Sheridan, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Sheridan is a city in Yamhill County
, Oregon
, United States
. Platted in the 1860s when it received a post office, the city was incorporated in 1880. A major fire burned much of the city in 1913, and a flood covered much of the city in 1964. Located in the western part of the Willamette Valley
along the South Yamhill River
, the city is at the base of the Northern Oregon Coast Range
west of the county seat of McMinnville
, along Oregon Route 18. This highway and Oregon Route 18 Business run east–west through Sheridan and nearby Willamina
parallel to the river. Sheridan Bridge
is the only river crossing within Sheridan.
The population of the city was 3,570 at the 2000 census, and the 2008 estimate is 6,020 residents.
This farming and timber community's largest employer is Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan
, a federal minimum and medium security prison. The city has a mayor-council form of government, with daily operations run by a city manager
. The community has its own school district, with a single traditional high school. The main events each year in town are Sheridan Days and the Mud Drags, both held in June. Sheridan was named in honor of the American Civil War
general Philip Henry Sheridan
.
for what became the city of Sheridan in the mid-1860s. This plat was recorded with the county on December 13, 1866. He had settled in the area in 1847. The Sheridan post office was established on April 4, 1866, with Absolem's brother Thomas serving as postmaster
. By 1871 the town had grown to include two blacksmith shops, one church, one school, one hotel, one wagon shop, and two general store
s. In October 1878, the Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad
, a narrow gauge railway, reached the community.
The city, a timber and farming community southwest of Portland
and northwest of Salem
, was incorporated
in 1880. Sheridan was named for General Philip Sheridan, who was posted to Yamhill County and Fort Yamhill
in the latter half of the 1850s to monitor the Native Americans at what is now the Grand Ronde Reservation
west of the city. By 1894, the city had grown to 400 residents, one bank, two hotels, three churches, and a flouring mill
. At that time there was a daily train to the city as well as daily stage coach service from McMinnville, and a single wooden bridge over the river.
Agriculture was the main industry in the city's early years. Around 1910, the main crops included hops
, clover-seed, hay, potatoes, onions, and a variety of fruits including apples, prunes, and pears. On July 18, 1913, a fire that destroyed most of the commercial district caused $300,000 in damage. Most of the buildings were rebuilt with brick within six months. On October 30, 1930, the Jesuits purchased an 891 acres (360.6 ha) farm on a hill overlooking the city. There they started St. Francis Xavier's Novitiate
, a school for training priests for the order. Opening in a new building and several existing farm buildings in 1931, St. Francis Xavier's added more buildings over the next several decades.
In 1932, the state built a highway through Sheridan from McMinnville to the Oregon Coast
, which became Oregon Route 18 or the Salmon River Highway. With funds received through the Works Progress Administration
, the current steel bridge
across the South Yamhill River was built and opened in 1939. By 1940, agriculture was still a major industry, and the timber industry was growing in importance to the local economy. At that time the city had grown to a population of 1,008 people.
The state built a bypass around Sheridan and Willamina that opened in 1957 to carry Oregon Route 18 on the south end of the city. The old alignment through the center of town became Oregon Route 18 Business. Sheridan had its largest flooding in history
on December 22, 1964. The South Yamhill overflowed its banks and isolated the town for two days. The Jesuits sold their training school in 1974 to the Delphian Foundation, who then opened The Delphian School
at the site in 1976.
In 1989, a federal minimum and medium security prison, Federal Correctional Institution - Sheridan
, opened on the south side of the city. At that time, Sheridan had a population of around 2,500 people. Sheridan moved its city hall
into the old railroad station in January 1993, and expanded the renovated building in 1995. The U.S. Census Bureau erroneously listed the city's population as 3,570 in the 2000 Census after mis-listing the prison's population in the wrong census tract
. This error of about 2000 people was enough to throw off the state legislative districts beyond their margin of acceptance and the Oregon Supreme Court
ruled the Secretary of State must re-draw the boundary lines to match the correct data. The city also counts the prison population as part of the city’s official population. In December 2008, a two-alarm fire gutted the 1875 United Methodist Church in the city.
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (2.6%) is water. The South Yamhill River divides the city between north and south, and is prone to flooding the city. Deer Creek is the only other stream in the city. Sheridan is located in the western part of the Willamette Valley
at an elevation of 189 feet (57.6 m) above sea level. The city lies at the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range
.
Surrounding cities include Willamina
about 2 miles (3.2 km) to the west along Oregon 18B, Amity about 9 miles (14.5 km) due east, and McMinnville about 12 miles (19.3 km) to the northeast. Other communities include Ballston to the southeast, Shipley due west, Red Prairie to the south, the Gopher Valley
to the north and east, and Bellevue
to the northeast along Oregon 18. Sheridan is about one-and-a-half miles north of the Polk County
line, with the county seat of Dallas
approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) south of Sheridan.
, is within the Marine west coast climate zone. Summers in there are generally warm, but temperatures year-round are moderated by a marine influence from the Pacific Ocean
. The city receives most of its precipitation
during the mild to cool winter months, with the wettest period from November through March. Sheridan's average annual precipitation totals 40.78 inches (103.6 cm), with the wettest month coming in December. July and August are the warmest months with an average high temperature of 81 °F (27 °C), while December is the coolest month with an average high of 44 °F (7 °C). December is also on average the wettest month with 8.78 inches (223 mm). July is the driest month of the year on average. The highest recorded temperature in Sheridan, 106 °F (41 °C), has occurred twice, on July 19, 1956, and August 8, 1981. Sheridan's lowest ever recorded temperature was -11 °F on January 31, 1950.
and connects to Shipley
and Willamina, Oregon
, to the west. The Sheridan Bridge
on Bridge Street connects the two sides of the city across the river. The railroad has the only other bridge crossing the river in the city. Oregon Route 18 connects to McMinnville
, the county seat, and beyond to the Portland
metropolitan area to the east. Other major roads include Sheridan Street, Mill Street, Sherman Street, Cherry Hill Road, and Rock Creek Road.
Willamette & Pacific Railroad
provides freight rail service to the city, but there is no passenger rail in the city. Sheridan does not have any public use airports, with McMinnville Municipal Airport
as the closest public airport. Local private airports include Abba's Airport
and Bushnell Airport
. There is public transportation via Yamhill Community Action Partnership with a bus to McMinnville.
in McMinnville.
The commercial district
is centered on Bridge and Main streets, with their intersection as the location of the only traffic signal in the city. There were 12 manufacturing companies in Sheridan, one commercial bank, and one savings and loan as of 2006. Sheridan also has one gas station, two grocery stores, one pharmacy, five restaurants, and two hardware stores among other businesses.
The Delphian School
in unincorporated
Yamhill County
, near Sheridan, houses the offices of Delphi Schools
and Heron Books
.
. The district operates three fire stations, one in the city, and had 35 firefighters as of 1998.
Sheridan is a home rule
charter city, with a mayor-council government
. Val Adamson is the mayor, who heads the city council that includes six others, with the mayor voting to break ties. Council members and the mayor are elected to four-year terms. A city manager runs the daily operations of the city's government. City hall is located in the building that once served as the city's train depot.
Sheridan operates its own water and wastewater treatment systems, both built in 1949. Drinking water comes from the South Yamhill River and from springs on Stony Mountain to the north. Sheridan has two city parks, Sheridan City Park that includes a skatepark, and South Park along Oregon Route 18 that features a fishing pond. Additionally, there is the J. A. Art Hebert Memorial Plaza on Bridge Street near the river.
of 2000, there were 3,570 people, 1,282 households, and 915 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,909.5 people per square mile (737.1/km2). There were 1,381 housing units at an average density of 738.6 per square mile (285.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.73% White, 0.34% African American, 4.85% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.98% from other races
, and 2.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% of the population.
There were 1,282 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. The Census Bureau distinguishes between "family" and "household" in that "a family includes a householder and one or more people living in the same household who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption... [However,] [n]ot all households contain families since a household may consist of a group of unrelated people or one person living alone." 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,673, and the median income for a family was $39,858. Males had a median income of $31,834 versus $23,233 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,426. About 9.7% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over. The city is estimated to be home to 6,020 residents as of July 2008.
, which includes four schools. The Faulconer-Chapman School serves 608 students in grades kindergarten
through eighth. Sheridan High School is the main high school, with students in grades nine through twelve. Known as the Spartans, the Class 3A school has an enrollment of 287. Opportunity House
house is an alternative high school with 49 students in grades ten through twelve, while the Sheridan Japanese School
(a charter school) has 88 students in grades four through twelve. As of 2008, the district had 1,042 students and 69 staff members.
, a K-12 Scientology private school
, is located in unincorporated
Yamhill County
, near Sheridan. The school uses the study methods known as Study Tech
that were developed by Church of Scientology
founder L. Ron Hubbard
. Enrollment at the kindergarten
through twelfth grade school is 238 students, which includes some students who live on the campus.
district that includes a campus in McMinnville. Linfield College
, also in McMinnville, is the closest four-year college with Western Oregon University
in Monmouth
, Willamette University
in Salem
, and George Fox University
in Newberg
all located in the surrounding areas.
Built in 1892, Travelers Home
on northeast Yamhill was added to the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) in 1982, and is the only building on the NRHP in Sheridan. The city operates a single branch public library
at Bridge and Yamhill streets on the north side of the city. The library is a member of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service and is housed in a 3000 square feet (278.7 m²), one-story building. In 2007, it had a collection of 33,792 items with a circulation of 187,000 among 4,256 registered users.
The local newspaper is the once per week The Sun
, published on Wednesdays. The paper was founded in 1890 and has a circulation of 1,263. Broadcast radio and television stations from Portland are also available, as is the regional newspaper The Oregonian
, also from Portland.
The city hosts two main annual events, Sheridan Days and the Mud Drags. Sheridan Days runs four days each June and includes a parade
. Most events are held at the high school and includes carnival
type activities and rides. The Mud Drags are held in early June and sponsored by the local Rotary International
group. Competitors race vehicles through the mud to win prize money. The event draws crowds of 4,000 and includes a children's race through the mud.
Civic groups include those involved in history, fraternal groups, and commercial promotion. The Sheridan Museum of History is a building-less group with a collection of artifacts and photographs displayed in borrowed space, including at the Yamhill County Historical Society Museum in McMinnville. Commercial groups include the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce
and the West Valley Chamber of Commerce. Other civic groups include the Rotary club
, the Kiwanis
, a Rebekah Lodge, and the Woman's Study Club of Sheridan.
, who served in the state legislature and as Oregon Secretary of State before election as Governor of Oregon
grew up in Sheridan and graduated from Sheridan High School. High jumper Joni Huntley
also graduated from the high school and won a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California
.
45.098384°N 123.397171°W
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Platted in the 1860s when it received a post office, the city was incorporated in 1880. A major fire burned much of the city in 1913, and a flood covered much of the city in 1964. Located in the western part of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
along the South Yamhill River
South Yamhill River
The South Yamhill River is a tributary of the Yamhill River, approximately long, in northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range, as well as part of the Willamette Valley west of the Willamette River.-Course:...
, the city is at the base of the Northern Oregon Coast Range
Northern Oregon Coast Range
The Northern Oregon Coast Range is the northern section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, located in the northwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States. This section of the mountain range, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, contains peaks as high...
west of the county seat of McMinnville
McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby , an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee...
, along Oregon Route 18. This highway and Oregon Route 18 Business run east–west through Sheridan and nearby Willamina
Willamina, Oregon
Willamina is a city in Polk and Yamhill Counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census, with an unofficial estimated population of 1,885 in 2006....
parallel to the river. Sheridan Bridge
Sheridan Bridge (Oregon)
Sheridan Bridge in is a two-lane steel Truss bridge carrying vehicular traffic in Sheridan, Oregon, United States. Construction began in 1938 and finished in 1939. This bridge connects the northern part and southern part of the town across the South Yamhill River in Yamhill...
is the only river crossing within Sheridan.
The population of the city was 3,570 at the 2000 census, and the 2008 estimate is 6,020 residents.
This farming and timber community's largest employer is Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan
Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan
Federal Correctional Institution Sheridan is a federal prison operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Sheridan, Oregon, United States. This medium security facility, along with its satellite prison camp and detention center, houses approximately 2000 male inmates...
, a federal minimum and medium security prison. The city has a mayor-council form of government, with daily operations run by a city manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
. The community has its own school district, with a single traditional high school. The main events each year in town are Sheridan Days and the Mud Drags, both held in June. Sheridan was named in honor of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
general Philip Henry Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
.
History
Absolem B. Faulconer laid out the platPlat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
for what became the city of Sheridan in the mid-1860s. This plat was recorded with the county on December 13, 1866. He had settled in the area in 1847. The Sheridan post office was established on April 4, 1866, with Absolem's brother Thomas serving as postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
. By 1871 the town had grown to include two blacksmith shops, one church, one school, one hotel, one wagon shop, and two general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
s. In October 1878, the Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad
Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad
The Dayton, Sheridan and Grande Ronde Railroad was a railroad in Yamhill and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Oregon.-History:In 1877, farmers in Bellevue, Dallas, Perrydale, Sheridan and Willamina met to discuss building a railroad that would serve their towns. An agreement was reached, and...
, a narrow gauge railway, reached the community.
The city, a timber and farming community southwest of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and northwest of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1880. Sheridan was named for General Philip Sheridan, who was posted to Yamhill County and Fort Yamhill
Fort Yamhill
Fort Yamhill was an American military fortification in what became the state of Oregon. Built in 1856 in the Oregon Territory, it remained an active post until 1866. The Army outpost was used to provide a presence next to the Grand Ronde Agency Coastal Reservation...
in the latter half of the 1850s to monitor the Native Americans at what is now the Grand Ronde Reservation
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon consists of twenty-seven Native American tribes with long historical ties to present-day Western Oregon between the western boundary of the Oregon Coast and the eastern boundary of the Cascade Range, and the northern boundary of...
west of the city. By 1894, the city had grown to 400 residents, one bank, two hotels, three churches, and a flouring mill
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
. At that time there was a daily train to the city as well as daily stage coach service from McMinnville, and a single wooden bridge over the river.
Agriculture was the main industry in the city's early years. Around 1910, the main crops included hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
, clover-seed, hay, potatoes, onions, and a variety of fruits including apples, prunes, and pears. On July 18, 1913, a fire that destroyed most of the commercial district caused $300,000 in damage. Most of the buildings were rebuilt with brick within six months. On October 30, 1930, the Jesuits purchased an 891 acres (360.6 ha) farm on a hill overlooking the city. There they started St. Francis Xavier's Novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, a school for training priests for the order. Opening in a new building and several existing farm buildings in 1931, St. Francis Xavier's added more buildings over the next several decades.
In 1932, the state built a highway through Sheridan from McMinnville to the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
, which became Oregon Route 18 or the Salmon River Highway. With funds received through the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, the current steel bridge
Sheridan Bridge (Oregon)
Sheridan Bridge in is a two-lane steel Truss bridge carrying vehicular traffic in Sheridan, Oregon, United States. Construction began in 1938 and finished in 1939. This bridge connects the northern part and southern part of the town across the South Yamhill River in Yamhill...
across the South Yamhill River was built and opened in 1939. By 1940, agriculture was still a major industry, and the timber industry was growing in importance to the local economy. At that time the city had grown to a population of 1,008 people.
The state built a bypass around Sheridan and Willamina that opened in 1957 to carry Oregon Route 18 on the south end of the city. The old alignment through the center of town became Oregon Route 18 Business. Sheridan had its largest flooding in history
Christmas flood of 1964
The Christmas flood of 1964 was a major flood that took place in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between December 18, 1964 and January 7, 1965, spanning the Christmas holiday.Considered a 100-year flood,...
on December 22, 1964. The South Yamhill overflowed its banks and isolated the town for two days. The Jesuits sold their training school in 1974 to the Delphian Foundation, who then opened The Delphian School
The Delphian School
The Delphian School is a K-12 private school in unincorporated Yamhill County, Oregon, near Sheridan. It is operated by Delphi Schools, using ideas from L. Ron Hubbard from Heron Books. The Study Technology is licensed through the Scientology related group Applied Scholastics. The school building...
at the site in 1976.
In 1989, a federal minimum and medium security prison, Federal Correctional Institution - Sheridan
Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan
Federal Correctional Institution Sheridan is a federal prison operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Sheridan, Oregon, United States. This medium security facility, along with its satellite prison camp and detention center, houses approximately 2000 male inmates...
, opened on the south side of the city. At that time, Sheridan had a population of around 2,500 people. Sheridan moved its city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
into the old railroad station in January 1993, and expanded the renovated building in 1995. The U.S. Census Bureau erroneously listed the city's population as 3,570 in the 2000 Census after mis-listing the prison's population in the wrong census tract
Census tract
A census tract, census area, or census district is a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census. Usually these coincide with the limits of cities, towns or other administrative areas and several tracts commonly exist within a county...
. This error of about 2000 people was enough to throw off the state legislative districts beyond their margin of acceptance and the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
ruled the Secretary of State must re-draw the boundary lines to match the correct data. The city also counts the prison population as part of the city’s official population. In December 2008, a two-alarm fire gutted the 1875 United Methodist Church in the city.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (2.6%) is water. The South Yamhill River divides the city between north and south, and is prone to flooding the city. Deer Creek is the only other stream in the city. Sheridan is located in the western part of the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
at an elevation of 189 feet (57.6 m) above sea level. The city lies at the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range
Northern Oregon Coast Range
The Northern Oregon Coast Range is the northern section of the Oregon Coast Range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region, located in the northwest portion of the state of Oregon, United States. This section of the mountain range, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, contains peaks as high...
.
Surrounding cities include Willamina
Willamina, Oregon
Willamina is a city in Polk and Yamhill Counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census, with an unofficial estimated population of 1,885 in 2006....
about 2 miles (3.2 km) to the west along Oregon 18B, Amity about 9 miles (14.5 km) due east, and McMinnville about 12 miles (19.3 km) to the northeast. Other communities include Ballston to the southeast, Shipley due west, Red Prairie to the south, the Gopher Valley
Gopher Valley
Gopher Valley is a valley in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. Gopher, Oregon was an unincorporated locale in the valley. Gopher post office ran from April 6, 1899 to September 14, 1905, with Edward H. Taylor first postmaster.-Geography:...
to the north and east, and Bellevue
Bellevue, Oregon
Bellevue is an unincorporated, rural community in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. It is named for the French words for "beautiful view". It is not known who named the community, but it was settled in about 1860, and a previous post office in the area was named "Muddy". The community is...
to the northeast along Oregon 18. Sheridan is about one-and-a-half miles north of the Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
line, with the county seat of Dallas
Dallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) south of Sheridan.
Climate
Sheridan, as part of the Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
, is within the Marine west coast climate zone. Summers in there are generally warm, but temperatures year-round are moderated by a marine influence from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The city receives most of its precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
during the mild to cool winter months, with the wettest period from November through March. Sheridan's average annual precipitation totals 40.78 inches (103.6 cm), with the wettest month coming in December. July and August are the warmest months with an average high temperature of 81 °F (27 °C), while December is the coolest month with an average high of 44 °F (7 °C). December is also on average the wettest month with 8.78 inches (223 mm). July is the driest month of the year on average. The highest recorded temperature in Sheridan, 106 °F (41 °C), has occurred twice, on July 19, 1956, and August 8, 1981. Sheridan's lowest ever recorded temperature was -11 °F on January 31, 1950.
Transportation
The city is served by two main roads, Oregon Route 18 and Oregon Route 18 Business. The business route, also known as Main Street, runs through downtown on the north side of the South Yamhill RiverSouth Yamhill River
The South Yamhill River is a tributary of the Yamhill River, approximately long, in northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range, as well as part of the Willamette Valley west of the Willamette River.-Course:...
and connects to Shipley
Shipley, Oregon
Shipley, Oregon is a populated place in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. Most of the area has been annexed by the city of Sheridan.-Location:...
and Willamina, Oregon
Willamina, Oregon
Willamina is a city in Polk and Yamhill Counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. The population was 1,844 at the 2000 census, with an unofficial estimated population of 1,885 in 2006....
, to the west. The Sheridan Bridge
Sheridan Bridge (Oregon)
Sheridan Bridge in is a two-lane steel Truss bridge carrying vehicular traffic in Sheridan, Oregon, United States. Construction began in 1938 and finished in 1939. This bridge connects the northern part and southern part of the town across the South Yamhill River in Yamhill...
on Bridge Street connects the two sides of the city across the river. The railroad has the only other bridge crossing the river in the city. Oregon Route 18 connects to McMinnville
McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby , an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee...
, the county seat, and beyond to the Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
metropolitan area to the east. Other major roads include Sheridan Street, Mill Street, Sherman Street, Cherry Hill Road, and Rock Creek Road.
Willamette & Pacific Railroad
Portland and Western Railroad
The Portland and Western Railroad is a Class II railroad serving the U.S. state of Oregon, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of shortline and regional railroad holding company Genesee & Wyoming Inc...
provides freight rail service to the city, but there is no passenger rail in the city. Sheridan does not have any public use airports, with McMinnville Municipal Airport
McMinnville Municipal Airport
McMinnville Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southeast of the central business district of McMinnville, a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States...
as the closest public airport. Local private airports include Abba's Airport
Abba's Airport
Abba's Airport is a private airport located 1 mile west of Sheridan in Yamhill County, Oregon, USA....
and Bushnell Airport
Bushnell Airport
Bushnell Airport is a private airport located 1 mile west of Sheridan in Yamhill County, Oregon, USA....
. There is public transportation via Yamhill Community Action Partnership with a bus to McMinnville.
Economy
The economy of Sheridan includes agriculture, timber, manufacturing, and service sector employment. As of 2000, the Spirit Mountain Casino outside of the city employed the most people in the area with 1,000 employees. The federal prison was the largest employer in the city with 500 employees, followed by Liberty Homes with 100 employees at the manufactured homes builder. The closest hospital is the Willamette Valley Medical CenterWillamette Valley Medical Center
Willamette Valley Medical Center is a for-profit Level III acute care hospital in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. Opened at a different location as McMinnville Community Hospital, the four story medical center has 80 licensed hospital beds...
in McMinnville.
The commercial district
Commercial district
A commercial district or commercial zone is any part of a city or town in which the primary land use is commercial activities , as opposed to a residential neighbourhood, an industrial zone, or other types of neighbourhoods...
is centered on Bridge and Main streets, with their intersection as the location of the only traffic signal in the city. There were 12 manufacturing companies in Sheridan, one commercial bank, and one savings and loan as of 2006. Sheridan also has one gas station, two grocery stores, one pharmacy, five restaurants, and two hardware stores among other businesses.
The Delphian School
The Delphian School
The Delphian School is a K-12 private school in unincorporated Yamhill County, Oregon, near Sheridan. It is operated by Delphi Schools, using ideas from L. Ron Hubbard from Heron Books. The Study Technology is licensed through the Scientology related group Applied Scholastics. The school building...
in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Yamhill County
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
, near Sheridan, houses the offices of Delphi Schools
Delphi Schools
Delphi Schools, Inc. operates private schools that use the study methods known as Study Tech that were developed by L. Ron Hubbard. The headquarters for Delphi Schools, Inc. are located at on the property of the Delphian School in unincorporated Yamhill County, Oregon, near Sheridan. The...
and Heron Books
Heron Books
Heron Books, Inc. is an assumed business name of Delphi Schools Inc., under which the company publishes many paperback books for teachers, students, and home schoolers, as well as single-subject dictionaries for all grade levels. It is a trademark owned by Northwest Research, Inc., which is another...
.
Government
City police protection is provided under contract by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. The office maintains a substation at Sheridan’s city hall. Sheridan Fire District provides fire protection to the city and more than 100 square miles (259 km²) of the surrounding area including neighboring BallstonBallston, Oregon
Ballston is an unincorporated community, in Polk County, Oregon, United States. It is southeast of Sheridan and southwest of Amity. It is considered a ghost town....
. The district operates three fire stations, one in the city, and had 35 firefighters as of 1998.
Sheridan is a home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
charter city, with a mayor-council government
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
. Val Adamson is the mayor, who heads the city council that includes six others, with the mayor voting to break ties. Council members and the mayor are elected to four-year terms. A city manager runs the daily operations of the city's government. City hall is located in the building that once served as the city's train depot.
Sheridan operates its own water and wastewater treatment systems, both built in 1949. Drinking water comes from the South Yamhill River and from springs on Stony Mountain to the north. Sheridan has two city parks, Sheridan City Park that includes a skatepark, and South Park along Oregon Route 18 that features a fishing pond. Additionally, there is the J. A. Art Hebert Memorial Plaza on Bridge Street near the river.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,570 people, 1,282 households, and 915 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,909.5 people per square mile (737.1/km2). There were 1,381 housing units at an average density of 738.6 per square mile (285.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.73% White, 0.34% African American, 4.85% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 3.98% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% of the population.
There were 1,282 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. The Census Bureau distinguishes between "family" and "household" in that "a family includes a householder and one or more people living in the same household who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption... [However,] [n]ot all households contain families since a household may consist of a group of unrelated people or one person living alone." 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,673, and the median income for a family was $39,858. Males had a median income of $31,834 versus $23,233 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,426. About 9.7% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over. The city is estimated to be home to 6,020 residents as of July 2008.
Public schools
Sheridan is served by the Sheridan School DistrictSheridan School District (Oregon)
The Sheridan School District 48J is a unified school district that serves the Sheridan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. The district has four schools and 1,042 students. District offices are in Sheridan on Bridge Street at the high school. A. J. Grauer is the district superintendent, with...
, which includes four schools. The Faulconer-Chapman School serves 608 students in grades kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through eighth. Sheridan High School is the main high school, with students in grades nine through twelve. Known as the Spartans, the Class 3A school has an enrollment of 287. Opportunity House
Opportunity House
Opportunity House is a public alternative high school in Sheridan, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 2008, 36% of the school's seniors received their high school diploma. Of 44 students, 16 graduated, 18 dropped out, and 10 are still in high school....
house is an alternative high school with 49 students in grades ten through twelve, while the Sheridan Japanese School
Sheridan Japanese School
Sheridan Japanese School is a public charter school in Sheridan, Oregon, United States.The school has been accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools since 2000.-Academics:...
(a charter school) has 88 students in grades four through twelve. As of 2008, the district had 1,042 students and 69 staff members.
Private schools
The Delphian SchoolThe Delphian School
The Delphian School is a K-12 private school in unincorporated Yamhill County, Oregon, near Sheridan. It is operated by Delphi Schools, using ideas from L. Ron Hubbard from Heron Books. The Study Technology is licensed through the Scientology related group Applied Scholastics. The school building...
, a K-12 Scientology private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, is located in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Yamhill County
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
, near Sheridan. The school uses the study methods known as Study Tech
Study Tech
Study Technology, or Study Tech, is a methodology for learning developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Hubbard's "Study Technology" is used by Church of Scientology members as part of their training, and is also promoted outside the church by a church-affiliated...
that were developed by Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
founder L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
. Enrollment at the kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through twelfth grade school is 238 students, which includes some students who live on the campus.
Colleges and universities
There are no colleges in Sheridan, but the city is within the Chemeketa Community CollegeChemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College is a community college located in Salem, Oregon, with smaller campuses in McMinnville, Dallas, Brooks, and Woodburn, and the Northwest Viticulture Center in Eola...
district that includes a campus in McMinnville. Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
, also in McMinnville, is the closest four-year college with Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
in Monmouth
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
, Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, and George Fox University
George Fox University
George Fox University is a Christian university of the liberal arts and sciences, and professional studies located in Newberg, Oregon, United States. Founded as a school for Quakers in 1885, the private school has more than 3,400 students combined between its main campus in Newberg and its centers...
in Newberg
Newberg, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,064 people, 6,099 households, and 4,348 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,599.4 people per square mile . There were 6,435 housing units at an average density of 1,282.2 per square mile...
all located in the surrounding areas.
Culture
Travelers Home
Travelers Home is an Italian Villa and Queen Anne style home in Sheridan, Oregon, United States. It was built in 1892, and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1982. The building, also known as Savage-Mendenhall-Seth House, has been used as both a hotel and...
on northeast Yamhill was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) in 1982, and is the only building on the NRHP in Sheridan. The city operates a single branch public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
at Bridge and Yamhill streets on the north side of the city. The library is a member of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service and is housed in a 3000 square feet (278.7 m²), one-story building. In 2007, it had a collection of 33,792 items with a circulation of 187,000 among 4,256 registered users.
The local newspaper is the once per week The Sun
The Sun (Sheridan)
The Sun is the newspaper for Sheridan, Oregon, United States. The paper is published once per week on Wednesdays. Coverage of The Sun is the West Valley communities of Sheridan, Willamina, and Grand Ronde in the Yamhill Valley of Yamhill and Polk counties.-History:Sheridan’s newspaper started in...
, published on Wednesdays. The paper was founded in 1890 and has a circulation of 1,263. Broadcast radio and television stations from Portland are also available, as is the regional newspaper The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
, also from Portland.
The city hosts two main annual events, Sheridan Days and the Mud Drags. Sheridan Days runs four days each June and includes a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
. Most events are held at the high school and includes carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
type activities and rides. The Mud Drags are held in early June and sponsored by the local Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
group. Competitors race vehicles through the mud to win prize money. The event draws crowds of 4,000 and includes a children's race through the mud.
Civic groups include those involved in history, fraternal groups, and commercial promotion. The Sheridan Museum of History is a building-less group with a collection of artifacts and photographs displayed in borrowed space, including at the Yamhill County Historical Society Museum in McMinnville. Commercial groups include the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and the West Valley Chamber of Commerce. Other civic groups include the Rotary club
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, the Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
, a Rebekah Lodge, and the Woman's Study Club of Sheridan.
Notable people
The city is home to several notable people from athletes to politicians. Barbara RobertsBarbara Roberts
Barbara Kay Roberts is an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, she served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995. She is the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to that office. A Democrat, Roberts was also the first woman to serve as majority...
, who served in the state legislature and as Oregon Secretary of State before election as Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
grew up in Sheridan and graduated from Sheridan High School. High jumper Joni Huntley
Joni Huntley
Joni Luann Huntley is an American athlete who won the bronze medal in the women's high jump event at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California....
also graduated from the high school and won a bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
External links
- Listing for Sheridan in the Oregon Blue BookOregon Blue BookThe Oregon Blue Book is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. As Governor Ted Kulongoski notes in his introduction for the 2005–2006 edition, it "provides...
45.098384°N 123.397171°W