Missouri

Shelby

6,103
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 3,056. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 6,103.

Its recorded population peaked at 16,167 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 62 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Shelbina Skirmish 1861, Bethel MO Skirmish (Shelby County), Skirmish at Hunnewell, Missouri, and 4 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20206,103
20106,373
20006,799
19906,942
19807,826
19707,906
19609,063
19509,730
194011,224
193011,983
192013,617
191014,864
190016,167
189015,642
188014,024
187010,119
18607,301
18504,253
18403,056
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, Missouri.

Shelbina Skirmish 1861
1861
Bethel MO Skirmish (Shelby County)
1862
Skirmish at Hunnewell, Missouri
1862
Shelbina Skirmish 1862
1862
Shelby County Guerrilla Skirmish
1862

Historic places in Shelby

National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby, Missouri.

Bethel Historic District
Bethel
Elim
Bethel
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Missouri. 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, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 3,056.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 6,103.
When did Shelby's population peak?
Shelby's recorded population peaked at 16,167 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Shelby?
5 documented military engagements took place in Shelby, including Shelbina Skirmish 1861, Bethel MO Skirmish (Shelby County), Skirmish at Hunnewell, Missouri.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
4 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Missouri.
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