Shelbyville, KY Demographics

A map of Shelbyville's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	11,861	11,122	67.1%	64.4%
Hispanic	3,409	3,340	19.3%	19.3%
Multiracial	1,094	828	6.2%	4.8%
Black	988	1,696	5.6%	9.8%
Native American/Other	177	133	1.0%	0.8%
Asian	139	163	0.8%	0.9%

Shelbyville, Kentucky has an estimated population of 17,668, a slight increase from the 17,282 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 67.1% White, 19.3% Hispanic, 6.2% Multiracial, 5.6% Black, 1.0% Native American/Other, and 0.8% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Shelbyville, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Shelbyville has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Kentucky overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Shelbyville, that probability was 53.6% in 2020 and 50.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Shelbyville is ranked the 25th most populous place in Kentucky, out of 554 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). Shelbyville was ranked the 28th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Shelbyville's White Population

11,861 residents of Shelbyville, or 67.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Shelbyville is considerably lower than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Shelbyville ranks 529th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 554 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelbyville's White population has grown by an estimated 6.6%. White residents' share of Shelbyville's population has increased from 64.4% to 67.1%.

Shelbyville is less White than neighboring Simpsonville (76.8% White), Eminence (77.2% White), Elk Creek (88.3% White), Smithfield (96.1% White), and Pleasureville (88.9% White).

Shelbyville's Black Population

988 residents of Shelbyville, or 5.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Shelbyville is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Shelbyville ranks 66th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 554 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelbyville's Black population has declined by an estimated 41.7%. Black residents' share of Shelbyville's population has decreased from 9.8% to 5.6%.

Shelbyville is more Black than neighboring Simpsonville (3.4% Black), Elk Creek (0% Black), Smithfield (0% Black), and Pleasureville (1.2% Black). Shelbyville is less Black than neighboring Eminence (5.9% Black).

Shelbyville's Asian Population

139 residents of Shelbyville, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Shelbyville is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Shelbyville ranks 150th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 554 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelbyville's Asian population has declined by an estimated 14.7%. Asian residents' share of Shelbyville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Shelbyville is more Asian than neighboring Eminence (0.3% Asian), Smithfield (0% Asian), and Pleasureville (0% Asian). Shelbyville is less Asian than neighboring Simpsonville (1.7% Asian), and Elk Creek (2.2% Asian).

Shelbyville's Hispanic Population

3,409 residents of Shelbyville, or 19.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Shelbyville is considerably higher than in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Shelbyville ranks 5th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 554 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelbyville's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Shelbyville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 19.3%.

Shelbyville is more Hispanic than neighboring Simpsonville (10.9% Hispanic), Eminence (10.7% Hispanic), Elk Creek (5.4% Hispanic), Smithfield (3.9% Hispanic), and Pleasureville (6% Hispanic).

Shelbyville's Native American/Other Population

177 residents of Shelbyville, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Shelbyville is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Shelbyville ranks 125th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 554 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelbyville's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 33.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Shelbyville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Shelbyville is more Native American/Other than neighboring Simpsonville (0% Native American/Other), Eminence (0.1% Native American/Other), Smithfield (0% Native American/Other), and Pleasureville (0.7% Native American/Other). Shelbyville is less Native American/Other than neighboring Elk Creek (2.4% Native American/Other).

Shelbyville's Multiracial Population

1,094 residents of Shelbyville, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Shelbyville is slightly higher than in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Shelbyville ranks 146th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 554 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Shelbyville's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 32.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Shelbyville's population has increased from 4.8% to 6.2%.

Shelbyville is more Multiracial than neighboring Eminence (5.7% Multiracial), Elk Creek (1.6% Multiracial), Smithfield (0% Multiracial), and Pleasureville (3.2% Multiracial). Shelbyville is less Multiracial than neighboring Simpsonville (7.2% 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.