Sheridan County, Kansas

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France while keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square miles Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1873, the remaining unorganized western part of the state was divided into 22 new counties, including Sheridan County. Sheridan County was then organized in 1880, with the county seat at Kenneth. After it became apparent in 1886, that the railroad line coming to the area would run south of Kenneth to the new town of Hoxie, the residents of Kenneth accepted an offer to get new lots in Hoxie (and move their buildings at no expense), and the county seat transferred to Hoxie. The Lincoln-Colorado railroad line opened through the county in 1888, and formally became part of the Union Pacific Railroad in the late 1890s.

20th century

The population of Sheridan County grew in the early 20th century and peaked in 1930 at 6,038 residents. Since then the population has steadily declined, as part of the general depopulation of the Great Plains.

The rail line stayed in operation in Sheridan County until 1998. After flooding east of Plainville in the 1993 floods damaged the line, the railroad concluded it would not be cost effective to rebuild, and the entire line from Plainville to Colby was abandoned by 1998.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 896 sqmi, of which 896 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi (0.03%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Decatur County (north)
• Norton County (northeast)
• Graham County (east)
• Gove County (south)
• Thomas County (west)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 2,447. The median age was 43.1 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.2% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.9% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.9% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,020 households in the county, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,152 housing units, of which 11.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.6% were owner-occupied and 27.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,813 people, 1,124 households, and 795 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 /mi2. There were 1,263 housing units at an average density of 1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.65% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,124 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 4.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,547, and the median income for a family was $38,292. Males had a median income of $26,351 versus $16,250 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,299. About 12.00% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Presidential elections

Sheridan County is overwhelmingly Republican. Since Michael Dukakis in the heavily drought-influenced 1988 election won almost 39 percent of the county's vote, no Democratic presidential candidate has topped 22 percent, and in 2016 Hillary Clinton’s share plummeted into single digits. This county was Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's second strongest in the state in 2024, after Wallace County, which gave Trump over 90% of the vote.

Laws

Although the Kansas Constitution was amended in 1986 to allow the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with the approval of voters, Sheridan County has remained a prohibition, or "dry", county.

Education

Unified school districts

• Hoxie USD 412

Communities

List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Sheridan County.

Cities

• Hoxie (county seat)
• Selden

Unincorporated communities

• Angelus
• Seguin
• Studley
• Tasco

Ghost towns

• Adell
• Alcyone
• Chicago
• Lucerne
• Museum
• Mystic
• Phelps
• Sheridan
• Ute
• Violenta

Townships

Sheridan County is divided into fourteen townships. None of the cities within the county are considered governmentally independent, and all figures for the townships include those of the cities. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

References

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
2. "QuickFacts; Sheridan County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010". United States Census Bureau.
3. [http://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/county/map9.html Transactions of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1903-1904] (1904)
4. Cutler, William G. [https://web.archive.org/web/20030327205221/http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/sheridan/sheridan-co-p1.html History of the State of Kansas] (1883)
5. [https://www.stb.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/cac42df635267da4852572b80041558c/2dd9b1959ed8d45685256548007806a3?OpenDocument Surfact Transportation Board Decision, Docket No. AB-33, March 21, 1997], STB.gov, Retrieved October 23, 2017
6. [http://www.abandonedrails.com/Plainville_Branch The Plainville Branch], Abandonedrails.com, Retrieved October 23, 2017
7. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
18. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article295391594.html
19. (November 2004). "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue.
20. (November 2009). "General Highway Map of Sheridan County, Kansas". [[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT).