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 formed 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
20px Interstate 57
20px U.S. Highway 45
20px U.S. Highway 51
20px Illinois Route 16
20px Illinois Route 32
20px 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
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.
Communities
Cities
Shelbyville (seat)
Windsor
Moweaqua
Town
Sigel
Villages
Cowden
Findlay
Herrick
Oconee
Stewardson
Strasburg
Tower Hill
Census-designated place
Westervelt
Other unincorporated communities
Clarksburg
Lakewood
Mode
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
Politics
