Sheridan County is a county in the U.S. state of Montana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,539.[1] Its county seat is Plentywood.[2] Its northern boundary is the Canada–United States border south of Saskatchewan.
Sheridan County | |
|---|---|
 Sheridan County Courthouse in Plentywood | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Montana | |
 Montana's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 48°44′N 104°30′W / 48.73°N 104.5°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Montana |
| Founded | March 11, 1913 |
| Named for | Philip Sheridan |
| Seat | Plentywood |
| Largest city | Plentywood |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,706 sq mi (4,420 km2) |
| • Land | 1,677 sq mi (4,340 km2) |
| • Water | 29 sq mi (80 km2) 1.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,539 |
• Estimate (2022) | 3,564  |
| • Density | 2.1/sq mi (0.80/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−7 (Mountain) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
| |
History
editThe Montana Legislature established Sheridan County in 1913 from portions of Dawson and Valley Counties. It was named for American Civil War General Philip Sheridan.[3] In the 1920s and 1930s the county was a hotbed of communist organizing. The CPUSA managed to elect several town and county officials. At the 1932 presidential election the communist candidate William Z. Foster got 576 votes (22%).[4] International changes in communist organizing strategies, especially the move towards the popular front, effectively ended communist presence in the area.[5]
Geography
editAccording to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,706 square miles (4,420 km2), of which 1,677 square miles (4,340 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (1.7%) is water.[6]
Major highways
edit
Adjacent counties and rural municipalities
edit- Rural Municipality of Happy Valley, Saskatchewan – northwest
- Rural Municipality of Surprise Valley, Saskatchewan – north
- Rural Municipality of Lake Alma, Saskatchewan – northeast
- Daniels County – west
- Divide County, North Dakota – east
- Williams County, North Dakota – east
- Roosevelt County – south
National protected area
editDemographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 13,847 | — | |
| 1930 | 9,869 | −28.7% | |
| 1940 | 7,814 | −20.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,674 | −14.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,458 | −3.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,779 | −10.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,414 | −6.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,732 | −12.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,105 | −13.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,384 | −17.6% | |
| 2020 | 3,539 | 4.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 3,564 | [7] | 0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960,[9] 1900–1990,[10] 1990–2000,[11] 2010–2020[1] | |||
2020 census
editAs of the 2020 census, there were 3,539 people living in the county.[citation needed]
2010 census
editAs of the 2010 census, there were 3,384 people, 1,587 households, and 944 families living in the county. The population density was 2.0 inhabitants per square mile (0.77/km2). There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of 1.2 units per square mile (0.46 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% white, 1.7% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.8% were Norwegian, 26.0% were German, 12.0% were Danish, 11.6% were Irish, 5.5% were Swedish, 5.3% were English, and 5.0% were American.
Of the 1,587 households, 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.5% were non-families, and 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age was 50.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,578 and the median income for a family was $55,313. Males had a median income of $46,932 versus $22,107 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,537. About 6.4% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
editSheridan County voters have selected the Republican County candidate in 80% of the national elections since 1980.
Sheridan County had a strong Communist Party presence in the first half of the 20th century. In the 1932 presidential election, Communist candidate William Z. Foster received 18% of the vote in the county, his strongest performance nationwide.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 1,321 | 69.09% | 509 | 26.62% | 82 | 4.29% |
| 2020 | 1,403 | 69.11% | 574 | 28.28% | 53 | 2.61% |
| 2016 | 1,241 | 67.63% | 477 | 25.99% | 117 | 6.38% |
| 2012 | 1,207 | 62.60% | 665 | 34.49% | 56 | 2.90% |
| 2008 | 987 | 49.20% | 953 | 47.51% | 66 | 3.29% |
| 2004 | 1,159 | 56.87% | 846 | 41.51% | 33 | 1.62% |
| 2000 | 1,176 | 59.85% | 702 | 35.73% | 87 | 4.43% |
| 1996 | 832 | 34.17% | 1,187 | 48.75% | 416 | 17.08% |
| 1992 | 795 | 29.85% | 1,077 | 40.44% | 791 | 29.70% |
| 1988 | 1,381 | 49.98% | 1,354 | 49.00% | 28 | 1.01% |
| 1984 | 1,774 | 61.62% | 1,087 | 37.76% | 18 | 0.63% |
| 1980 | 1,658 | 56.94% | 955 | 32.80% | 299 | 10.27% |
| 1976 | 1,114 | 41.05% | 1,560 | 57.48% | 40 | 1.47% |
| 1972 | 1,500 | 53.96% | 1,197 | 43.06% | 83 | 2.99% |
| 1968 | 1,180 | 45.81% | 1,275 | 49.50% | 121 | 4.70% |
| 1964 | 837 | 30.39% | 1,905 | 69.17% | 12 | 0.44% |
| 1960 | 1,196 | 43.43% | 1,549 | 56.25% | 9 | 0.33% |
| 1956 | 1,153 | 38.31% | 1,857 | 61.69% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,339 | 49.39% | 1,347 | 49.69% | 25 | 0.92% |
| 1948 | 699 | 28.50% | 1,515 | 61.76% | 239 | 9.74% |
| 1944 | 791 | 31.04% | 1,713 | 67.23% | 44 | 1.73% |
| 1940 | 892 | 29.23% | 2,108 | 69.07% | 52 | 1.70% |
| 1936 | 513 | 16.19% | 2,503 | 79.01% | 152 | 4.80% |
| 1932 | 739 | 22.77% | 1,450 | 44.67% | 1,057 | 32.56% |
| 1928 | 1,624 | 54.66% | 1,190 | 40.05% | 157 | 5.28% |
| 1924 | 905 | 35.32% | 176 | 6.87% | 1,481 | 57.81% |
| 1920 | 1,335 | 53.46% | 610 | 24.43% | 552 | 22.11% |
| 1916 | 1,724 | 32.15% | 3,264 | 60.86% | 375 | 6.99% |
Communities
editCity
edit- Plentywood (county seat)
Towns
editUnincorporated communities
editFormer towns
edit- Dooley
- Archer
Census-designated places
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Montana Place Names Companion". Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ "Communist Party votes by county". depts.washington.edu. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ Stoner McDonald, Verlaine (2010). The Red Corner: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana. Montana Historical Society Press.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
- ^ Coalridge MT Google Maps (accessed January 6, 2019)
External links
edit