9. Another park.  Plenty of open fields around the city for this.

10. A middle school and eventually a high school.  Lincoln Elementary is already the largest elementary school in the Bismarck School District.  The population is growing and another school is going to happen within 10 years.

11. Dairy Queen.  This would be much higher on the list for me.  How good would ice cream have been on the last couple of hot days?

12. A daycare center.  Finding the right daycare is one of the most stressful things for new parents.  I so remember this.  Yes, Lincoln has a couple of home daycares, but my listeners want an actual daycare center business.

There you have it, small-town living at its finest.  What did my listeners forget about for the city of Lincoln?  Let me know in the comment section.