Shelby

Formed January 5, 1835 (49^th county)

Shelby County (6,104), Shelbyville (520), Shelbina (1,612)

The Classical Revival 1893 courthouse was erected on a square at Main, 3^rd, Washington, and 4^th streets.  Main Street is Missouri State Highway 15 in the town.  The courthouse is a red brick and stone facility.  The courthouse is domed and the grounds have a gazebo and memorial slabs.  Jerome B. Legg is the architect.  There was also an 1837 courthouse in Shelbyville, the only county seat.  The county was organized on January 5, 1835 from Native American Territory as the 49^th county.  The county and the City of Shelbyville are named for Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby. 

Shelby County government consists of a sheriff, an administrator, an attorney, a collector, a coroner, an assessor and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  One Circuit Court Judge serves Shelby and Macon counties and One County Court Judge and a court clerk serve Shelby County (judicial.)  Shelby County is in the northeast part of the state.  Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast and Kansas City, Missouri is west of the county.  The county center is 5.6 miles Northwest of Shelbyville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Knox, Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Randolph, and Macon counties. 

The area of the county is 501 square miles.  It is 83 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 104 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 12.2 persons per square mile making it 100 out of 115 in the state.  Shelby County has 52.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 36 crosses the county from east to west from Marion County to Macon County.  The county is shaped like the State of Alabama.  Shelbyville is located near the center of the county.  Shelbina is on the southern border of the county.  Shelbyville is the county seat and Shelbina is the largest city.  Shelbyville is 8.5% of the county population while Shelbina is 26.4% of the county population.