Shelby, NC Demographics

A map of Shelby's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	11,872	11,169	53.7%	51.0%
Black	6,901	8,383	31.2%	38.2%
Multiracial	1,871	862	8.5%	3.9%
Hispanic	1,062	1,122	4.8%	5.1%
Native American/Other	198	154	0.9%	0.7%
Asian	196	228	0.9%	1.0%

Shelby, North Carolina has an estimated population of 22,100, a less than 1% change from the 21,918 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 53.7% White, 31.2% Black, 8.5% Multiracial, 4.8% Hispanic, 0.9% Asian, and 0.9% Native American/Other. 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 more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than North Carolina 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 59.0% in 2020 and 60.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shelby is ranked the 45th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 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 44th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Shelby's White Population

11,872 residents of Shelby, or 53.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shelby is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Shelby ranks 561st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's White population has grown by an estimated 6.3%. White residents' share of Shelby's population has increased from 51.0% to 53.7%.

Shelby is more White than neighboring Light Oak (0% White), and Kingstown (12.9% White). Shelby is less White than neighboring Patterson Springs (82.4% White), Earl (72.8% White), and Lattimore (91.4% White).

Shelby's Black Population

6,901 residents of Shelby, or 31.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shelby is considerably higher than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Shelby ranks 142nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Black population has declined by an estimated 17.7%. Black residents' share of Shelby's population has decreased from 38.2% to 31.2%.

Shelby is more Black than neighboring Patterson Springs (8.6% Black), Earl (11.3% Black), and Lattimore (1.1% Black). Shelby is less Black than neighboring Light Oak (83.4% Black), and Kingstown (83.2% Black).

Shelby's Asian Population

196 residents of Shelby, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shelby is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Shelby ranks 259th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Asian population has declined by an estimated 14.0%. Asian residents' share of Shelby's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Shelby is more Asian than neighboring Patterson Springs (0% Asian), Light Oak (0% Asian), Earl (0% Asian), Kingstown (0% Asian), and Lattimore (0% Asian).

Shelby's Hispanic Population

1,062 residents of Shelby, or 4.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shelby is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Shelby ranks 441st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 5.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Shelby's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.8%.

Shelby is more Hispanic than neighboring Patterson Springs (0.9% Hispanic), Kingstown (0% Hispanic), and Lattimore (4.2% Hispanic). Shelby is less Hispanic than neighboring Light Oak (16.6% Hispanic), and Earl (14.2% Hispanic).

Shelby's Native American/Other Population

198 residents of Shelby, or 0.9% 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 North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Shelby ranks 423rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 28.6%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shelby's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Shelby is more Native American/Other than neighboring Light Oak (0% Native American/Other), Earl (0.6% Native American/Other), Kingstown (0% Native American/Other), and Lattimore (0.2% Native American/Other). Shelby is less Native American/Other than neighboring Patterson Springs (4.4% Native American/Other).

Shelby's Multiracial Population

1,871 residents of Shelby, or 8.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shelby is slightly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Shelby ranks 340th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelby's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 117.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Shelby's population has increased from 3.9% to 8.5%.

Shelby is more Multiracial than neighboring Patterson Springs (3.7% Multiracial), Light Oak (0% Multiracial), Earl (1% Multiracial), Kingstown (3.9% Multiracial), and Lattimore (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.