Alabama

Shelby

223,024
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Alabama, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 2,416. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 223,024.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 8 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Montevallo (Streight's Raid approach), Wilson's Raid — Montevallo to Selma March, Skirmish at Montevallo Iron Works, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020223,024
2010195,085
2000143,293
199099,358
198066,298
197038,037
196032,132
195030,362
194028,962
193027,576
192027,097
191026,949
190023,684
189020,886
188017,236
187012,218
186012,618
18509,536
18406,112
18305,704
18202,416
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Shelby

Military engagements that took place in Shelby, Alabama.

Skirmish at Montevallo (Streight's Raid approach)
1863
Wilson's Raid — Montevallo to Selma March
1865
Skirmish at Montevallo Iron Works
1865
Action at Montevallo Road, Alabama
1865
Skirmish at Columbiana (Shelby County 1865)
1865
Battle of Montevallo Alabama (Wilson's Raid)
1865
Action at Montevallo — Round Mountain Furnace (1865)
1865
Battle of Montevallo
1865

Historic places in Shelby

National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby, Alabama.

King House
Montevallo
Rock House, Old
Harpersville
Columbiana City Hall
Columbiana
Downtown Montevallo Historic District
Montevallo
Calera Downtown Historic District
Calera
Shoal Creek Club
Shoal Creek
McKibbon House
Montevallo
Browse all Alabamahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Alabama

Explore census history and historic records for more Alabama counties.

LimestoneLowndesMaconMadisonMarengoMarionMarshallMobileMonroeMontgomeryMorganPerryPickensPikeRandolphRussellSt. ClairSumterTalladegaTallapoosa
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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Alabama

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Alabama. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Alabamahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Alabama›

Frequently asked about Shelby

When does Shelby first appear in the US census?
Shelby, Alabama first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 2,416.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 223,024.
Were any battles fought in Shelby?
8 documented military engagements took place in Shelby, including Skirmish at Montevallo (Streight's Raid approach), Wilson's Raid — Montevallo to Selma March, Skirmish at Montevallo Iron Works.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Alabama.
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