Shelby County, Indiana

Shelby County's native tribes relied upon the area's swamps and rivers to provide an abundance of resources and transportation routes. Shelby County was formed in 1818, two years after Indiana gained statehood, as the result of an agreement between the US government and the Delaware Indians. The county was named in honor of Isaac Shelby, renowned for his government and military service.

A county of many firsts, Shelby boasted the first railroad west of the Allegheny Mountains. On July 4 1834, an experimental, two-mile road was completed for horsedrawn cars that carried passengers along the railway. This event fueled Shelby County's expansion throughout the next century. The growth of the railroad, the advent of the interstate highway system and the global delivery of manufactured goods illustrates the important role that transportation has played in the region.

Shelby County has produced many famous Americans. Thomas A. Hendricks became the nation's vice president in 1884, and Shelby County left its mark on Hollywood in the success of two of its very own: Mary Tomlinson, better known as "Ma Kettle," and James Pierce, who played the legendary Tarzan.

For more information on this exciting destination, contact:

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce
33 East Washington Street
Shelbyville, IN 46176

(800) 223-2210
(317) 398-6647