Shelby, Nebraska
| Shelby, Nebraska | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
Downtown Shelby
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 Location of Shelby, Nebraska |
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| Coordinates: 41°11′39″N 97°25′36″W / 41.19417°N 97.42667°WCoordinates: 41°11′39″N 97°25′36″W / 41.19417°N 97.42667°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nebraska |
| County | Polk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.56 sq mi (1.45 km2) |
| • Land | 0.56 sq mi (1.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,640 ft (500 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 714 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 702 |
| • Density | 1,275.0/sq mi (492.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 68662 |
| Area code(s) | 402 |
| FIPS code | 31-44595 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0833371 |
| Website | Shelby, Nebraska |
Shelby is a village in Polk County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 714 at the 2010 census. Shelby lies along the north side of U.S. Highway 81 near the eastern edge of Polk County. It is six miles (10 km) east of Osceola, and just 17 miles (27 km) south and three miles (5 km) west of Columbus. Nebraska's center of population is near Shelby.
In 1873, Horace A. Cowles (Civil War Veteran) set up the Cyclone post office in his home one mile east and one mile south of present-day Shelby. In 1879, with the coming of the railroad, a second post office named Arcade was established one mile east of the present site of Shelby. In the winter of 1880, the post office was moved again a mile west to where Shelby is today. Postal authorities objected to the name Arcade due to confusion with the town of Arcadia in Loup County. In search of a new name for the settlement, the people chose Shelby, after the name of an official with the Omaha and Republican Valley Railway (a branch of the Union Pacific). The land which Arcade was established on was owned by Gilbert Van Vorce and Peter Matter. Seeing a need for a trade center in the area these two men gave the railroad company half interest in their property and the town was established. After the railroad retained its 200 feet (61 m) on each side and closest to the tracks, eight blocks were located on each side parallel to the tracks. The original streets are still present and retain the names of Walnut, Elm, Chestnut, Pine, Cherry, and Oak.
In 1880 the town of Shelby boasted a population of 93 with businesses to include a drug store, hardware store, hotel, boot and shoe shop, livery stable, and physician. J.T. Dunning built the first elevator located on the south side of the tracks along with the railway depot. The first store, owned by H.C. and Frank Dunning sold general merchandise. Conrad Thelen and Charles Krumbach opened the first hardware store which would run for 40 years.
Today Shelby has 690 residents, businesses, programs, community organizations, and a new housing development subdivision. Shelby celebrated its centennial in 1979 and its quasquicentennial in 2004.
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Wikipedia