Shelby County, Iowa


Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,746. The county seat is Harlan. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky.
WWW shco.org

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 settlement in Shelby County began in 1848 in Galand's Grove. On February 4, 1855, Shelbyville was designated as the county seat. In April 1859, the county seat was moved to Harlan. One year later, the first courthouse was erected, and a second courthouse was constructed in 1875. In 1892, construction of the present courthouse began, this time using stone and building it three stories high. Construction was completed in 1893, with the dedication on September 14. The 1892 Shelby County Courthouse and the surrounding buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 23, 1994. In 1978, the building was extensively restored and continues to serve 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., IOWA Pathways, Retrieved 25 March 2025

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

Attractions

  • Shelby County Speedway

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 11,746 and a population density of.
96.51% of the population reported being of one race. The racial makeup of the county was 93.6% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 1.6% some other race, and 3.5% from two or more races; Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.5% of the population. Combined, 5.07% were some other race or more than one race.
The median age was 46.4 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.
40.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 59.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,981 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 5,421 housing units, of which 4,981 were occupied, yielding an 8.1% vacancy rate; 77.2% of occupied housing units were owner-occupied and 22.8% were renter-occupied, the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.

2010 census

The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,167 in the county, with a population density of. There were 5,542 housing units, of which 5,085 were occupied.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,173 people, 5,173 households, and 3,703 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 5,459 housing units at an average density of. 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
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation
1† 'HarlanCity4,893
2Shelby City716
3Elk HornCity601
4EarlingCity397
5IrwinCity319
6DefianceCity245
7PanamaCity235
8PortsmouthCity182
9WestphaliaCity126
10TennantCity78
11KirkmanCity56
12CorleyCDP31
13Jacksonville'CDP29