Sheridan County

General

Population:  5,127
Land area (sq. mi.):  2,440.89
Population per square mile:  2.1

Race

Race  2020

White: 79.9%
African American: 0.3%
American Indian: 10.2%
Asian: 0.6%
Hispanic: 4.3%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Two or More Races: 4.5%

Age  2020

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

Households

Total households:  2,163  2020
With one child:  260  2022
With 2+ children:  310  2022
With seniors (65+):  610  2022

Socioeconomics

Personal income per capita:  $70,167  2021
% of Population in Poverty:  14.6%  2022
# of Housing Units:  2,699  2020
2023 housing unit building permits:  4
Owner-occupied rate:  71.0%  2020
Median home price:  $114,540  Q1 2024

Technology

Access to broadband (100 Mbps via fiber or cable modem):  25.7%  2021

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Legislature, Nebraska Library Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Census Bureau (building permits), U.S. Census Bureau (demographics), U.S. Census Bureau (municipalities)

Employment, Schools, and Child Care

Unemployment rate:  1.8%  Sept. 2024

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

High school graduate or higher:  89.1%  2020

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

Bachelor's degree or higher:  20.4%  2020

Community College Service Area:  Western Community College

Countywide child care capacity:  7 providers; 163 children  2024

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 (GDP):  $316,974,000  2022

Nonfarm Small Business Receipts:  $148,867,562  2021

Nonfarm Wage Income:  $71,535,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Commodity Sales Receipts:  $165,113,000  2022

Farm and Ranch Operations (Non-Sales) Receipts:  $11,806,000  2022

• For components of nonfarm small business receipts, nonfarm wage income, and farm & ranch commodity sales and operations receipts, see "Notes" below.

Grain Elevators by Location (bushels capacity):

• Clinton: Legacy (708,000)
• Gordon: Legacy (2,366,000)
• Hay Springs: Kelley Bean (17,000), Legacy (1,519,000)
• Rural Hay Springs: Legacy (1,302,000)
• (1 bushel = 56 lbs. corn/sorghum, 60 lbs. soybeans/wheat; % max. moisture = 18% beans, 15.5% corn, 14% sorghum/soybeans, 13.5% wheat)

Railroad Miles:  63.00 main, 4.58 side

• Places with Railroad Service:  Antioch, Bingham, Ellsworth, Lakeside

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

Cattle Producers:  280

• Pastureland Cash Rent (avg.):  $16/acre  2024

Crop Producers:  165

• Dryland Cash Rent (avg.):  $36/acre  2024
• Irrigated Land Cash Rent (avg.):  $186/acre  2024

Farmers Markets:

• Gordon Farmers Market - Main Street (June - October 10, Saturdays 7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Sat)
• Gordon Farmers Market - Pizza Hut (June - October, Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)

Electricity Providers:  Nebraska PPD, Northwest Rural PPD, PREMA

Notes

• Nonfarm small business receipts are reported by partnerships and sole proprietorships. They do not include receipts reported by cooperative associations.
• Nonfarm wage income is reported based upon the wage earner's residential address; therefore, it also includes wages earned by Sheridan County residents in other counties or states, but it excludes wages earned in Sheridan County by residents of other counties or states.
• Nonfarm wage income excludes wages earned by anyone claimed as a dependent.
• Farm and ranch commodity sales receipts and operations receipts are reported based upon the farm or ranch owner's principal county of operations; therefore, those figures also include receipts reported by producers operating principally in Sheridan County for their production in other counties or states, but the figures exclude receipts reported for production in Sheridan County by producers operating principally in other counties or states.

Well Locations (Irrigation/Livestock), Soils, Groundwater & Surface Water

Total Irrigation/Livestock Wells:  1,906  2024

Agricultural Wells per Square Mile:  0.78  2024

Surface Water Diversions (Irrigation):  94  2024

Click for real time:

Groundwater level data near 390th Ln. & county's southern border (49 mi. south of Rushville)

Groundwater level data near 269th Trl. & county's western border (28.5 mi. south of Hay Springs)

Sources: National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA), Nebraska Cooperative Council, Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Revenue, Nebraska Department of Transportation, Nebraska Office of the CIO, Nebraska Power Review Board, Nebraska Public Service Commission, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of the Treasury (IRS), Warehouse and Commodity Management Division (USDA)

2023 Levies and Valuation

County levy rate:  $0.3390 per $100 of taxable valuation

County property taxes levied:  $4,343,192

Total local government property taxes levied:  $17,299,949

Total countywide taxable valuation:  $1,281,136,976

Federal PILT payment to Sheridan County (FY2024):  $439 regarding 131 federally-owned acres

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-Elect: Tanya Storer

State Senator: Tom Brewer (District 43)

Standing Committees (click for scheduled committee hearings):

• Government, Military and Veterans Affairs (chairperson)
• Agriculture

Special Committees:

• 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 Authorized: 1885

Year Organized: 1885

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

     Sheridan County was originally part of a larger block of unorganized land known as Sioux Territory. The county was officially formed in 1885 and named for General Philip Sheridan, known for his “scorched earth” tactics during the Civil War and brutal campaigns against the Native American tribes during the Indian Wars.

     In 1881, the first white settlement was established northwest of present-day Rushville. Four years later, then-Governor James Dawes issued a proclamation that established Sioux, Dawes, and Sheridan County; the proclamation established Rushville as the county seat. In its earliest days, the county was fairly removed from civilization, even by standards of the day. The railroad ended at Valentine, meaning that prospective homesteaders continued their journey west in covered wagons. Early residents of Sheridan County built dugouts and sod houses or simply lived in tents.

     Establishing Sheridan County’s seat proved no easy matter. Originally, Clinton, Hay Springs, Gordon, and Rushville vied for the honor of county seat. Rushville and Hay Springs became the finalists, and after an election in 1885, Hay Springs was declared the victor. Outraged at what they perceived as a fraudulent election, Rushville proponents appealed the decision through a series of lengthy legal challenges. Nearly one year later, the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered the county’s canvassing board to reconvene. Following a re-canvassing of the vote, the board declared Rushville the winner.

     Sheridan County is home to numerous places listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including Camp Sheridan (the Post at Spotted Tail Indian Agency), Gourley’s Opera House, and the Loosveldt Bridge.

Highlight an important program in your county in this space! Send an email to:

luke.bonkiewicz@nebraskacounties.org

Local Highlights

License Plate Number:  61

Time Zone:  Mountain

Number of Veterans:  386  2023

Zoned County:  Yes

Number of County-Owned Bridges:  24

Election Data

General Election Turnout:  74.65%  2024

Total Registered Voters:  3,383  2024

Number of Precincts:  8  2022

Number of Election Day Polling Places:  5  2022

Land Area per Polling Place (avg.):  488.18 sq. miles

Intergovernmental Data

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

Natural Resource District: Upper Niobrara-White NRD

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. Election Assistance Commission, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (eCFR)