Illinois

Shelby

20,990
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 2,972. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 20,990.

Its recorded population peaked at 32,126 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 35 percent.

On the ground today, 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202020,990
201022,363
200022,893
199022,261
198023,923
197022,589
196023,404
195024,434
194026,290
193025,471
192029,601
191031,693
190032,126
189031,191
188030,270
187025,476
186014,613
18507,807
18406,659
18302,972
Source

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

Historic places in Shelby

National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby, Illinois.

Westervelt Christian Church
Westervelt
Thompson Mill Covered Bridge
Cowden
Shelbyville Historic District
Shelbyville
Chautauqua Auditorium
Shelbyville
Clarksburg Schoolhouse
Clarksburg
Tallman, Horace M., House
Shelbyville

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Illinois. 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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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Shelby

When does Shelby first appear in the US census?
Shelby, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 2,972.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 20,990.
When did Shelby's population peak?
Shelby's recorded population peaked at 32,126 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Illinois.
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