Sheridan, Wyoming

History

The city was named after General Philip Sheridan, Union cavalry leader in the American Civil War. Travel book information describe Sheridan at the scene of many fierce battles between US Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne and Crow Indian tribes.

Geography and climate

Sheridan is located at 44°47′48″N 106°57′32″W (44.796720, −106.958970).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.95 square miles (28.36 km²), of which, 10.93 square miles (28.31 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²) is water.

Climate

Sheridan experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk), with cold, dry winters and hot, wet summers, though Summers in recent years have been trending more dry.

Economy

Like many towns in the western United States, Sheridan's early industries included cattle ranching, logging, coal mining, railroading, agriculture, and small factories including a flour mill, brewery, and sugarbeet refinery. Residents today find employment in many fields including nearby coal mines; education; coal bed methane extraction; health care; retailing; banking; law firms; city, county, and state government; National Forest; home construction; and a large number of small businesses; farming; and ranching.

Transportation

Bus service is available in Sheridan through Arrow/Blackhills Stage Lines. Local service is provided by the Sheridan Mini-Bus and the Sheridan Trolley runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Sheridan is served by Sheridan County Airport, located southwest of town. Bighorn Airways offers airplane and helicopter air charter service, as well as an aircraft repair and installation center. Key Lime Air flying as the Denver Air Connection operates scheduled passenger service with Fairchild Dornier 328JET regional jets nonstop to Denver, Colorado.

Education

Public education in the city of Sheridan is provided by Sheridan County School District #2. There are six elementary, two junior (or middle) schools-Sheridan Junior High and The Wright Place, and two high schools-Sheridan High School and Ft. Mackenzie High Schools. The Wright Place and Ft. Mackenzie High School are considered alternative education programs. In addition the district supports home schooling. Private and parochial schools are operated by Normative Services, Holy Name Parish (Holy Name School), and several religion-based organizations. The Northern Wyoming Community College District offers post-secondary education with Sheridan College.

In 2008, Sheridan High School was named #1,348 of the 1,355 best public high schools by Newsweek magazine.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,444 people, 7,680 households, and 4,296 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,596.0 inhabitants per square mile (616.2/km²). There were 8,253 housing units at an average density of 755.1 per square mile (291.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% White, 0.4% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population.

There were 7,680 households of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.1% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 39.2 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,804 people, 7,005 households, and 4,062 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,862.4 people per square mile (718.7/km²). There were 7,413 housing units at an average density of 873.6 per square mile (337.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.93% White, 0.22% African American, 0.97% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population. 24.0% were of German, 12.5% English, 10.3% Irish, 7.6% United States or American, 5.9% Norwegian and 5.3% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 7,005 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,420, and the median income for a family was $40,106. Males had a median income of $30,829 versus $19,783 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,500. About 8.6% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

Sheridan is governed via the mayor-council system. The city council consists of six members elected from one of three wards with each ward electing two members. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city has its own police department.

The United States Postal Service operates the Sheridan Post Office.

The Wyoming Department of Family Services Juvenile Services Division operates the Wyoming Girls' School, located in unincorporated Sheridan County, 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.

Local media

Two stations are public radio stations; KSUW FM 91.3, is a Wyoming Public Radio station and KPRQ FM 88.1, via translator from Montana State University - Billings in Billings.

Five television stations are available in Sheridan:

The Sheridan Press is the local newspaper. The Billings Gazette and Casper Star Tribune are regional newspapers available in Sheridan.

Representation in media

Several scenes of the 2006 film Flicka were filmed on location in Sheridan. It was based on the novel, My Friend Flicka.

In the film K-PAX, Sheridan is the first stickpin location on a map of cattle slaughter companies. Movies filmed in the area include Wild Horses and Endangered Species.

Sheridan is mentioned briefly in Douglas Adams' final sci-fi work, The Salmon of Doubt.

Sheridan is frequently mentioned in the Colonial Radio serial of the Old West, Powder River.

Sheridan is frequently mentioned in a series of fictional novels by author C. J. Box.

In 1986, MTV hosted the world premiere of Prince's movie Under The Cherry Moon in the city.

Season 6 Episode 12 of Yahoo show Community, refers to Garret and Stacey's Mi Ma or Grandmother as coming from Sheridan.

Tourism

Sheridan was ranked number one by the True West Magazine in 2006 among the Top Western Towns. It was ranked sixth in 2007. It is a vacation destination as well as a travel stop, due to its proximity to Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 14.

Top Sheridan area destinations include The Brinton Museum in Big Horn, Wyoming, which exhibits iconic 19th, 20th and 21st century Western and American Indian art in the new 25,000 square-foot Forrest E. Mars, Jr. building and in its historic ranch house on the 620-acre Quarter Circle A Ranch. The museum was established in 1961 by Bradford Brinton's sister Helen Brinton, who wanted to make his historic collection of art available to the public. Exhibits include pieces by Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington, Edward Borein, Winold Reiss, Thomas Moran, and Hans Kleiber, to name just a few. The Brinton Museum draws visitors from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries annually.

Another top destination is The Sheridan WYO Rodeo, which began in 1931 and is widely regarded as one of the top rodeos in the nation. It draws 25,000 guests to its annual, weeklong western celebration and performance each July at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. The Sheridan WYO Rodeo recently launched a new Labor Day Weekend destination event called the Cowboy State Elite Rodeo, the only ERA League of Champions Rodeo event in an outdoor arena in the U.S.

Additionally, in 2009, Sheridan appeared on Newsmax magazine's list of the "Top 25 Most Uniquely American Cities and Towns," a piece written by current CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg. In the cover story, Greenberg called Sheridan "the real deal" and praised it for preserving "its rich American history."

Ten sites in and near Sheridan are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including:

Museums in Sheridan include the Sheridan County Museum and King's Saddlery Museum. The latter's exhibits display Western leather work (especially saddles) and cover Western history.

The City of Sheridan maintains nine parks. Kendrick Park, at the corner of Badger and Beaver Streets, includes a children's play area, a seasonal ice cream shop, a swimming pool, chainsaw carvings, and a buffalo and elk conservatory.

Every summer in the second week of July, Sheridan hosts the WYO Rodeo. Rodeo Week events include a parade, the "Sneakers and Spurs" run, a rubber duck race on Big Goose Creek in Kendrick Park, a carnival at the fairgrounds, and a golf tournament at the country club. On the final day of Rodeo Week, a tailgate party and polo game are held in nearby Big Horn, Wyoming.

Notable people