Shelby County, Kentucky

Shelby County
Shelby County
County
	Former Shelby County courthouse in Shelbyville
	Flag Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
	Kentucky's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°13′N 85°11′W / 38.22°N 85.19°W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1792
Named for	Isaac Shelby
Seat	Shelbyville
Largest city	Shelbyville
Area
• Total	386 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Land	380 sq mi (1,000 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (16 km2) 1.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	48,065
• Estimate (2023)	49,515
• Density	120/sq mi (48/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	shelbycounty.ky.gov

Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,065.^[1] Its county seat is Shelbyville.^[2] The county was established in 1792^[3] and named for Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky.^[4] Shelby County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Shelby County's motto is "Good Land, Good Living, Good People".

History

Shelby County was founded in 1792 from land given by Jefferson County.^[5]

Founding families

One of the earliest families to settle in Shelby County was that of Daniel Ketcham of Washington County, Maryland. Ketcham, who arrived in 1784, had been a soldier in the American Revolution. He had 9 children. His oldest, John Ketcham, moved to Indiana, become involved in politics, and laid the groundwork for the creation of Indiana University.

Another early settler was Thomas Mitchell, who also moved to Shelby County in 1784. Mitchell was born on December 16, 1777, in Augusta 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 the War of 1812.^[6]

Sale of alcohol

Shelby County was historically a prohibition or completely dry 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]

Geography

According to the United 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 the Louisville area. Guist Creek Lake and Marina offers 325 acres of fishing.^[9]

Adjacent counties

Henry County (north)
Franklin County (east)
Anderson County (southeast)
Spencer County (southwest)
Jefferson County (west)
Oldham County (northwest)

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
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%
2023 (est.)	49,515	^[10]	3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[11] 1790–1960^[12] 1900–1990^[13] 1990–2000^[14] 2010–2020^[1]

As of the census^[15] of 2000, there were 33,337 people, 12,104 households, and 9,126 families residing in the county. The population 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 or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.39% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 4.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $20,195. About 6.50% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

School districts in Shelby County include:^[16]

Shelby County Public Schools

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

Clear Creek Elementary School
Heritage Elementary School
Marnel C. Moorman School
Painted Stone Elementary School
Simpsonville Elementary School
Southside Elementary School
Wright Elementary School

Middle Schools

Marnel C. Moorman School
Shelby County East Middle School
Shelby County West Middle School

High Schools:

Shelby County Public Library

The Shelby County Public Library, built in 1903, is one of few Carnegie libraries still functioning as a public library in Kentucky. Pamela W. Federspiel is the executive director.^[18]

Communities

Politics

The County Judge/Executive is Dan Ison.

United States presidential election results for Shelby County, Kentucky^[19]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	15,055	63.93%	8,077	34.30%	418	1.77%
2016	13,196	64.12%	6,276	30.50%	1,108	5.38%
2012	11,790	63.17%	6,634	35.55%	239	1.28%
2008	11,451	61.76%	6,871	37.06%	218	1.18%
2004	10,909	66.87%	5,277	32.35%	127	0.78%
2000	8,068	63.34%	4,435	34.82%	235	1.84%
1996	5,307	49.32%	4,629	43.02%	825	7.67%
1992	4,550	43.56%	4,398	42.11%	1,497	14.33%
1988	4,998	56.34%	3,834	43.22%	39	0.44%
1984	5,390	61.68%	3,326	38.06%	23	0.26%
1980	3,423	42.22%	4,429	54.63%	256	3.16%
1976	2,916	42.59%	3,841	56.10%	90	1.31%
1972	3,893	64.19%	2,074	34.20%	98	1.62%
1968	2,287	37.78%	2,579	42.60%	1,188	19.62%
1964	1,384	21.85%	4,933	77.89%	16	0.25%
1960	2,934	43.43%	3,822	56.57%	0	0.00%
1956	2,768	40.71%	4,017	59.08%	14	0.21%
1952	2,474	37.70%	4,076	62.12%	12	0.18%
1948	1,626	28.14%	3,840	66.46%	312	5.40%
1944	1,997	30.98%	4,415	68.49%	34	0.53%
1940	1,861	27.77%	4,823	71.96%	18	0.27%
1936	1,898	30.05%	4,384	69.40%	35	0.55%
1932	2,108	28.78%	5,180	70.72%	37	0.51%
1928	3,933	54.89%	3,232	45.11%	0	0.00%
1924	2,966	41.60%	4,092	57.39%	72	1.01%
1920	3,402	38.32%	5,446	61.34%	31	0.35%
1916	1,863	38.78%	2,919	60.76%	22	0.46%
1912	1,129	26.58%	2,487	58.55%	632	14.88%

References

"Excerpts from the Executive Journal of Governor James Garrad," Kentucky Historical Society Register, vol. 32, p. 133.
Woodfill, Gabriel, "A Preacher of the Gospel," Marriage Bonds of Shelby County – 1792–1800, Kentucky Marriage Records: From the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, Baltimore 1983, p. 693.
Willis, George L. Sr., History of Shelby County Kentucky, Shelbyville 1929, p. 115.

References

^ ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ Van Stockum, R.R. (2001). "Shelby County". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. p. 807. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0. OCLC 247857447. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 37.
^ Collins, Lewis (1882). Collins' Historical Sketches of Kentucky: History of Kentucky, Volume 2. Collins & Company. p. 26. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
^ "MITCHELL FAMILY HISTORY in Virginia and Kentucky". Iamonia.tripod.com. July 20, 1904. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
^ "Wet & Dry Counties in Kentucky" (PDF). Kentucky Office of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ Welcome to Shelby County Kentucky Archived March 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Shelby County Kentucky Website
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Shelby County, KY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022. – Text list Archived August 12, 2022, at the Wayback Machine – For more detailed boundaries of the independent school districts see: "Appendix B: Maps Of Independent School Districts In Operation In FY 2014-FY 2015 Using 2005 Tax District Boundaries – Eminence ISD" (PDF). Research Report No. 415 – Kentucky's Independent School Districts: A Primer. Frankfort, KY: Office of Education Accountability, Legislative Research Commission. September 15, 2015. p. 106 (PDF p. 120/174). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2022. – The Census Bureau map only shows Shelby County Public Schools, but the State of Kentucky document shows Eminence ISD does extend into Shelby County.
^ "Superintendent Home Page". Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
^ "Our Story". Shelby County Public Library. Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.