Sheldon, IA Demographics

A map of Sheldon's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	4,161	4,583	76.0%	83.1%
Hispanic	938	647	17.1%	11.7%
Black	143	74	2.6%	1.3%
Multiracial	119	120	2.2%	2.2%
Asian	73	54	1.3%	1.0%
Native American/Other	40	34	0.7%	0.6%

Sheldon, Iowa has an estimated population of 5,474, a less than 1% change from the 5,512 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 76.0% White, 17.1% Hispanic, 2.6% Black, 2.2% Multiracial, 1.3% Asian, and 0.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Sheldon, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Sheldon has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Iowa overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Sheldon, that probability was 29.4% in 2020 and 39.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Sheldon is ranked the 76th most populous place in Iowa, out of 1,026 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Sheldon was ranked the 72nd most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Sheldon's White Population

4,161 residents of Sheldon, or 76.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Sheldon is lower than in Iowa overall, where 82.3% of the population is White. Sheldon ranks 929th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sheldon's White population has declined by an estimated 9.2%. White residents' share of Sheldon's population has decreased from 83.1% to 76.0%.

Sheldon is more White than neighboring Hospers (65.8% White). Sheldon is less White than neighboring Matlock (88.9% White), Archer (99.2% White), Ashton (96.3% White), and Boyden (85.3% White).

Sheldon's Black Population

143 residents of Sheldon, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Sheldon is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Sheldon ranks 154th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sheldon's Black population has grown by an estimated 93.2%. Black residents' share of Sheldon's population has increased from 1.3% to 2.6%.

Sheldon is more Black than neighboring Matlock (0.7% Black), Archer (0% Black), Hospers (0% Black), Ashton (0% Black), and Boyden (0.7% Black).

Sheldon's Asian Population

73 residents of Sheldon, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Sheldon is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Sheldon ranks 147th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sheldon's Asian population has grown by an estimated 35.2%. Asian residents' share of Sheldon's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Sheldon is more Asian than neighboring Matlock (0% Asian), Archer (0% Asian), Hospers (0% Asian), Ashton (0% Asian), and Boyden (0% Asian).

Sheldon's Hispanic Population

938 residents of Sheldon, or 17.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Sheldon is higher than in Iowa overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Sheldon ranks 66th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sheldon's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 45.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Sheldon's population has increased from 11.7% to 17.1%.

Sheldon is more Hispanic than neighboring Matlock (2.8% Hispanic), Archer (0.8% Hispanic), Ashton (1.1% Hispanic), and Boyden (12% Hispanic). Sheldon is less Hispanic than neighboring Hospers (33.2% Hispanic).

Sheldon's Native American/Other Population

40 residents of Sheldon, or 0.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Sheldon is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Sheldon ranks 269th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sheldon's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 17.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Sheldon's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Sheldon is more Native American/Other than neighboring Archer (0% Native American/Other), and Ashton (0% Native American/Other). Sheldon is less Native American/Other than neighboring Matlock (2.1% Native American/Other), Hospers (1% Native American/Other), and Boyden (1.7% Native American/Other).

Sheldon's Multiracial Population

119 residents of Sheldon, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Sheldon is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. Sheldon ranks 659th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Sheldon's Multiracial population has remained roughly the same. Multiracial residents' share of Sheldon's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.2%.

Sheldon is more Multiracial than neighboring Archer (0% Multiracial), Hospers (0% Multiracial), and Boyden (0.3% Multiracial). Sheldon is less Multiracial than neighboring Matlock (5.6% Multiracial), and Ashton (2.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.