Shelby

Formed April 1, 1819 (56^th county)

Shelby County (48,222), Sidney (20,590)

The classic French Second Empire courthouse was erected in 1883.  It is on the square at Court, Ohio, Poplar, and Main streets.  Ohio State Highway 47 is Court Street in front of the courthouse.  George H. Maetzal is the grey brick and stone courthouse architect.  The structure features a domed tower with a working clock, columns and Lady Justice.  The grounds have veteran memorials and fountains on each corner.  There was an 1833 version previously in Sidney.  Hardin was the county seat before it moved to Sidney in 1820.  An Annex was built across the street.  The county was formed on April 1, 1819 from Miami County as the 56^th county.  It is named for Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby.  Sidney is named for English poet Sir Philip Sidney. 

Shelby County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Three Common Pleas Court Judges serve Shelby County.  The county is in western Ohio.  Dayton, Ohio is south and Toledo, Ohio is northeast of the county.  The county center is 5.2 miles Northwest of Sidney nearer Swanders.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Auglaize, Logan, Champaign, Miami, and Darke counties. 

The area of the county is 409.3 square miles.  It is 67 out of 88 in the state.  It ranks 50 out of 88 in population in the state.  It has a density of 117.8 persons per square mile making it 46 out of 88 in the state.  Shelby County has 57.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 75 travels through the county north to south from Auglaize County to Miami County.  Shelby County resembles a fat capital letter J.  Sidney is located in the southern third of the county.  Sidney is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 42.7% of the county population.  This county is in the Sidney Micropolitan Statistical Area.