Iowa

Shelby

11,746
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 818. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 11,746.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,932 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 34 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Shelby County Iowa — Confederate Raid Threat, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202011,746
201012,167
200013,173
199013,230
198015,043
197015,528
196015,825
195015,942
194016,720
193017,131
192016,065
191016,552
190017,932
189017,611
188012,696
18702,540
1860818
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, Iowa.

Shelby County Iowa — Confederate Raid Threat
1864

Historic places in Shelby

National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby, Iowa.

Saint Boniface Catholic Church District
Westphalia
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Stone Arch Viaduct
Shelby
Rewerts, George, House
Defiance
Christiansen, Jens Otto, House
Elk Horn
Shelby County Courthouse
Harlan
Irwin Consolidated School
Irwin
Shelby Consolidated School
Shelby
Floral Hall
Harlan
Larsen, Chris, House
Elk Horn
Poldberg, Chris, Farmstead
Jacksonville
Harlan Courthouse Square Commercial District
Harlan
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Harlan
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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Iowa. 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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Frequently asked about Shelby

When does Shelby first appear in the US census?
Shelby, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 818.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 11,746.
When did Shelby's population peak?
Shelby's recorded population peaked at 17,932 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Shelby?
1 documented military engagement took place in Shelby, including Shelby County Iowa — Confederate Raid Threat.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Iowa.
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