Shelby County, Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Former Shelby County courthouse in Shelbyville | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofKentucky | |
 Kentucky's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°13′N85°11′W / 38.22°N 85.19°W /38.22; -85.19 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Kentucky |
| Founded | 1792 |
| Named after | Isaac Shelby |
| Seat | Shelbyville |
| Largest city | Shelbyville |
| Area | |
• Total | 386 sq mi (1,000 km2) |
| • Land | 380 sq mi (980 km2) |
| • Water | 6.0 sq mi (16 km2) 1.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 48,065 |
• Estimate (2024) | 50,124 |
| • Density | 130/sq mi (49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | shelbycounty |
Shelby County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofKentucky. As of the2020 census, the population was 48,065.[1] Itscounty seat isShelbyville.[2] The county was established in 1792[3] and named forIsaac Shelby, the firstGovernor of Kentucky.[4]Shelby County is part of theLouisville/Jefferson County, KY–INMetropolitan Statistical Area. Shelby County's motto is "Good Land, Good Living, Good People".
Shelby County was founded in 1792 from land given by Jefferson County.[5]
One of the earliest families to settle in Shelby County was that of Daniel Ketcham ofWashington County,Maryland. Ketcham, who arrived in 1784, had been a soldier in theAmerican Revolution. He had 9 children. His oldest,John Ketcham, moved toIndiana, become involved in politics, and laid the groundwork for the creation ofIndiana University.
Another early settler was Thomas Mitchell, who also moved to Shelby County in 1784. Mitchell was born on December 16, 1777, inAugusta County, Virginia. He married Rebecca Ketcham, daughter of Daniel Ketcham, and settled near the headwaters of South Fork Clear Creek (or Mulberry Creek). Mitchell was commissioned an ensign in the 18th Regiment of Militia and on January 4, 1801,Governor James Garrard became a captain in the 18th Regiment. Mitchell was a minister of the Methodist Church and served in theWar of 1812.[6]
Shelby County was historically a prohibition or completelydry county, but the city of Shelbyville is now wet (i.e., allows retail alcohol sales), and the county has voted wet and now allows package sales (7 days a week) and restaurants outside Shelbyville to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink if they seat at least 100 patrons and derive at least 70% of their total sales from food. Today, Shelby County is officially classified by the Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control as a wet county.[7]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 386 square miles (1,000 km2), of which 380 square miles (980 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (1.6%) is water.[8]Jeptha Knob at 1,188 feet (362 m) is the highest point in theLouisville area. Guist Creek Lake and Marina offers 325 acres of fishing.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 8,191 | — | |
| 1810 | 14,877 | 81.6% | |
| 1820 | 21,047 | 41.5% | |
| 1830 | 19,030 | −9.6% | |
| 1840 | 17,768 | −6.6% | |
| 1850 | 17,095 | −3.8% | |
| 1860 | 16,433 | −3.9% | |
| 1870 | 15,733 | −4.3% | |
| 1880 | 16,813 | 6.9% | |
| 1890 | 16,521 | −1.7% | |
| 1900 | 18,340 | 11.0% | |
| 1910 | 18,041 | −1.6% | |
| 1920 | 18,532 | 2.7% | |
| 1930 | 17,679 | −4.6% | |
| 1940 | 17,759 | 0.5% | |
| 1950 | 17,912 | 0.9% | |
| 1960 | 18,493 | 3.2% | |
| 1970 | 18,999 | 2.7% | |
| 1980 | 23,328 | 22.8% | |
| 1990 | 24,824 | 6.4% | |
| 2000 | 33,337 | 34.3% | |
| 2010 | 42,074 | 26.2% | |
| 2020 | 48,065 | 14.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 50,124 | [10] | 4.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13] 1990–2000[14] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus[15] of 2000, there were 33,337 people, 12,104 households, and 9,126 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 87 per square mile (34/km2). There were 12,857 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.61%White, 8.83%Black orAfrican American, 0.30%Native American, 0.40%Asian, 0.12%Pacific Islander, 2.39% fromother races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 4.51% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 12,104 households, out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% weremarried couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.
The age distribution was 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 31.40% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,534, and the median income for a family was $52,764. Males had a median income of $35,484 versus $25,492 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $20,195. About 6.50% of families and 9.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
School districts in Shelby County include:[16]
Shelby County Public Schools has six elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools. Sally Sugg is the Superintendent of Schools.[17]
Schools located in Shelby County include:
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
High Schools:
TheShelby County Public Library, built in 1903, is one of fewCarnegie libraries still functioning as a public library in Kentucky. Pamela W. Federspiel is the executive director.[18]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,129 | 26.58% | 2,487 | 58.55% | 632 | 14.88% |
| 1916 | 1,863 | 38.78% | 2,919 | 60.76% | 22 | 0.46% |
| 1920 | 3,402 | 38.32% | 5,446 | 61.34% | 31 | 0.35% |
| 1924 | 2,966 | 41.60% | 4,092 | 57.39% | 72 | 1.01% |
| 1928 | 3,933 | 54.89% | 3,232 | 45.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 2,108 | 28.78% | 5,180 | 70.72% | 37 | 0.51% |
| 1936 | 1,898 | 30.05% | 4,384 | 69.40% | 35 | 0.55% |
| 1940 | 1,861 | 27.77% | 4,823 | 71.96% | 18 | 0.27% |
| 1944 | 1,997 | 30.98% | 4,415 | 68.49% | 34 | 0.53% |
| 1948 | 1,626 | 28.14% | 3,840 | 66.46% | 312 | 5.40% |
| 1952 | 2,474 | 37.70% | 4,076 | 62.12% | 12 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 2,768 | 40.71% | 4,017 | 59.08% | 14 | 0.21% |
| 1960 | 2,934 | 43.43% | 3,822 | 56.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 1,384 | 21.85% | 4,933 | 77.89% | 16 | 0.25% |
| 1968 | 2,287 | 37.78% | 2,579 | 42.60% | 1,188 | 19.62% |
| 1972 | 3,893 | 64.19% | 2,074 | 34.20% | 98 | 1.62% |
| 1976 | 2,916 | 42.59% | 3,841 | 56.10% | 90 | 1.31% |
| 1980 | 3,423 | 42.22% | 4,429 | 54.63% | 256 | 3.16% |
| 1984 | 5,390 | 61.68% | 3,326 | 38.06% | 23 | 0.26% |
| 1988 | 4,998 | 56.34% | 3,834 | 43.22% | 39 | 0.44% |
| 1992 | 4,550 | 43.56% | 4,398 | 42.11% | 1,497 | 14.33% |
| 1996 | 5,307 | 49.32% | 4,629 | 43.02% | 825 | 7.67% |
| 2000 | 8,068 | 63.34% | 4,435 | 34.82% | 235 | 1.84% |
| 2004 | 10,909 | 66.87% | 5,277 | 32.35% | 127 | 0.78% |
| 2008 | 11,451 | 61.76% | 6,871 | 37.06% | 218 | 1.18% |
| 2012 | 11,790 | 63.17% | 6,634 | 35.55% | 239 | 1.28% |
| 2016 | 13,196 | 64.12% | 6,276 | 30.50% | 1,108 | 5.38% |
| 2020 | 15,055 | 63.93% | 8,077 | 34.30% | 418 | 1.77% |
| 2024 | 16,356 | 66.43% | 7,822 | 31.77% | 442 | 1.80% |
The county voted "No" on2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 52% to 48%, and backedDonald Trump with 64% of the vote toJoe Biden's 34% in the2020 presidential election.[20]
TheCounty Judge/Executive is Dan Ison.
| Elected officials as of January 3, 2025[21][22] | ||
| U.S. House | Thomas Massie (R) | KY 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Ky. Senate | Aaron Reed (R) | 7 |
| Ky. House | Jason Nemes (R) | 33 |
| Jennifer Decker (R) | 58 | |
Kentucky portal
Municipalities and communities ofShelby County, Kentucky,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
38°13′N85°11′W / 38.22°N 85.19°W /38.22; -85.19
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