Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 20,990. Its county seat is Shelbyville.

History Shelby County was established in 1827 out of Fayette County. It was named in honor of Isaac Shelby, governor of Kentucky and participant in the American Revolutionary War.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.2%) is water.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Shelbyville have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1915 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.

Major highways Interstate 57 U.S. Highway 45 U.S. Highway 51 Illinois Route 16 Illinois Route 32 Illinois Route 128

Adjacent counties

Macon County - north Moultrie County - northeast Coles County - east Cumberland County - east Effingham County - south Fayette County - south Montgomery County - southwest Christian County - west

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 20,990. The median age was 45.4 years; 21.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.0% of the population.

23.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 76.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 8,914 households in the county, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.2% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,015 housing units, of which 11.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.7% were owner-occupied and 20.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Shelby County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)23,71522,15222,58121,92220,11699.13%99.51%98.64%98.03%95.84%Black or African American alone (NH)21143548650.09%0.06%0.15%0.21%0.31%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)19262439350.08%0.12%0.10%0.17%0.17%Asian alone (NH)39224656830.16%0.10%0.20%0.25%0.40%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census051xx0.00%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)16254400.07%0.01%0.02%0.02%0.19%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census92109437xx0.40%0.49%2.08%Hispanic or Latino (any race)113451101802130.47%0.20%0.48%0.80%1.01%Total23,92322,26122,89322,36320,990 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 22,363 people, 9,216 households, and 6,376 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 10,396 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.5% were German, 9.9% were English, 9.8% were American, and 8.8% were Irish.

Of the 9,216 households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 43.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,627 and the median income for a family was $55,655. Males had a median income of $40,119 versus $27,860 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,891. About 7.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Census-designated place The Census Bureau has defined one census-designated place (CDP) in Shelby County. Westervelt

Government Townships Shelby County is divided into these townships:

Ash Grove Big Spring Clarksburg Cold Spring Dry Point Flat Branch Herrick Holland Lakewood Moweaqua Oconee Okaw Penn Pickaway Prairie Richland Ridge Rose Rural Shelbyville Sigel Todds Point Tower Hill Windsor

Communities Cities Shelbyville (seat) Windsor

Town Sigel

Villages

Cowden Findlay Herrick Moweaqua Oconee Stewardson Strasburg Tower Hill

Census-designated place

Lakewood Westervelt

Other unincorporated communities

Clarksburg Henton Mode

Politics

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Shelby County

References