Shelby County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the northeastern part of the state between the Salt River and North River drainages. It had a population of 6,103 at the 2020 census and covers 502 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 501 square miles are land and 1.5 square miles are water, centred near 39°47′N 92°04′W.
Shelbyville is the county seat, and its postal code is 63469. The county has four incorporated cities (Clarence, Hunnewell, Shelbina, Shelbyville), two villages (Bethel, Leonard), and more than a dozen unincorporated communities. Shelby County runs on Central time and observes daylight saving time.
Towns & Villages in Shelby County
Shelby County has 24 named places on record, split between six incorporated municipalities and roughly 18 unincorporated communities and crossroads settlements. Shelbina, not Shelbyville, is the county’s largest town despite the seat holding the courthouse. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbina | City | 1,527 | 63468 |
| Shelbyville | City · seat | 604 | 63469 |
| Clarence | City | 701 | 63437 |
| Hunnewell | City | 190 | 63443 |
| Bethel | Village | 101 | 63434 |
| Leonard | Village | 69 | 63451 |
| Emden | Unincorp. | — | 63439 |
| Lentner | Unincorp. | — | 63450 |
| Burksville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cherry Box | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elgin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Enterprise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Epworth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hagers Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hebron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kellerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kendall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kirby | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lakeland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lakenan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mamre | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maud | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sigsbee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walkersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 63468 — Shelbina
- 63469 — Shelbyville
- 63437 — Clarence
- 63443 — Hunnewell
- 63434 — Bethel
- 63439 — Emden
- 63451 — Leonard
- 63450 — Lentner (also serves nearby Black Creek Township farms)
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities, such as Burksville, Kirby and Maud, have no post office of their own and are served by the ZIP code of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Shelby County sits on the rolling till plains of northeastern Missouri, drained by the Salt River and its North River and North Fork tributaries. Farmland and pasture cover most of the county, with scattered timber along the creek bottoms. Shelby County borders Knox County to the north, Lewis County to the northeast, Marion County to the east, Monroe County to the south, Randolph County to the southwest, and Macon County to the west, along with Knox County directly north.
Demographics
Shelby County had 6,103 residents at the 2020 census, down from a peak of more than 14,000 in 1880. Shelbina, with about 1,527 people, is the county’s largest community; Clarence follows with roughly 701. The county is almost entirely rural, with no residents classified as living in urban areas. Median household income runs well below the Missouri median of $68,545, typical of the county’s farm-dependent economy. Population density is about 12 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — row crops (corn and soybeans) and cattle grazing dominate the countryside, supplemented by grain elevators and farm-supply businesses in Shelbina and Clarence. The Shelby County R-4 and Clarence-Cardinal school districts are among the largest local employers outside farming. Shelbina hosts an annual county fair that draws visitors from across northeastern Missouri.
History
Shelby County was organized on January 2, 1835, and named for Isaac Shelby, the first governor of Kentucky and a Revolutionary War officer. The county was carved from Marion County territory as settlement pushed west along the Salt River valley in the 1830s. Shelbina, founded later along the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad line, grew to overtake the older courthouse town of Shelbyville in population by the late 19th century, a split between seat and largest town that persists today.
Getting There
U.S. Route 36 crosses the county east–west, with Missouri Routes 15, 151, and 168 providing the main north–south connections.
- Hannibal — about 25 miles east
- Macon — about 20 miles west
- Kirksville — about 30 miles north
- Columbia — about 65 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Columbia Regional Airport (COU), roughly 65 miles to the south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shelby County, Missouri?
It sits in the northeastern part of the state, between Hannibal and Macon, on U.S. Route 36.
What is the population of Shelby County?
6,103 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Shelby County?
502 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 501 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Shelby County?
Shelbyville is the county seat, though Shelbina is the largest town.
How many towns are in Shelby County?
Four incorporated cities, two villages, and about 18 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Shelby County?
Eight ZIP codes serve the county, led by 63468 (Shelbina) and 63469 (Shelbyville).
Why is the county named Shelby?
It was named for Isaac Shelby, Kentucky’s first governor, when the county was organized in 1835.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.