Shelby County Demographics

A map of Shelby County's Population by Race

Shelby County, Ohio has an estimated population of 47,929, a less than 1% change from the 48,230 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 91.5% White, 3.5% Multiracial, 2.2% Black, 1.7% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, and 0.4% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Shelby County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Shelby is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Ohio overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Shelby County, that probability was 16.3% in 2020 and 16.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shelby County is ranked the 50th most populous county in Ohio, out of 88 counties. Shelby County was ranked the 50th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Shelby County's White Population

43,873 residents of Shelby County, or 91.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shelby County is significantly higher than in Ohio overall, where 75.8% of the population is White. Shelby County ranks 33rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Shelby County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 91.5%.

Shelby County is more White than neighboring Miami County (89.9% White), and Allen County (79% White). Shelby County is less White than neighboring Auglaize County (94.3% White), and Darke County (94.6% White).

Shelby County's Black Population

1,073 residents of Shelby County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shelby County is lower than in Ohio overall, where 12% of the population is Black. Shelby County ranks 47th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby County's Black population has grown by an estimated 27.9%. Black residents' share of Shelby County's population has increased from 1.7% to 2.2%.

Shelby County is more Black than neighboring Auglaize County (1% Black), Miami County (1.8% Black), Logan County (1.7% Black), and Darke County (0.6% Black). Shelby County is less Black than neighboring Allen County (9.6% Black).

Shelby County's Asian Population

271 residents of Shelby County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shelby County is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Shelby County ranks 23rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 39.8%. Asian residents' share of Shelby County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Shelby County is more Asian than neighboring Auglaize County (0.3% Asian), Logan County (0.5% Asian), and Darke County (0.5% Asian). Shelby County is less Asian than neighboring Miami County (1.9% Asian), and Allen County (0.9% Asian).

Shelby County's Hispanic Population

835 residents of Shelby County, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shelby County is slightly lower than in Ohio overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Shelby County ranks 61st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 6.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Shelby County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Shelby County is less Hispanic than neighboring Auglaize County (1.9% Hispanic), Miami County (2.1% Hispanic), Logan County (2.4% Hispanic), Allen County (3.6% Hispanic), and Darke County (1.9% Hispanic).

Shelby County's Native American/Other Population

212 residents of Shelby County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Shelby County is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Shelby County ranks 16th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 28.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shelby County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Shelby County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Auglaize County (0.2% Native American/Other), Logan County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Darke County (0.1% Native American/Other). Shelby County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Allen County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Shelby County's Multiracial Population

1,665 residents of Shelby County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shelby County is comparable to the share in Ohio overall, where 4.3% of the population is Multiracial. Shelby County ranks 47th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 88 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 6.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Shelby County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.5%.

Shelby County is more Multiracial than neighboring Auglaize County (2.4% Multiracial), and Darke County (2.3% Multiracial). Shelby County is less Multiracial than neighboring Miami County (3.9% Multiracial), Logan County (3.7% Multiracial), and Allen County (6.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.