Texas

Shelby

24,022
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Shelby

Shelby, Texas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 4,239. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 24,022.

Its recorded population peaked at 29,235 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 18 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Regulator-Moderator War Shelby County, Regulator-Moderator War Finale — Shelby County, Shelby County Unionist Skirmishes, and 2 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202024,022
201025,448
200025,224
199022,034
198023,084
197019,672
196020,479
195023,479
194029,235
193028,627
192027,464
191026,423
190020,452
189014,365
18809,523
18705,732
18605,362
18504,239
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, Texas.

Regulator-Moderator War Shelby County
1840
Regulator-Moderator War Finale — Shelby County
1844
Shelby County Unionist Skirmishes
1863

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Everything a full report reveals about Shelby County, Texas

This page charts the census history of Shelby County, Texas. 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, Texas first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 4,239.
What is the population of Shelby?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Shelby had a recorded population of 24,022.
When did Shelby's population peak?
Shelby's recorded population peaked at 29,235 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Shelby?
3 documented military engagements took place in Shelby, including Regulator-Moderator War Shelby County, Regulator-Moderator War Finale — Shelby County, Shelby County Unionist Skirmishes.
How many historic places are in Shelby?
2 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Shelby, Texas.
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