Shelby, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shelby
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 Shelby
Location in Texas
Shelby
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Austin |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Shelby is a small community in Austin County, Texas, United States. It's not an official city, but a place where people live and work together. In 2000, about 175 people lived there. Shelby is part of the "Texas German belt," an area where many German families settled a long time ago. Even today, many people in Austin County have German roots, and some still speak German!
Contents
Where is Shelby Located?
Shelby is in the northwest part of Austin County. You can find it where two roads, FM 389 and FM 1457, meet.
- It's about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Industry.
- Round Top is about 8 miles (13 km) northwest.
- Brenham is about 17 miles (27 km) to the northeast.
- Bellville is about 24 miles (39 km) northwest.
In Shelby, you'll find the Harmonie Hall and the Shelby Volunteer Fire Department. The community cemetery is also nearby.
Shelby's History
Early Settlers and German Roots
The first person to settle in Shelby was Otto von Roeder in 1841. The community was named after David Shelby, who was one of the "Old Three Hundred" settlers brought to Texas by Stephen F. Austin.
Many German colonists came to Shelby in 1845. Otto von Roeder, who came from Germany in the 1830s, built a grain mill in 1841. Because many of the German settlers knew Latin, Shelby is thought to be one of the "Latin Settlement" communities in Texas.
Growth and Community Life
The community was first known as Rödersmühl, or Röders Mill, after Otto von Roeder. In 1845, August Vogelsang bought the mill. More German families, like the Vanderwerths, Rothermels, and Ohlendorfs, moved to the area.
- A post office opened in Shelby in 1846 and stayed open until 1912.
- A singing club started in 1852. It grew bigger in 1867 and invited other German singing groups from around Texas. It was named to honor Prussian soldiers.
- By 1884, Shelby had 75 residents. It had three general stores, three saloons, two cotton gins (machines that separate cotton fibers), a blacksmith, and a saddlemaker.
- A Lutheran church was built in the 1880s, and a hotel opened in 1896.
- The population grew to 248 people by 1904.
Changes Over Time
During World War II, Shelby's population dropped to 200 and stayed there. This led to fewer people living in the community and some businesses closing. From 1992 to 2000, the population was about 175.
An agricultural society and a band were also started in Shelby. You can find the tombstone of August Vogelsang and his family in the community cemetery.
Education in Shelby
The first school in Shelby opened in 1854. By 1884, the community had two schools. Many of the early settlers were well-educated and encouraged learning about arts and sciences. Today, students in Shelby attend schools in the Bellville Independent School District.
