Sheridan County is a county in North Dakota, United States, centred on the small city of McClusky along U.S. Highway 52. It had a population of 1,265 at the 2020 census and covers 1,006 square miles (2,610 km2), centred near 47°35′N 100°20′W.
McClusky is the county seat, and its postal code is 58463. The county has three incorporated cities, one census-designated place, and two unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 38083.
Towns & Villages in Sheridan County
Six named places make up Sheridan County: three incorporated cities (Goodrich, Martin, and McClusky), one census-designated place (Denhoff), and two unincorporated communities (Lincoln Valley and Pickardville). All lie within a short drive of one another along U.S. 52 or North Dakota Highways 14, 53, and 200.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McClusky | City · seat | McClusky | — | 58463 |
| Goodrich | City | Goodrich | — | 58444 |
| Martin | City | Martin | — | 58758 |
| Denhoff | CDP | Denhoff | — | 58430 |
| Lincoln Valley | Unincorp. | Lincoln Dale | — | — |
| Pickardville | Unincorp. | Pickard | — | — |
Townships
Sheridan County retains 14 active civil townships, most named for early homestead settlers or the community anchoring them. Population figures below reflect the last verified township-level breakdown; several rural townships have no incorporated settlement at all.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| McClusky | — | McClusky (seat) |
| Goodrich | — | Goodrich |
| Martin | — | Martin |
| Denhoff | — | Denhoff |
| Lincoln Dale | — | Lincoln Valley |
| Pickard | — | Pickardville |
| Berlin | — | Rural farmland |
| Boone | — | Rural farmland |
| Edgemont | — | Rural farmland |
| Fairview | — | Rural farmland |
| Highland | — | Rural farmland |
| Mauch | — | Rural farmland |
| Prophets | — | Rural farmland |
| Rosenfield | — | Rural farmland |
ZIP Codes
- 58463 — McClusky (also serves Lincoln Valley)
- 58444 — Goodrich
- 58758 — Martin
- 58430 — Denhoff (also serves Pickardville)
Lincoln Valley and Pickardville have no post office of their own and use the nearest incorporated town’s ZIP for mail.
Geography
Sheridan County sits on the gently rolling Missouri Coteau of central North Dakota, a landscape of prairie pothole wetlands, small lakes, and glacial till hills. Land makes up 972 square miles of the county’s total, with 33 square miles of water spread across scattered sloughs and stock ponds rather than any single large lake.
The county borders McHenry County to the north, Pierce County to the northeast, Wells County to the east, Kidder County to the southeast, Burleigh County to the south, and McLean County to the west.
Demographics
Sheridan County had 1,265 residents at the 2020 census, down from 7,373 in 1930 as farm consolidation steadily emptied the rural townships. McClusky and Goodrich are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the North Dakota median of $76,525, reflecting the area’s dependence on a shrinking farm-labor base. Population density is roughly 1.3 people per square mile of land, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Small-grain and cattle farming drive Sheridan County’s economy, with wheat, barley, canola, and sunflowers as the main crops on the Coteau’s rolling fields. McClusky, the seat, hosts the county courthouse, a school, a grain elevator, and the local businesses that serve the surrounding farms. The county has no incorporated town of more than a few hundred residents, and most young people commute to Bismarck or Minot for larger employment.
History
Sheridan County was organized on December 24, 1908, and named for Civil War general Philip Henry Sheridan. Like much of the Missouri Coteau, it filled with homestead farmers in the early 1900s and then lost population for a century as farms consolidated into larger operations — the drop from 7,373 residents in 1930 to 1,265 in 2020 is among the steepest of any North Dakota county.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 52 runs through McClusky, with North Dakota Highways 14, 53, and 200 crossing the county’s rural townships.
- Minot — 60 miles north
- Bismarck — 60 miles south
- Jamestown — 65 miles southeast
- Rugby — 45 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Bismarck Municipal Airport, about an hour’s drive south of McClusky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sheridan County, North Dakota?
It sits in central North Dakota on the Missouri Coteau, between Minot and Bismarck.
What is the population of Sheridan County?
1,265 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Sheridan County?
1,006 square miles (2,610 km2) total, of which 972 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Sheridan County?
McClusky is the county seat.
How many towns are in Sheridan County?
Three incorporated cities (Goodrich, Martin, McClusky), one census-designated place (Denhoff), and two unincorporated communities (Lincoln Valley, Pickardville).
What ZIP codes are in Sheridan County?
58463 (McClusky), 58444 (Goodrich), 58758 (Martin), and 58430 (Denhoff).
Why is the county named Sheridan?
It honors Civil War general Philip Henry Sheridan, following a common practice in early North Dakota county naming.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in North Dakota.