Sheridan County, Nebraska

Sheridan County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,127, and was estimated to be 4,809 in 2025.

In the Nebraska license plate system, Sheridan County was represented by the prefix "61" (as it had the 61st-largest number of vehicles registered in the state when the license plate system was established in 1922).

History

Sheridan County was created on February 25, 1885, and was named for General Philip H. Sheridan.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.20%) is water. It is the 4th-largest county in Nebraska by total area.

Sheridan County lies on the north line of Nebraska. Its north boundary line abuts the south boundary line of the state of South Dakota. An upper reach of the Niobrara River flows eastward through the upper central part of the county. The terrain consists of arid rolling hills, dotted with small lakes in the eastern and southern parts of the county.

Major highways

20px Nebraska Highway 2
20px Nebraska Highway 27
20px Nebraska Highway 87
20px Nebraska Highway 250

Adjacent counties

Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota - north
Cherry County - east
Grant County - southeast
Garden County - south
Morrill County - southwest
Dawes County - west
Box Butte County - west

Protected areas

Smith Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Walgren Lake State Recreation Area

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,127. The median age was 46.7 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.6 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 80.8% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 11.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.3% of the population.

There were 2,163 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.