Shelby County, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shelby County
U.S. county
Shelby County Courthouse in Shelbyville
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	December 31, 1821 (authorized) 1822 (organized)
Named for	Isaac Shelby
Seat	Shelbyville
Largest city	Shelbyville
Area
• Total	412.76 sq mi (1,069.0 km2)
• Land	411.15 sq mi (1,064.9 km2)
• Water	1.61 sq mi (4.2 km2)  0.39%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	45,055
• Density	109.1554/sq mi (42.1452/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Indiana county number 48

Shelby County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 45,055. The county seat (and only incorporated city) is Shelbyville.

History

After the American Revolutionary War established US sovereignty over the territory of the upper midwest, the new federal government defined the Northwest Territory in 1787, which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the governor of the territory, and Vincennes was established as the capital. After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. By December 1816 the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state.

The Native people who inhabited these areas prior to arrival of European settlers were generally resistant to the loss of their lands. As settlers pushed into the area, treaties signed by some leaders with United States representatives ceded large areas of their territory to the US. Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, and by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, which included the future Shelby County.

The Indiana State Legislature passed a bill on December 31, 1821, that authorized the creation of four counties, including Shelby. On July 1, 1822, the county was organized, beginning with selecting a site for the county seat.

The new county was named for Gen. Isaac Shelby, who defeated the British at the Battle of Kings Mountain in the Revolutionary War. Shelby then became the first Governor of Kentucky. During the War of 1812, he led the army of Kentucky into Canada, and defeated the British at the decisive Battle of the Thames in 1813.

Geography

The low, rolling hills of Shelby County are lightly carved by drainages, but are otherwise completely devoted to agriculture or urban development. The western edge of the county is drained by Sugar Creek, flowing south-southwestward into Johnson County. The central and SW parts of the county are drained by Big Blue River, flowing south-southwestward into Johnson County. The lower part of the county is drained by Flatrock River, flowing southwestward into Bartholomew County. The terrain slopes to the southwest, with its highest elevations (930 feet/280 meters ASL) along the eastern part of its northern border with Hancock County. According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 412.76 square miles (1,069.0 km²), of which 411.15 square miles (1,064.9 km²) (or 99.61%) is land and 1.61 square miles (4.2 km²) (or 0.39%) is water.

City and towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Shelbyville have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.38 inches (60 mm) in January to 4.47 inches (114 mm) in May.

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 44,436 people, 17,302 households, and 12,221 families in the county. The population density was 108.1 inhabitants per square mile (41.7/km²). There were 19,080 housing units at an average density of 46.4 per square mile (17.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.5% were German, 13.1% were American, 12.2% were Irish, and 9.0% were English.

Of the 17,302 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,824. Males had a median income of $46,325 versus $32,416 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,398. About 7.4% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Demographics

Notable people

• Isaac Colton Ash, Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1925–27
• George W. Clarke, governor of Iowa, 1913–1917
• Edith Jones Woodward, astronomer, born in Waldron in 1914
• Kid Quill, hip hop/rap

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Shelby (Indiana) para niños