Shelby County, Illinois

For other uses, see Shelby County (disambiguation).

Shelby County
County
Shelby County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°23′N 88°49′W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	1827
Named for	Isaac Shelby
Seat	Shelbyville
Largest city	Shelbyville
Area
• Total	768 sq mi (1,990 km^2)
• Land	759 sq mi (1,970 km^2)
• Water	9.5 sq mi (25 km^2)  1.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,990
• Estimate  (2023)	20,568
• Density	27/sq mi (11/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	15th
Website	www.shelbycounty-il.com

Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 20,990.^[1] Its county seat is Shelbyville.^[2]

History

Shelby County was established in 1827 out of Fayette County. It was named in honor of Isaac Shelby, governor of Kentucky and participant in the American Revolutionary War.

• 
  Shelby county from the time of its creation to 1829, including a large tract of unorganized territory temporarily attached to it, whose precise border was not defined.^[3]
• 
  Shelby County between 1829 and 1839
• 
  Shelby County between 1839 and 1843
• 
  Shelby County in 1843, reduced to its present borders

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 768 square miles (1,990 km²), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km²) is land and 9.5 square miles (25 km²) (1.2%) is water.^[4]

Climate and weather

Shelbyville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2     34 19     1.9     41 24     3.3     52 33     3.7     65 43     4     75 53     4.1     83 62     4     87 66     3.3     85 63     3.1     80 56     3.1     68 45     3.9     52 35     3     39 24 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[5]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     51     1 −7     48     5 −4     84     11 1     94     18 6     101     24 12     103     28 17     102     31 19     83     29 17     77     27 13     78     20 7     98     11 2     76     4 −4 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Shelbyville have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1915 and a record high of 111 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.89 inches (48 mm) in February to 4.05 inches (103 mm) in June.^[5]

Major highways

• Interstate 57
• U.S. Highway 45
• U.S. Highway 51
• Illinois Route 16
• Illinois Route 32
• Illinois Route 128

Adjacent counties

• Macon County - north
• Moultrie County - northeast
• Coles County - east
• Cumberland County - east
• Effingham County - south
• Fayette County - south
• Montgomery County - southwest
• Christian County - west

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	2,972		—
1840	6,659		124.1%
1850	7,807		17.2%
1860	14,613		87.2%
1870	25,476		74.3%
1880	30,270		18.8%
1890	31,191		3.0%
1900	32,126		3.0%
1910	31,693		−1.3%
1920	29,601		−6.6%
1930	25,471		−14.0%
1940	26,290		3.2%
1950	24,434		−7.1%
1960	23,404		−4.2%
1970	22,589		−3.5%
1980	23,923		5.9%
1990	22,261		−6.9%
2000	22,893		2.8%
2010	22,363		−2.3%
2020	20,990		−6.1%
2023 (est.)	20,568	[6]	−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 22,363 people, 9,216 households, and 6,376 families living in the county.^[11] The population density was 29.5 inhabitants per square mile (11.4/km²). There were 10,396 housing units at an average density of 13.7 per square mile (5.3/km²).^[4] The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.^[11] In terms of ancestry, 25.5% were German, 9.9% were English, 9.8% were American, and 8.8% were Irish.^[12]

Of the 9,216 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 43.5 years.^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,627 and the median income for a family was $55,655. Males had a median income of $40,119 versus $27,860 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,891. About 7.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.^[13]

Census-designated place

The Census Bureau has defined one census-designated place (CDP) in Shelby County.

• Westervelt

Government

Townships

Shelby County is divided into these townships:

• Ash Grove
• Big Spring
• Clarksburg
• Cold Spring
• Dry Point
• Flat Branch
• Herrick
• Holland
• Lakewood
• Moweaqua
• Oconee
• Okaw
• Penn
• Pickaway
• Prairie
• Richland
• Ridge
• Rose
• Rural
• Shelbyville
• Sigel
• Todds Point
• Tower Hill
• Windsor

Communities

Cities

• Shelbyville (seat)
• Windsor

Town

• Sigel

Villages

• Cowden
• Findlay
• Herrick
• Moweaqua
• Oconee
• Stewardson
• Strasburg
• Tower Hill

Other unincorporated communities

• Clarksburg
• Henton
• Lakewood
• Mode

Politics

United States presidential election results for Shelby County, Illinois^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,267	79.41%	2,240	19.19%	163	1.40%
2020	9,426	77.80%	2,504	20.67%	185	1.53%
2016	8,229	74.48%	2,288	20.71%	532	4.81%
2012	6,843	65.55%	3,342	32.01%	254	2.43%
2008	6,396	58.67%	4,245	38.94%	261	2.39%
2004	6,753	63.85%	3,744	35.40%	80	0.76%
2000	5,851	57.57%	4,018	39.54%	294	2.89%
1996	4,215	43.06%	4,249	43.41%	1,324	13.53%
1992	3,631	32.49%	5,101	45.65%	2,443	21.86%
1988	5,370	53.28%	4,650	46.14%	58	0.58%
1984	6,372	59.38%	4,317	40.23%	41	0.38%
1980	6,441	59.12%	3,988	36.61%	465	4.27%
1976	5,234	45.54%	6,172	53.70%	87	0.76%
1972	7,217	62.08%	4,389	37.75%	20	0.17%
1968	5,487	49.27%	4,528	40.66%	1,122	10.07%
1964	4,281	37.66%	7,088	62.34%	0	0.00%
1960	6,872	54.53%	5,720	45.39%	11	0.09%
1956	7,075	56.94%	5,337	42.95%	13	0.10%
1952	7,189	57.65%	5,268	42.25%	12	0.10%
1948	5,282	47.89%	5,589	50.68%	158	1.43%
1944	6,201	50.65%	5,919	48.35%	123	1.00%
1940	7,250	47.71%	7,704	50.69%	243	1.60%
1936	5,795	40.81%	8,186	57.64%	220	1.55%
1932	4,657	35.91%	8,093	62.40%	219	1.69%
1928	7,214	62.58%	4,071	35.31%	243	2.11%
1924	5,605	48.13%	5,265	45.21%	776	6.66%
1920	6,351	53.93%	5,113	43.42%	312	2.65%
1916	5,911	42.61%	7,515	54.18%	445	3.21%
1912	1,431	20.77%	3,467	50.33%	1,991	28.90%
1908	3,312	42.30%	4,065	51.92%	453	5.79%
1904	3,220	46.53%	2,962	42.80%	738	10.66%
1900	3,365	41.38%	4,514	55.52%	252	3.10%
1896	3,071	38.75%	4,709	59.42%	145	1.83%
1892	2,304	32.45%	3,523	49.62%	1,273	17.93%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby County

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010. [1]
4. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
5. "Monthly Averages for Shelbyville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
11. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

39.39°N 88.81°W / 39.39; -88.81