# Shelby County, Texas

Shelby County is a county located in the far eastern portion of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 24,022. Its county seat is Center. The county was established in 1835 as a municipality of Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. It is named for Isaac Shelby, a soldier in the American Revolution who became the first governor of Kentucky.

## History

Shelby County was established in 1837. It was named for Isaac Shelby, a soldier from Tennessee during the American Revolution, and first Governor of Kentucky.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 835 square miles (2,160 km$^2$), of which 796 square miles (2,060 km$^2$) are land and 39 square miles (100 km$^2$) (4.7%) are covered by water.

### Adjacent counties and parishes

* Panola County (north)
* De Soto Parish, Louisiana (northeast)
* Sabine Parish, Louisiana (east)
* Sabine County (south)
* San Augustine County (south)
* Nacogdoches County (southwest)
* Rusk County (northwest)

### National protected area

* Sabine National Forest (part)

## Demographics

Shelby County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 17,564 | 16,535 | 14,416 | 69.63% | 64.98% | 60.01% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,881 | 4,414 | 3,805 | 19.35% | 17.35% | 15.84% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 75 | 61 | 50 | 0.30% | 0.24% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 57 | 76 | 364 | 0.23% | 0.30% | 1.52% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 14 | 17 | 49 | 0.06% | 0.07% | 0.20% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 141 | 181 | 639 | 0.56% | 0.71% | 2.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,489 | 4,164 | 4,685 | 9.87% | 16.36% | 19.50% |
| Total | 25,224 | 25,448 | 24,022 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2000, 25,224 people, 9,595 households, and 6,908 families resided in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km$^2$). The 11,955 housing units averaged 15 units per square mile (5.8 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 72.65% White, 19.44% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.87% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. About 9.87% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 9,595 households, 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.10% were married couples living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were notfamilies. About 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county, the population was distributed as 26.60% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,112, and for a family was $34,021. Males had a median income of $26,501 versus $20,280 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,186. About 14.90% of families and 19.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

These school districts serve Shelby County:
* Center ISD
* Excelsior ISD
* Joaquin ISD (small portion in Panola County)
* San Augustine ISD (mostly in San Augustine County)
* Shelbyville ISD (small portion in Sabine County)
* Tenaha ISD (small portion in Panola County)
* Timpson ISD
All of Shelby County is in the service area of Panola College.

## Media

The Light and Champion, a news and information company, marked its 140th year of operation in 2017. It serves Shelby County, as well as Logansport, Louisiana. The Light and Champion produces a weekly print edition, a weekly free-distribution print product called The Merchandiser, operates a web site, www.lightandchampion.com, and a Facebook page. The Light and Champion is owned by Moser Community Media, based in Brenham, Texas.

## Transportation
### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 59
** Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places west of Tenaha.
** Interstate 369 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places north of Tenaha.
* U.S. Highway 84
** Interstate 69 is currently under construction and will follow the current route of U.S. 84 in most places east of Tenaha to the Louisiana state line.
* U.S. Highway 96
* State Highway 7
* State Highway 87
* State Highway 147
* Farm to Market Road 139
* Farm to Market Road 1970
US 59 passes through Shelby County. It is planned to be upgraded to interstate standards as part of the planned Interstate 69 up to Tenaha, where the planned Interstate 369 will follow US 59 northward to both Interstate 30 and Interstate 49 in Texarkana. US 84 is planned to be upgraded to interstate standards as part of the planned Interstate 69 from Tenaha to the Louisiana state line.

### Mass transportation

Greyhound Lines operates the Center Station at the Shelby County's Best Yogurt store in Center.

## Communities
### Cities

* Center (county seat)
* Huxley
* Joaquin
* Timpson

### Town

* Tenaha

### Census-designated place

* Shelbyville

### Unincorporated communities

* Arcadia
* Dreka
* Patroon
* Possum Trot

## Images

* Previous Shelby County Courthouse established in 1885 remains the base of the downtown section in Center
* The Shelby County Museum in Center is located in a former residence
* Shelby County Today is an on-line newspaper located across from the Shelby County Courthouse. It began operations in 2005
* Among rural East Texas churches is the White Rock Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery at 12555 Texas State Highway 7 near Center; pastor Keith Rose (2012)

## Politics

An example of the political trends of rural East Texas, Shelby usually voted Democrat in the 20th century, but has turned into a Republican stronghold in the 21st.
United States presidential election results for Shelby County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 8,164 | 81.98% | 1,741 | 17.48% | 54 | 0.54% |
| 2020 | 7,975 | 79.06% | 2,068 | 20.50% | 44 | 0.44% |
| 2016 | 7,179 | 79.01% | 1,758 | 19.35% | 149 | 1.64% |
| 2012 | 6,879 | 74.03% | 2,322 | 24.99% | 91 | 0.98% |
| 2008 | 6,630 | 71.91% | 2,548 | 27.64% | 42 | 0.46% |
| 2004 | 6,295 | 67.84% | 2,951 | 31.80% | 33 | 0.36% |
| 2000 | 5,692 | 63.21% | 3,227 | 35.84% | 86 | 0.96% |
| 1996 | 3,482 | 43.27% | 3,720 | 46.22% | 846 | 10.51% |
| 1992 | 3,217 | 36.96% | 3,986 | 45.79% | 1,502 | 17.25% |
| 1988 | 3,999 | 48.34% | 4,261 | 51.50% | 13 | 0.16% |
| 1984 | 4,863 | 57.21% | 3,610 | 42.47% | 28 | 0.33% |
| 1980 | 3,500 | 44.85% | 4,215 | 54.01% | 89 | 1.14% |
| 1976 | 2,695 | 36.48% | 4,680 | 63.35% | 12 | 0.16% |
| 1972 | 4,292 | 70.45% | 1,792 | 29.42% | 8 | 0.13% |
| 1968 | 1,127 | 16.28% | 2,511 | 36.27% | 3,285 | 47.45% |
| 1964 | 2,220 | 38.87% | 3,487 | 61.06% | 4 | 0.07% |
| 1960 | 1,679 | 33.63% | 3,266 | 65.41% | 48 | 0.96% |
| 1956 | 1,988 | 36.54% | 3,403 | 62.56% | 49 | 0.90% |
| 1952 | 1,792 | 29.63% | 4,249 | 70.27% | 6 | 0.10% |
| 1948 | 307 | 7.61% | 3,051 | 75.59% | 678 | 16.80% |
| 1944 | 428 | 12.01% | 2,927 | 82.13% | 209 | 5.86% |
| 1940 | 349 | 6.88% | 4,720 | 93.10% | 1 | 0.02% |
| 1936 | 136 | 4.11% | 3,167 | 95.62% | 9 | 0.27% |
| 1932 | 120 | 3.21% | 3,594 | 96.25% | 20 | 0.54% |
| 1928 | 676 | 25.53% | 1,961 | 74.06% | 11 | 0.42% |
| 1924 | 160 | 4.33% | 3,408 | 92.16% | 130 | 3.52% |
| 1920 | 150 | 6.42% | 1,700 | 72.77% | 486 | 20.80% |
| 1916 | 131 | 6.30% | 1,767 | 84.99% | 181 | 8.71% |
| 1912 | 76 | 4.02% | 1,507 | 79.74% | 307 | 16.24% |