Sheridan County, Wyoming

History

Sheridan County was created by the legislature of the Wyoming Territory on March 9, 1888. The county was formed from a portion of Johnson County. Sheridan County was named for Philip Sheridan, a general in the American Civil War and controversial Indian fighter.

A portion of Sheridan County was annexed in 1897 to create Big Horn County. Sheridan County boundary lines were also slightly altered in 1911, and again in 1929, after which it has retained its boundary lines to the present time.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2527 sqmi, of which 2524 sqmi is land and 3.1 sqmi (0.1%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Big Horn County, Montana – north
• Powder River County, Montana – northeast
• Campbell County – east
• Johnson County – south
• Big Horn County – west

Major highways

• [[File:I-90 (WY).svg|20px]] Interstate 90
• [[File:US 14.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 14
• [[File:US 16.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 16
• [[File:US 87.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 87
• [[Image:WY-330.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 330
• [[Image:WY-331.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 331
• [[Image:WY-332.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 332
• [[Image:WY-334.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 334
• [[Image:WY-335.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 335
• [[Image:WY-336.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 336
• [[Image:WY-337.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 337
• [[Image:WY-338.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 338
• [[Image:WY-339.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 339
• [[Image:WY-341.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 341
• [[Image:WY-342.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 342
• [[Image:WY-343.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 343
• [[Image:WY-345.svg|20px]] Wyoming Highway 345

Transit

• Goose Creek Transit
• Jefferson Lines

National protected area

• Bighorn National Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1870–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,921. Of the residents, 21.4% were under the age of 18 and 22.5% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 90.6% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.6% of the population.

There were 13,349 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 14,884 housing units, of which 10.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.9% were owner-occupied and 30.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 29,116 people, 12,360 households, and 7,701 families in the county. The population density was 11.5 /mi2. There were 13,939 housing units at an average density of 5.5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% white, 1.2% American Indian, 0.7% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.

Of the 12,360 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 41.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,141 and the median income for a family was $61,959. Males had a median income of $45,035 versus $30,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,756. About 5.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, of 2000, there were 26,560 people, 11,167 households, and 7,079 families in the county. The population density was 10 /mi2. There were 12,577 housing units at an average density of 5 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.88% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 2.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.8% were of German, 12.3% English, 10.3% Irish, 7.1% American, 6.0% Norwegian and 5.1% Polish ancestry.

There were 11,167 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.60% were non-families. 30.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.

The county population contained 24.10% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,538, and the median income for a family was $42,669. Males had a median income of $31,381 versus $20,354 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,407. About 8.60% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Sheridan (county seat)

Towns

• Clearmont
• Dayton
• Ranchester

Census-designated places

• Arvada
• Big Horn
• Parkman
• Powder Horn
• Story

Unincorporated communities

• Acme
• Banner
• Beckton
• Burgess Junction
• Kleenburn
• Leiter
• Monarch
• Ucross
• Ulm
• Wolf
• Wyarno

Government and infrastructure

The Wyoming Department of Family Services Juvenile Services Division operates the Wyoming Girls' School, located near Sheridan. The facility was operated by the Wyoming Board of Charities and Reform until that agency was dissolved as a result of a state constitutional amendment passed in November 1990.

Sheridan County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024) which was 1964 when Lyndon Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater by 2.8 percent. In 2024 Donald Trump received 73.3 percent of the vote; the best ever result for a Republican.

Notes

References

References

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10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
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20. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ucross,+WY+82835/@44.5608084,-106.5488011,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5335bd17e37e5367:0xd79cb0b964c4ae60!8m2!3d44.5608093!4d-106.5400463 ''Ucross WY'' Google Maps (accessed January 13, 2019)]
21. [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ulm,+WY+82835/@44.6516413,-106.5979719,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x5335bfac49c917e3:0x14e44ca91f3b9c48!8m2!3d44.6516422!4d-106.5892171 ''Ulm WY'' Google Maps (accessed January 13, 2019)]
22. [http://dfsweb.state.wy.us/juvenile-services/wyoming-girls-school/index.html Wyoming Girls’ School]. [[Wyoming Department of Family Services]]. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
23. (March 2020)
24. [http://doc.state.wy.us/about/index.html About the Department of Corrections]. [[Wyoming Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
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