Shelby, MT Demographics

A map of Shelby's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	2,625	2,506	81.6%	79.1%
Native American/Other	228	320	7.1%	10.1%
Hispanic	148	144	4.6%	4.5%
Multiracial	110	132	3.4%	4.2%
Black	85	31	2.6%	1.0%
Asian	20	36	0.6%	1.1%

Shelby, Montana has an estimated population of 3,216, a slight increase from the 3,169 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.6% White, 7.1% Native American/Other, 4.6% Hispanic, 3.4% Multiracial, 2.6% Black, and 0.6% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Shelby, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Shelby has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than Montana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Shelby, that probability was 36.0% in 2020 and 32.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shelby is ranked the 34th most populous place in Montana, out of 497 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Shelby was ranked the 36th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Shelby's White Population

2,625 residents of Shelby, or 81.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shelby is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 83.6% of the population is White. Shelby ranks 399th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's White population has grown by an estimated 4.7%. White residents' share of Shelby's population has increased from 79.1% to 81.6%.

Shelby is more White than neighboring Kevin (72.2% White), Camrose Colony (67.5% White), and Horizon Colony (0% White). Shelby is less White than neighboring Conrad (87% White), and Sunburst (89% White).

Shelby's Black Population

85 residents of Shelby, or 2.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shelby is slightly higher than in Montana overall, where 0.4% of the population is Black. Shelby ranks 36th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Black population has grown by an estimated 174.2%. Black residents' share of Shelby's population has increased from 1.0% to 2.6%.

Shelby is more Black than neighboring Kevin (0% Black), Camrose Colony (0% Black), Conrad (0% Black), Sunburst (0% Black), and Horizon Colony (0% Black).

Shelby's Asian Population

20 residents of Shelby, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shelby is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Shelby ranks 37th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Asian population has declined by an estimated 44.4%. Asian residents' share of Shelby's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.6%.

Shelby is more Asian than neighboring Camrose Colony (0% Asian), and Horizon Colony (0% Asian). Shelby is less Asian than neighboring Kevin (0.9% Asian), Conrad (1.9% Asian), and Sunburst (0.7% Asian).

Shelby's Hispanic Population

148 residents of Shelby, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shelby is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.6% of the population is Hispanic. Shelby ranks 108th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Shelby's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.6%.

Shelby is more Hispanic than neighboring Kevin (0% Hispanic), Camrose Colony (0% Hispanic), Conrad (3.4% Hispanic), Sunburst (0.7% Hispanic), and Horizon Colony (0% Hispanic).

Shelby's Native American/Other Population

228 residents of Shelby, or 7.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Shelby is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 5.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Shelby ranks 71st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 28.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shelby's population has decreased from 10.1% to 7.1%.

Shelby is more Native American/Other than neighboring Kevin (1.9% Native American/Other), Conrad (4.4% Native American/Other), Sunburst (5.3% Native American/Other), and Horizon Colony (0% Native American/Other). Shelby is less Native American/Other than neighboring Camrose Colony (13.5% Native American/Other).

Shelby's Multiracial Population

110 residents of Shelby, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shelby is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Shelby ranks 265th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 16.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Shelby's population has decreased from 4.2% to 3.4%.

Shelby is more Multiracial than neighboring Conrad (3.3% Multiracial), and Horizon Colony (0% Multiracial). Shelby is less Multiracial than neighboring Kevin (25% Multiracial), Camrose Colony (19% Multiracial), and Sunburst (4.3% 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.