The Borough of Lincoln, formerly Lincoln Township, was first settled in 1768 by the pioneer family of Mary Creigh on a plot of land near South Allegheny High School. Since the formation of Allegheny County in 1788, this area known as the Forks of the Yough was notable for its prehistoric Indian artifacts. In 1869 after separating from Elizabeth Township, Lincoln Township was formed and named in honor of the deceased President of the United States. The original boundaries once encompassed all of the present day land areas of Liberty, Port Vue and Glassport Borough.
On November 12, 1892, Port Vue Borough was founded and consisted at that time of the present Boroughs of Port Vue and Liberty. On July 2, 1902, the present Borough of Glasport was formed and reduced Lincoln Township to its present size. On September 7, 1912, 100 residents of the Borough of Port Vue decided to form their own Borough and broke away from their own Borough and broke away from Port Vue and became Liberty Borough which was the smallest Borough in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In the early part of 1958, it became apparent to the Lincoln Township officials that the northern portion of the Township was attempting to become part of Liberty Borough. A petition was circulated throughout the Township for the formation of the Borough of Lincoln. The petition was filed in the Courts of Allegheny County on April 10, 1958 and Lincoln Borough was officially proclaimed a Borough on June 2, 1958.