Tennessee

Shelby

929,744
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 364. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 929,744.

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

On the ground today, 25 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Chucalissa Fortification (Tennessee), De Soto Mississippi River Crossing 1541, Chickasaw-French War – Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs 1736, and 212 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020929,744
2010927,644
2000897,472
1990826,330
1980777,113
1970722,014
1960627,019
1950482,393
1940358,250
1930306,482
1920223,216
1910191,439
1900153,557
1890112,740
188078,430
187076,378
186048,092
185031,157
184014,721
18305,648
1820364
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, Tennessee.

Chucalissa Fortification (Tennessee)
1000
De Soto Mississippi River Crossing 1541
1541
Chickasaw-French War – Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs 1736
1736
Chickasaw Wars - Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs 1739
1739
Battle of Memphis (Naval Battle)
1862
Naval Battle at Memphis (River Defense Fleet)
1862
Battle of Memphis — USS Queen of the West
1862
Battle of Memphis — CSS General Bragg and CSS Sumter
1862
Battle of Memphis (Union Occupation Skirmishes)
1862
Battle of Memphis Naval Engagement
1862
Battle of Memphis — CSS General Bragg Capture
1862
Naval Battle of Memphis
1862
Skirmish at Memphis (1862 probe)
1862
Forrest's First Raid into Tennessee
1862
First Battle of Memphis
1862
Confederate Raid on Collierville Tennessee (from MS base)
1863
Skirmish at Germantown
1863
Collierville Tennessee
1863
Collierville Second Battle
1863
Memphis Forrest Raid 1864
1864
Memphis Raid by Forrest
1864
Forrest's Memphis Raid
1864
Second Battle of Memphis (Forrest's Raid)
1864
White Station Skirmish
1864
Forrest's Raid on Memphis
1864

Historic places in Shelby

National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby, Tennessee.

Hunt-Phelan House
Memphis
Beale Street Historic District
Memphis
Medical Arts Building and Garage
Memphis
Memphis Merchants Exchange
Memphis
First Baptist Church (Additional Documentation)
Memphis
Mason Temple, Church of God in Christ
Memphis
Sun Record Company, Memphis Recording Service
Memphis
Calvary Episcopal Church and Parish House
Memphis
Scimitar Building
Memphis
Speedway Terrace Historic District
Memphis
Humes, L.C., High School
Memphis
Memphis National Cemetery
Memphis
South Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Memphis
Sears, Roebuck and Company Catalog Distribution Center and Retail Store
Memphis
Victorian Village District
Memphis
Central Gardens Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Memphis
Adams Avenue Historic District
Memphis
Overton Park Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Memphis
Fleming, John M., Home Place
Collierville
Glenview Historic District
Memphis
First Colored Baptist Church
Memphis
Davies Manor
Memphis
Presley, Elvis, House
Memphis
High Point Terrace Historic District
Memphis
Browse all Tennesseehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Tennessee. 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, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 364.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 929,744.
Were any battles fought in Shelby?
25 documented military engagements took place in Shelby, including Chucalissa Fortification (Tennessee), De Soto Mississippi River Crossing 1541, Chickasaw-French War – Battle of Chickasaw Bluffs 1736.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
212 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Tennessee.
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