| dc.description.abstract | This report, commissioned for the Sherman County strategic planning project, surveys some of the more significant demographic and economic trends in Sherman County, Kansas, over the period from 1980 to the present time. Through contrast and comparison with nearby counties, relative strengths and weaknesses have been assessed.Sherman is a county of about 6,900 people, situated at the Colorado border. Its population is a mixture of small urban and rural. The county is connected with three major highways, including Interstate 70. Sherman County's economy includes relatively well developed farm, retail, and wholesale sectors, and a growing service sector. Manufacturing accounts for a small proportion of the economic base, following job losses in the mid-1980s. The past decade's economic trends have indicated decline or stagnation in areas such as employment, retail sales, and personal income. During the 1980s, Sherman County's population continued to decline after having reached its peak in 1970. This decline is expected to continue at a slower rate over the next thirty years. Along with other trends outlined below, these conditions present Sherman County with considerable challenges that must be addressed constructively to ensure economic development now and in the future. | en_US |
