The Town of Lincoln is a small suburb west of Boston with a strong sense of place. It began as a rural farming community made up of pieces of land nipped from adjacent towns; hence its nickname was once "Niptown". The town also became a popular site for country estates, of which some have become schools, museums, town buildings or parks. Retention of open space and protection of its rural character against an encroaching age of urban development are extremely important to the community.

To that end, Lincoln was one of the first towns to create a Conservation Commission that has, with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, acquired key parcels of land throughout the town. Significant areas of the town are now preserved against development, providing protection for wild life and water supply and creating conservation trails for use by the public. Residents note that Lincoln is a quiet pretty place to be whether to visit a museum or walk in the woods all year round.