More than 4 million Veterans return from active military careers to reside in rural communities. At VA, we work to meet these Veterans where they live, and promote the opportunities to find happy homes in these rural communities around the country.
Like the Veterans you’ll serve, these rural communities are as diverse and exciting as you can imagine. You may find an opportunity to be closer to family and friends, or just enjoy a greater sense of privacy. Perhaps the lower cost of living or even the allure of open space appeals to you.
Today, we explore a region steeped in Old West culture and visit the VA Sheridan Health Care System and the Sheridan VA Medical Center, aptly located in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Sheridan VA Medical Center
At the heart of VA Sheridan’s health care facilities is the titular Sheridan VA Medical Center, located in the city of Sheridan in north central Wyoming, on 298 acres at the base of the Bighorn Mountains.
In 1898, President William McKinley set aside the land where the Sheridan VA Medical Center now stands as the site for a military fort. The first troops posted to the fort in 1901 were “Buffalo Soldiers” from the Army’s 25th Infantry Regiment, 1 of 6 African American infantry and cavalry regiments that served with distinction.
By the start of World War I, the government closed the fort with the intention of demolishing it. Instead, former President William Howard Taft transferred the fort to the Bureau of Health with an eye toward building a hospital for Veterans coming home from the war with battle fatigue, which we know today as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The new hospital opened in April 1922 and has served the Veterans of Wyoming with innovative mental health and primary care ever since.
Sheridan, Wyoming
The seeds of Sheridan were planted one evening in the spring of 1882, when Civil War Veteran John Loucks sat on a hill above Goose Creek in Wyoming and envisioned a town laid out in the valley below him. He went to his cabin and sketched out the town site, giving it the name “Sheridan” in honor of the Union general he had served under.
The region began to flourish with the arrival of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in 1892, and coal mines in the region supported a decades-long boom. In the decade leading up to 1910, the population more than quadrupled.
For the first few decades, Sheridan’s social life centered on the bars and entertainment halls around Main Street and at the Sheridan Inn. William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody invested in the inn and used it as his headquarters during tryouts for his legendary Wild West show.
Today, Sheridan is best known for its rich Western heritage, encompassing cowboy culture, historic sites, and outdoor recreation. The region beckons travelers with its diverse range of activities and attractions, from exhilarating outdoor adventures like hiking in the Bighorn Mountains to exploring the rich culture of the area through museums and historic sites.
Jobs at Sheridan VA Medical Center
Sheridan VA Medical Center has 200 beds, which includes 20 psychiatric, 10 medical, 55 Community Living Center (long and short stay), and 115 mental health residential rehabilitation treatment program beds.
Currently, the facility a specific need for registered nurses (RN), but you can explore additional openings here.
Work at VA
Find a community that’s right for you, and help us promote the health and well-being of rural Veterans with a career at VA.
- LEARN more about our work with rural Veterans.
- EXPLORE the benefits of working at VA.
- SEARCH for your new career.
NOTE: Positions listed in this post were open at the time of publication. All current available positions are listed at USAJOBS.gov.
