Editing Sheridan County, Montana

{{Short description|County in Montana, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Sheridan, Montana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Sheridan County
 | state                = Montana
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = March 11
 | founded year         = 1913
 | seat wl              = Plentywood
 | largest city wl      = Plentywood
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1706
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 1677
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 29
 | area percentage      = 1.7
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 3539
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2022
 | population_est       = 3564 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Mountain
 | web                  = www.co.sheridan.mt.us
 | ex image             = Sheridan county courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Sheridan County Courthouse in Plentywood
 | district             = 2nd
 | named for            = [[Philip Sheridan]]
 | footnotes            = 
* Montana county number 34
}}

'''Sheridan County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Montana]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 3,539.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sheridancountymontana/PST045222 |access-date=May 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Plentywood, Montana|Plentywood]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its northern boundary is the [[Canada–United States border]] south of [[Saskatchewan]].

==History==
The [[Montana Legislature]] established Sheridan County in 1913 from portions of [[Dawson County, Montana|Dawson]] and [[Valley County, Montana|Valley]] Counties. It was named for [[American Civil War]] [[General officer|General]] [[Philip Sheridan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montana Place Names Companion |url=http://mtplacenames.org/ |access-date=May 9, 2011 |website=Montana Place Names From Alzada to Zortman |publisher=Montana Historical Society Research Center}}</ref> In the 1920s and 1930s the county was a hotbed of [[Communism|communist]] organizing. The [[CPUSA]] managed to elect several town and county officials. At the [[1932 United States presidential election|1932 presidential election]] the communist candidate [[William Z. Foster]] got 576 votes (22%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Communist Party votes by county |url=http://depts.washington.edu/moves/CP_map-votes.shtml |access-date=July 5, 2017 |website=depts.washington.edu}}</ref> International changes in communist organizing strategies, especially the move towards the [[popular front]], effectively ended communist presence in the area.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stoner McDonald |first=Verlaine |title=The Red Corner: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana |publisher=Montana Historical Society Press |year=2010}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1706|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1677|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|29|sqmi}} (1.7%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205145322/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_30.txt |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |access-date=November 30, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:MT-5.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 5]]
* [[Image:MT-16.svg|20px]] [[Montana Highway 16]]

===Adjacent counties and rural municipalities===
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* [[Rural Municipality of Happy Valley No. 10|Rural Municipality of Happy Valley]], [[Saskatchewan]] – northwest
* [[Rural Municipality of Surprise Valley No. 9|Rural Municipality of Surprise Valley]], [[Saskatchewan]] – north
* [[Rural Municipality of Lake Alma No. 8|Rural Municipality of Lake Alma]], [[Saskatchewan]] – northeast
* [[Daniels County, Montana|Daniels County]] – west
* [[Divide County, North Dakota|Divide County]], [[North Dakota]] – east
* [[Williams County, North Dakota|Williams County]], [[North Dakota]] – east
* [[Roosevelt County, Montana|Roosevelt County]] – south

{{div col end}}

===National protected area===
* [[Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 13847
|1930= 9869
|1940= 7814
|1950= 6674
|1960= 6458
|1970= 5779
|1980= 5414
|1990= 4732
|2000= 4105
|2010= 3384
|2020= 3539
|estyear=2022
|estimate=3564
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=May 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=November 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790–1960,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=November 30, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mt190090.txt |access-date=November 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990–2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 3,539 people living in the county.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 3,384 people, 1,587 households, and 944 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|2.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 2,089 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. 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 [[Norwegians|Norwegian]], 26.0% were [[Germans|German]], 12.0% were [[Danes|Danish]], 11.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 5.5% were [[Swedes|Swedish]], 5.3% were [[English people|English]], and 5.0% were [[Americans|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==
Sheridan County voters have selected the Republican County candidate in 80% of the national elections since 1980.

Sheridan County had a strong [[Communist Party USA|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.
{{PresHead|place=Sheridan County, Montana|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 3, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,321|509|82|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,403|574|53|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,241|477|117|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,207|665|56|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|987|953|66|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,159|846|33|Montana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,176|702|87|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|832|1,187|416|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|795|1,077|791|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,381|1,354|28|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,774|1,087|18|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,658|955|299|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,114|1,560|40|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,500|1,197|83|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,180|1,275|121|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|837|1,905|12|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,196|1,549|9|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,153|1,857|0|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,339|1,347|25|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|699|1,515|239|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|791|1,713|44|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|892|2,108|52|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|513|2,503|152|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|739|1,450|1,057|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,624|1,190|157|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|905|176|1,481|Montana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,335|610|552|Montana}}
{{PresFoot|1916|Democratic|1,724|3,264|375|Montana}}

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Plentywood, Montana|Plentywood]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Medicine Lake, Montana|Medicine Lake]]
* [[Outlook, Montana|Outlook]]
* [[Westby, Montana|Westby]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Coalridge<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Coalridge,+MT+59219/@48.6983593,-104.1978624,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x532226850b892bbb:0x97a3ce49afc86c37!8m2!3d48.6983602!4d-104.1891076 ''Coalridge MT''  Google Maps (accessed January 6, 2019)]</ref>
* [[Comertown, Montana|Comertown]]
* [[Dagmar, Montana|Dagmar]]
* [[Raymond, Montana|Raymond]]
* [[Reserve, Montana (village)|Reserve]]
* [[Caldera, Montana|Caldera]]
{{div col end}}

===Former towns===
* [[Dooley, Montana|Dooley]]
* Archer

==Census-designated places==
* [[Antelope, Montana|Antelope]]
* [[Homestead, Montana|Homestead]]
* [[Redstone, Montana|Redstone]]
* [[Reserve, Montana|Reserve]]

==Education==
School districts include:<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st30_mt/schooldistrict_maps/c30091_sheridan/DC20SD_C30091.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Sheridan County, MT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 22, 2020|access-date=2025-03-22}}</ref>
* [[Medicine Lake K-12 Schools]]
* [[Plentywood K-12 Schools]]
* [[Westby K-12 Schools]]

==See also==
*[[List of lakes in Sheridan County, Montana]]
* [[List of mountains in Sheridan County, Montana]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Montana#Sheridan County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Sheridan County, Montana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.co.sheridan.mt.us County website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Sheridan County, Montana
|Northwest = [[Rural Municipality of Happy Valley No. 10|Rural Municipality of Happy Valley]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|North  = [[Rural Municipality of Surprise Valley No. 9|Rural Municipality of Surprise Valley]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|Northeast = [[Rural Municipality of Lake Alma No. 8|Rural Municipality of Lake Alma]], [[Saskatchewan]] {{flagicon|Canada}}
|West   = [[Daniels County, Montana|Daniels County]]
|East   = [[Divide County, North Dakota|Divide County]] /<br>[[Williams County, North Dakota|Williams County]], [[North Dakota]]
|South  = [[Roosevelt County, Montana|Roosevelt County]]
}}

{{Sheridan County, Montana}}
{{Montana}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|48.73|-104.50|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MT_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Sheridan County, Montana| ]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in Montana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1913]]