SHERIDAN COUNTY, MT HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Sheridan County, Montana: A Genealogical Overview

Situated in the far northeastern corner of Montana, Sheridan County is a vast landscape of plains and agricultural fields, sharing borders with North Dakota and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Its identity is profoundly shaped by the 20th-century homesteading boom, which brought waves of settlers to its dryland prairies. The county’s history is a story of agricultural ambition, the challenges of farming on the northern Great Plains, and the enduring spirit of the “honyockers” who first broke its sod. For genealogists, research is concentrated in the early 1900s and often involves tracing families back to the Midwest and Northern Europe.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Sheridan County is a relatively young county, created during a statewide movement to establish more local county seats for the influx of homesteaders. Tracing its parent and subsequent counties is essential for locating early records.

  • 1913: County Formed: Sheridan County was established on March 24, 1913.
  • Parent County: It was created from the eastern portion of Valley County. All civil records for settlers in this area prior to March 1913 will be found in the records of Valley County, located in Glasgow, MT.
  • Subsequent Formations: Sheridan County’s original boundaries were soon altered. In 1915, its western portion was used to help create Daniels County. In 1919, its southern portion was partitioned off to form part of the newly created Roosevelt County. Researchers with ancestors in these areas must consult the records of the new counties after their respective formation dates.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for General Philip Sheridan, a prominent Union Army cavalry commander during the American Civil War.
  • County Seat History: From its inception in 1913, the county seat has been Plentywood. The town’s optimistic name reflects the promotional spirit of the homesteading era.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The region was the traditional territory of the Assiniboine and Sioux (Dakota) peoples. Today, the southern part of the area is included within the boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
  • Homesteading Boom and Economy: While a few cattle ranchers operated in the area in the late 19th century, massive settlement did not occur until after the Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909. This act, coupled with aggressive railroad promotion, brought thousands of homesteaders between 1909 and 1917. These settlers, primarily from the Midwest and with significant Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish) heritage, rushed to claim 320-acre dryland farm tracts. The economy has always been dominated by agriculture, primarily the cultivation of wheat, barley, and other grains, alongside cattle ranching.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • Arrival of the Railroad: The Great Northern Railway’s branch line reached Plentywood in 1912, providing the critical means to transport grain to market and fueling the settlement boom.
    • Drought and the Great Depression: The initial boom years were followed by severe drought in the late 1910s and the agricultural depression of the 1920s, culminating in the “Dirty Thirties.” These hardships forced many homesteading families to abandon their farms and leave the county.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records, which are concentrated after the county’s 1913 formation date.

  • County Courthouse: The Sheridan County Courthouse, located at 100 W Laurel Ave, Plentywood, MT 59254, is the main repository for local records.
    • Clerk and Recorder: Holds all land records (deeds, homestead patents, mortgages), school census records, and other recorded documents from 1913.
    • Clerk of the District Court: Maintains all court records, including civil and criminal cases, naturalization records, and importantly for genealogists, holds the county’s marriage licenses and probate records (wills, estates, guardianships) from 1913.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Montana began statewide registration in late 1907, though compliance in rural areas was inconsistent for several years. Official certificates are held by the Montana Office of Vital Statistics in Helena. The Clerk of the District Court in Plentywood may also hold early delayed birth and death registers for the county.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records and licenses from 1913 to the present are held by the Sheridan County Clerk of the District Court.
  • Libraries and Museums:
    • Sheridan County Library: Located in Plentywood, the library has local histories, family histories, and microfilm copies of local newspapers.
    • Sheridan County Museum (Sheridan County Ful-Line Ag Museum): Located in Plentywood, the museum preserves the agricultural and homesteading history of the region and is a good resource for historical context.
    • Montana Historical Society: Located in Helena, this is the state’s premier research center, holding extensive collections of newspapers, manuscripts, photographs, and state-level government records.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Daniels County, MT (west)
    • Roosevelt County, MT (south)
    • Divide County, ND (east)
    • Williams County, ND (southeast)
    • Province of Saskatchewan, Canada (north)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks