Sheridan County, Kansas

Sheridan County (standard abbreviation: SD) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 2,556.[1] Its county seat is Hoxie.[2] The county was named in honor of Phillip H. Sheridan, a general of the American Civil War era.

Sheridan County
County
The Buffalo Hunters' Home in Sheridan. Photo taken in 1873
Location within the U.S. state of Kansas
Kansas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°21′N 100°26′W
Country United States
State Kansas
Founded1873
Named forPhilip Sheridan
SeatHoxie
Largest cityHoxie
Area
 • Total896 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Land896 sq mi (2,320 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.03%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,556
 • Estimate 
(2018)
2,533
 • Density2.9/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
WebsiteCounty Website
Windmill, Sheridan County, Kansas, 1939. Farm Security Administration photo by Russell Lee.

History

Early history
See also: History of Kansas

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.[3] Sheridan County was then organized in 1880, with the county seat at Kenneth.[4] 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.[5][6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 896 square miles (2,320 km2), of which 896 square miles (2,320 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.03%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18801,567—
18903,733138.2%
19003,8192.3%
19105,65148.0%
19205,484−3.0%
19306,03810.1%
19405,312−12.0%
19504,607−13.3%
19604,267−7.4%
19703,859−9.6%
19803,544−8.2%
19903,043−14.1%
20002,813−7.6%
20102,556−9.1%
2018 (est.)2,533[8]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2016[1]
Age pyramid

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 2,813 people, 1,124 households, and 795 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1/km2). There were 1,263 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile (1/km2). 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
Presidential Elections Results
Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 87.1% 1,197 9.2% 127 3.6% 50
2012 86.0% 1,154 12.5% 168 1.5% 20
2008 80.5% 1,108 18.5% 254 1.0% 14
2004 81.4% 1,144 17.0% 239 1.6% 23
2000 76.0% 1,132 18.9% 281 5.1% 76
1996 74.2% 1,053 18.6% 264 7.3% 103
1992 45.2% 739 21.2% 347 33.6% 550
1988 57.9% 901 38.6% 600 3.5% 55
1984 73.9% 1,274 24.3% 419 1.9% 32
1980 71.0% 1,202 23.1% 391 5.9% 100
1976 49.2% 838 46.5% 793 4.3% 74
1972 64.4% 1,134 31.4% 552 4.3% 75
1968 58.4% 1,002 32.8% 563 8.9% 152
1964 43.8% 808 55.7% 1,028 0.6% 11
1960 51.9% 1,047 47.3% 954 0.7% 15
1956 67.4% 1,324 32.2% 633 0.4% 7
1952 73.9% 1,581 25.9% 555 0.2% 4
1948 52.7% 1,097 46.4% 966 0.9% 19
1944 66.9% 1,342 32.8% 658 0.4% 7
1940 62.1% 1,492 37.6% 903 0.4% 9
1936 40.3% 1,007 57.7% 1,442 2.1% 52
1932 32.4% 878 65.5% 1,773 2.1% 56
1928 60.5% 1,450 38.8% 930 0.7% 16
1924 59.1% 1,320 24.3% 542 16.6% 371
1920 69.5% 1,194 27.8% 477 2.7% 46
1916 37.5% 760 58.7% 1,189 3.8% 78
1912 18.2% 195 47.5% 509 34.3% 368
1908 48.9% 639 48.3% 631 2.8% 37
1904 57.9% 607 28.0% 293 14.1% 148
1900 46.3% 445 51.9% 499 1.8% 17
1896 40.5% 282 55.1% 384 4.5% 31
1892 41.1% 325 58.9% 466
1888 62.0% 623 33.5% 337 4.5% 45

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 figures.

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.[15]

Education

Unified school districts

Communities
2005 KDOT Map of Sheridan County (map legend)

Cities

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.

Sources: 2000 U.S. Gazetteer from the U.S. Census Bureau.
TownshipFIPSPopulation
center		 PopulationPopulation
density
/km2 (/sq mi)		 Land area
km2 (sq mi)		Water area
km2 (sq mi)		Water % Geographic coordinates
Adell00300130 (0)140 (54)0 (0)0.01%39°30′58″N 100°14′13″W
Bloomfield07450450 (1)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°26′8″N 100°39′52″W
Bowcreek08125540 (1)186 (72)0 (0)0%39°25′48″N 100°17′2″W
East Saline19675660 (1)186 (72)0 (0)0.03%39°11′50″N 100°12′38″W
Kenneth36525Hoxie1,43015 (40)93 (36)0 (0)0%39°21′16″N 100°26′24″W
Logan422251151 (2)187 (72)0 (0)0.04%39°21′26″N 100°37′4″W
Parnell546501041 (1)185 (71)0 (0)0.03%39°25′33″N 100°30′57″W
Prairie Dog57500711 (2)93 (36)0 (0)0.03%39°31′27″N 100°40′15″W
Sheridan647502692 (5)138 (53)0 (0)0.05%39°31′40″N 100°32′38″W
Solomon664002481 (2)279 (108)0 (0)0.04%39°13′54″N 100°38′0″W
Springbrook673501080 (1)279 (108)0 (0)0.01%39°13′38″N 100°28′15″W
Union72400601 (2)92 (36)0 (0)0%39°31′52″N 100°22′35″W
Valley731501391 (2)186 (72)0 (0)0.09%39°21′0″N 100°16′5″W
West Saline77375910 (1)186 (72)0 (0)0.02%39°12′44″N 100°20′28″W

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Transactions of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1903-1904 (1904)
  4. Cutler, William G. History of the State of Kansas (1883)
  5. Surfact Transportation Board Decision, Docket No. AB-33, March 21, 1997, STB.gov, Retrieved 23 October 2017
  6. The Plainville Branch, Abandonedrails.com, Retrieved 23 October 2017
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  15. "Map of Wet and Dry Counties". Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue. November 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-01-21.

Further reading
See also: List of books about State of Kansas (which includes historical information about its counties and cities too)
County
Other
Maps

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