Shelby County, Iowa

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Shelby County

| state = Iowa

| ex image = Shelby County IA Courthouse.jpg

| ex image size = 240px

| ex image cap = Shelby County Courthouse

| seal =

| founded year = 1851

| founded date =

| seat wl = Harlan

| largest city wl = Harlan

| area_total_sq_mi = 598

| area_land_sq_mi = 598

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.6

| area percentage = 0.1

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 11746

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 11806 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

| web = https://shelbycounty.iowa.gov/

| district = 4th

| named for = Isaac Shelby }}

Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,746.{{Cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau}} The county seat is Harlan.{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}} Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky.

History

Shelby County was established on January 15, 1851. It was named after General Isaac Shelby, a hero in the American Revolutionary War and the first Governor of Kentucky.

Early settling in Shelby County began in 1848 in Galland's Grove.[http://www.shco.org/ A brief history, Shelby County Iowa website] On February 4, 1855, Shelbyville was designated the county seat. In April 1859, the seat was moved to Harlan. One year later the first courthouse was erected and a second courthouse was constructed in 1875. In 1892, the construction of the present courthouse was begun, this time of stone and three storeys high. The construction was completed in 1893 with the dedication on September 14. The 1892 Shelby County Courthouse and the surrounding buildings are all listed in the National Register of Historic places effective September 23, 1994.[http://www.exploreshelbycounty.com/attractions.html Shelby County Attractions] In 1978, the building was extensively restored and still serves as the courthouse.

Starting in the 1870s, many Danish immigrants came to settle in Elk Horn in the southeastern portion of the county, and in Kimballton in adjoining Audubon County. More people with Danish ancestry live in this area today than any other rural community aside from Denmark itself.[https://www.iowapbs.org/iowapathways/mypath/2467/danes Dane], IOWA Pathways, Retrieved 25 March 2025

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|591|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|591|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.6|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.{{Cite web |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=April 23, 2011 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

=Major highways=

=Attractions=

Shelby County Speedway

=Adjacent counties=

Crawford County (north)
Audubon County (east)
Cass County (southeast)
Pottawattamie County (south)
Harrison County (west)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1860= 818

|1870= 2540

|1880= 12696

|1890= 17611

|1900= 17932

|1910= 16552

|1920= 16065

|1930= 17131

|1940= 16720

|1950= 15942

|1960= 15825

|1970= 15528

|1980= 15043

|1990= 13230

|2000= 13173

|2010= 12167

|2020= 11746

|estyear=2023

|estimate=11806

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900-1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ia190090.txt |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990-2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010-2018{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19165.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607072558/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/19165.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=July 20, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

}}

File:ShelbyCountyIowaPop2020.png

=2020 census=

File:ShelbyCountyIA2022PopPyr.png for Shelby County from ACS 5-year estimates]]

The 2020 census recorded a population of 11,746 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|11746|598.457909|sqmi|km2}}. 96.51% of the population reported being of one race. 90.06% were non-Hispanic White, 0.45% were Black, 3.51% were Hispanic, 0.47% were Native American, 0.42% were Asian, 0.03% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 5.07% were some other race or more than one race. There were 5,421 housing units, of which 4,981 were occupied.

=2010 census=

The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,167 in the county, with a population density of {{Pop density|12167|590.83|sqmi|km2}}. There were 5,542 housing units, of which 5,085 were occupied.{{Cite web |title=Population & Housing Occupancy Status 2010 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-17.pdf |access-date=August 15, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau American FactFinder}}

=2000 census=

As of the census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 31, 2008 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} of 2000, there were 13,173 people, 5,173 households, and 3,703 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 5,459 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,173 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.30% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 25.20% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,442, and the median income for a family was $44,681. Males had a median income of $29,402 versus $20,296 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,969. About 4.30% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

=Cities=

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated places=

=Townships=

=Population ranking=

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Shelby County.

† county seat

class="wikitable sortable"
Rank !City/Town/etc. !Municipal type !Population (2020 Census)
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 1 \|† Harlan \| City \| 4,893
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 2 \|Shelby (partially in Pottawattamie County) \| City \| 716 (727 total)
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 3 \|Elk Horn \| City \| 601
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 4 \|Earling \| City \| 397
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 5 \|Irwin \| City \| 319
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 6 \|Defiance \| City \| 245
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 7 \|Panama \| City \| 235
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 8 \|Portsmouth \| City \| 182
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 9 \|Westphalia \| City \| 126
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 10 \|Tennant \| City \| 78
style=background-color:#FFFACD \| 11 \|Kirkman \| City \| 56
style=background-color:#F0FFF0 \| 12 \|Corley \| CDP \| 31
style=background-color:#F0FFF0 \| 13 \|Jacksonville \| CDP \| 29

class="wikitable sortable"

Rank

!City/Town/etc.

!Municipal type

!Population (2020 Census)