Indiana

Shelby

45,055
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Indiana, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 6,295. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 45,055.

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

On the ground today, 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202045,055
201044,436
200043,445
199040,307
198039,887
197037,797
196034,093
195028,026
194025,953
193026,552
192025,982
191026,802
190026,491
189025,454
188025,257
187021,892
186019,569
185015,502
184012,005
18306,295
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, Indiana.

Hamilton, John, House
Shelbyville
Junction Railroad Depot
Morristown
Shelby County Courthouse
Shelby
Shelbyville Commercial Historic District
Shelbyville
West Side Historic District
Shelbyville
Shelbyville High School
Shelbyville
St. George Lutheran Church
Edinburgh
Browse all Indianahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Indiana

Explore census history and historic records for more Indiana counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Indiana

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Indiana. 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, Indiana first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 6,295.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 45,055.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Indiana.
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