Sheridan, Wyoming is a vibrant city seasoned with history and perched high in the mountains at 3,743 feet above sea level. From General Crook’s campaign of 1876, it’s founding by John D. Loucks in 1882, and the arrival of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in 1892, Sheridan has blossomed into a 15,800-resident county steeped in significance.

Sheridan, Wyoming is a proud city located high in the mountains at an elevation of 3,743 feet in the north-central part of the state. Situated in Goose Creek Valley and the Tongue River watershed, the city is ten miles north and east of the Big Horn Mountains, the ancestral homeland of the Crow people. According to the 2000 Census, Sheridan was home to 15,800 citizens.

The city of Sheridan has an inspiring history rooted in the events of 1876 when General Crook’s campaign forced the Lakota and Cheyenne tribes onto reservations. George Mandel, a trapper, sold his 40-acre claim to John D. Loucks, a Civil War veteran, for $50 and left the valley. In 1882, Loucks envisioned a town laid out at the fork of Goose Creek and gave it the name “Sheridan” in honor of the Union general he had served under. He hired Jack Dow of Big Horn to survey the town and registered the plat in the Cheyenne land office. Loucks later became the first postmaster and, in 1884, the first mayor when Sheridan formally incorporated. The resilience and determination of its founders created the beautiful city of Sheridan today.

Sheridan County’s destiny was sealed in 1892 with the arrival of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad. With local farmers and merchants doing so much railroad-related business in the month after the B&M arrived, they paid off $30,000 in bank loans. This set off a 20-year boom period for Sheridan, with the population growing from 1,559 to 8,408 in the decade leading up to 1910. In addition, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody invested in the Sheridan Inn, using it as his headquarters for tryouts for his Wild West show. Several local cowboys and cowgirls joined the show, traveling to Europe and bringing fame to Sheridan.

By the 1910s, Sheridan had the only long-distance electric trolley line in Wyoming, and its cosmopolitan population included African Americans, Hispanics, and immigrants from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Notably, the mines attracted dozens of families from highland villages near Istebna in south-central Poland. Furthermore, with high agricultural prices leading to investment in the flour mill of Denio Milling Company, the Holly Sugar Mill, and Sheridan Brewery, the town flourished. Even during Prohibition, when the brewery was forced to produce soda pop, Sheridan’s black market businesses of bootlegging, speakeasies, prostitution, and illegal gambling still flourished.

John B. Kendrick’s legacy in Sheridan, Wyoming is undeniable. His Flemish-Revival mansion “Trail End” and the land donated by Kendrick and Nielsen that became Kendrick Park are testament to his achievements as the region’s most prominent cattle rancher. Furthermore, Governor Kendrick was elected in 1914 and served as U.S. Senator from 1917 until he died in 1933. By the 1910s, Sheridan had the only long-distance electric trolley line in Wyoming, an increasingly cosmopolitan population, and a thriving agricultural industry. Even during Prohibition, when the brewery was forced to produce soda pop, Sheridan still flourished with black market businesses of bootlegging, speakeasies, prostitution, and illegal gambling. This was further supported by the efforts to promote tourism and the dude ranch business through the establishment of the airport and the Sheridan WYO Rodeo.

In 1948, the community welcomed the founding of Sheridan College, just as industry began to falter. Despite some temporary economic downturns, Sheridan’s resilient spirit remains strong and continues to thrive today.

The 1980s saw a labor strike, however, the economy recovered in the 1990s with a real estate and coal-bed methane production boom. By the start of the 21st century, Sheridan had become a prominent retail and service center for the region and was strengthened by a strong non-profit sector and the support of local foundations. Today, Sheridan continues to be a thriving hub of commerce and culture in the region.

A Look at Main Street in 1909 and 1912

Main Street in 1909 and 1912 are proudly showcased at the Sheridan County Museum, while the City of Sheridan is proud to present a colorized image of Main Street under a full moon.

The Town of Sheridan has a rich history that culminates with its people and their hard work. Against all odds, the original settlers were able to build an incredible town that stands proud as one that has fought multiple wars and battles. On top of this strong foundation, George Mandel and John D. Loucks laid down essential foundations to which current days citizens can look up and admire. Further adding to its strength, with the arrival of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in 1892, originally founded by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the intention of “Buffalo Bills Wildshow”, Sheridan’s population saw incredible growth throughout the twentieth century. Thus, through a variety of very difficult trials and times, McGrath’s research demonstrates sources surrounding Sheridan as one worth more than pride beyond cavities–laying a path towards prosperity that can be taken advantage of with ease by its current-day citizens.