Shelby, Alabama

33°06′37″N 86°35′03″W / 33.11028°N 86.58417°W / 33.11028; -86.58417CountryUnited StatesStateAlabamaCountyShelbyArea • Total19.01 sq mi (49.24 km²) • Land18.76 sq mi (48.59 km²) • Water0.25 sq mi (0.66 km²)Elevation495 ft (151 m)Population • Total940 • Density50.11/sq mi (19.35/km²)Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST)) • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)Area code(s)205, 659GNIS feature ID126669^[2]

Shelby is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. Its population was 1,044 as of the 2010 census. The area is near Lay Lake and Waxahatchee Creek. Shelby Iron Park is located at the heart of the area.^[3] Two sites in Shelby, The Brick House and the Old Shelby Hotel, are listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.^[4]

History

Shelby was home to the Shelby Iron Company. During the American Civil War, iron plating from the iron works was used on the CSS Tennessee, CSS Huntsville, and CSS Tuscaloosa. At this time, Shelby was connected to Columbiana by the Shelby Iron Company Railroad, which allowed the iron works to be connected to the Alabama and Tennessee River Railroad. A detachment of General Emory Upton's division of Wilson's Raiders destroyed the ironworks on March 31, 1865.^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	567		—
1890	753		32.8%
2010	1,044		—
2020	940		−10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

Shelby Iron Works was listed on the 1880 U.S. Census and was shortened to Shelby in 1890 as an incorporated town. It did not appear again as a separately returned community until 120 years later in 2010 as a census-designated place.

References