Love it, but had to leave it
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5/30/2019
Sheridan was a great place to be a kid--outdoor opportunities, very little crime, and a strong sense of community.
The art community is everywhere in Sheridan, and events like Third Thursday, the farmer's markets, and rodeo are fun for everyone.
Whenever I go back to visit my parents, I wish I could find a job in Sheridan and move back. It is absolutely beautiful there with the Big Horn mountains so close, and rolling hills surrounding the valley. Much of the creek has also been restored to a more natural floodplain instead of the Army Corps of Engineers concrete canals that were fashioned years ago. There are more walking paths, and a distinct desire to improve and diversify to attract young people. New breweries are popping up, and Koltiska Distillery has finally opened a tasting room.
Drawbacks: like many rural western towns, there is a lack of diversity. That does NOT mean that everyone here is bigoted or uneducated, like some of the reviews suggest (I also don't think you can know a town just by stopping for fuel on a drive through....).
Lack of job opportunities makes it difficult to retain young talent. The state politics cater to wealthier individuals, many of which come to Wyoming to retire, and don't have to experience being working class in Sheridan.
Finally, the emphasis on the cowboy identity gets old. Not everyone who grew up there or lives there is a cowboy. Sheridan needs to focus on other appeals if the town wants to change with the times. Otherwise jobs will keep depending on extraction industries, ag, and tourism--none of which are particularly sustainable in the long run.
Maura | Butte-Silver Bow, MT