Sheridan County

General

Population: 5,095
Land area (sq. mi.): 2,440.89
Population per square mile: 2.1

Race

White: 80.3%
African American: 0.5%
American Indian: 11.2%
Asian: 0.8%
Hispanic: 6.2%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.2%

Age

0-17: 22.0%
18-64: 51.6%
65+: 26.4%

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita: $60,271
% of Population in Poverty: 13.8%
# of Housing Units: 2,698
Owner-occupied rate: 64.8%
Median home price: $92,370

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem): 25.7%

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate: 1.7% (as of September 2022)

County Employment Website: https://sheridancounty.ne.gov/webpages/links/public_notices.html

High school graduate or higher: 89.1%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.4%

School Districts: Alliance Public Schools, Chadron Public Schools, Hay Springs Public Schools, Hemingford Public Schools, Hyannis Area Schools, Gordon-Rushville Public Schools

Countywide child care capacity: 9 providers; 131 children

Find child care: For a list of child care providers in your zip code, visit Nebraska DHHS or the Nebraska Resource and Referral System.

Sheridan County Economy

Annual Gross Domestic Product (2020): $316,974,000

Ag. Producers (Cattle): 280

Ag. Producers (Crop): 165

Grain Co-ops and Purchasers: Farmer's Co-op, WESTCO

Local Grain Market: Click for today's grain prices in Sheridan County

Electricity Providers: Nebraska PPD, Northwest Rural PPD, PREMA

Rail-served Communities: Antioch, Bingham, Ellsworth, Lakeside

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

2022 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate: $0.3660 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied: $4,264,771

Total local government property taxes levied: $17,224,201

Total countywide taxable valuation: $1,165,228,561

Click here for all levy rates in Sheridan County

County Levy and Taxation Laws

Levy limits

Since 1996, counties and other political subdivisions have been subject to the levy limits listed in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3442 and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3443.

Statutes and regulations

Nebraska Revised Statutes (Chapter 77)

Nebraska Administrative Code (Title 350)

Local tax reductions, exemptions, and credits

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-902(5)(a) (Deed "stamp tax" exemption): "The [stamp tax] shall not apply to: ... (5)(a) Deeds between spouses, between ex-spouses for the purpose of conveying any rights to property acquired or held during the marriage, or between parent and child, without actual consideration therefor."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-201(2) (Valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land): "Agricultural land and horticultural land as defined in section 77-1359 shall constitute a separate and distinct class of property for purposes of property taxation, shall be subject to taxation, unless expressly exempt from taxation, and shall be valued at seventy-five percent of its actual value, except that for school district taxes levied to pay the principal and interest on bonds that are approved by a vote of the people on or after January 1, 2022, such land shall be valued at fifty percent of its actual value."

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-6703(1) (Tax credit for school district taxes paid): "(1) For taxable years beginning or deemed to begin on or after January 1, 2020, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, there shall be allowed to each eligible taxpayer a refundable credit against the income tax imposed by the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or against the franchise tax imposed by sections 77-3801 to 77-3807. The credit shall be equal to the credit percentage for the taxable year, as set by the department under subsection (2) of this section, multiplied by the amount of school district taxes paid by the eligible taxpayer during such taxable year."

Sources: Nebraska Department of Revenue

State Senator: Tom Brewer (District 43)
Committees: Agriculture, General Affairs, Government Military and Veterans Affairs, State-Tribal Relations

Map and statistics for Legislative District 43

Map of all districts in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature

Sheridan County History

Number of Registered Historic Places: 10

Year Founded: 1885

Etymology: Philip Sheridan (U.S. army general)

Sheridan County was once part of a larger block of unorganized territory with no administrative, judicial or taxing structure. Known in the early 1800s as the Sioux Territory that stretched from Holt County to the Wyoming state line, it was for a time attached to Cheyenne County for administrative and judicial purposes.

The first white settlement in what would become Sheridan County was recorded in 1881 northwest of the present site of Rushville. Settlers of this time took squatter's rights, later filing claims with the U.S. Land Office that was located in Valentine.

In February 1885 the Legislature established the boundaries for three new counties in Northwest Nebraska -- Sioux, Dawes and Sheridan. In July of that same year, Gov. James W. Dawes proclaimed the counties' formal creation, with Sheridan County being named in honor of Civil War Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, who had once lead cavalry troops against Indian raids in the Nebraska Territory. The governor's proclamation named the settlement of Rushville as the temporary county seat.

At the time Sheridan County was organized and the land opened for homesteading, the railroad extended only as far west as Valentine. From that point the early settlers would travel to this new land by wagons pulled by teams of horses or oxen. Most early settlers lived in tents, dugouts or sod houses.

During those early development years, an impassioned contest took place for the county seat. Rushville was joined by Gordon, Hay Springs and Clinton in seeking this honor. In a September 1885 election, Rushville and Hay Springs became the finalists. But accusations of fraudulent voting cast doubt about which location had actually won. When the votes were canvassed, Hay Springs was declared the winner. Rushville partisans took the matter to court and nearly one year later the Supreme Court ordered the canvassing board to reconvene and canvass the vote as it was sent in. This time Rushville was declared the winner.

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License Plate Number: 61

Time Zone: Mountain

Zoned County: Yes

Number of Veterans: 439

Voter Turnout (2022): 53.66%

Emergency Mgt. Planning, Exercise and Training (PET) Region: Panhandle

Number of County-Owned Bridges: 24

State Lands (acres): Metcalf WMA (3,317), Walgren Lake SRA (130), Smith Lake WMA (640.92)

Sources: Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Secretary of State, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)