Sheridan City Council members discuss population increase of City of Sheridan

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan City Councilmembers Greg Luhman and Steven Brantz spoke on the city’s population and development increase. 

According to documents from the City of Sheridan, over a 10-year period, the City’s population increased by 7.44%, this rate of increase is below average (.9% per AdvisorSmith) for small-sized cities in the U.S. But, should this current trend continue, the City’s average population could result in an estimated 21,785 people by 2030.

Keeping services provided by the City sufficient to the rate of population increase can be challenging. Leadership attempts to balance need with cost to residents. The 10-year increase in population has begun to put strains on city services, according to Brantz. 

According to the office of the Sheridan City Administrator, Stu McRae, a 1998 consolidation study stated that the City was approximately nine square miles. Currently, the City of Sheridan is 13 square miles; which has accompanied an obvious population increase. 

The increase in population and distance to cover has led to a higher call volume and longer response times from the fire department. To meet the need of the growing population, the department has added three new positions and discussions are in development for a possible second fire station. 

The Sheridan Police Department has seen the highest number of calls for service in the past 22 years both in 2021, and again even higher in 2022.

Sheridan Media will have more on the City’s ongoing efforts to meet the needs of a growing Sheridan in future stories.