Shelby, NC Demographics

A map of Shelby's Population by Race

Shelby, North Carolina had a population of 21,918 in 2020. It was 51.0% White, 38.2% Black, 1.0% Asian, 5.1% Hispanic, 0.7% Native American/Other, and 3.9% Multiracial. This map presents the population of Shelby, with one dot drawn for each person counted in the 2020 Census, color-coded by race.

Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is the 44th most populous. 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's White Population

11,169 residents of Shelby identify as White, or 51.0%. This makes the White share of the population of Shelby slightly less than the White share of the population of North Carolina (60.5% White). Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is ranked #559 in terms of White residents as a share of the population.

Shelby is more White than neighboring Light Oak (23.4% White), and Kingstown (8.5% White). Shelby is less White than neighboring Patterson Springs (80.9% White), Earl (78.3% White), and Lattimore (90.9% White).

Shelby's Black Population

8,383 residents of Shelby identify as Black, or 38.2%. This makes the Black share of the population of Shelby larger than the Black share of the population of North Carolina (20.2% Black). Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is ranked #142 in terms of Black residents as a share of the population.

Shelby is more Black than neighboring Patterson Springs (12.1% Black), Earl (10.1% Black), and Lattimore (2.2% Black). Shelby is less Black than neighboring Light Oak (70.6% Black), and Kingstown (88.3% Black).

Shelby's Asian Population

228 residents of Shelby identify as Asian, or 1.0%. This makes the Asian share of the population of Shelby roughly similar to the Asian share of the population of North Carolina (3.3% Asian). Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is ranked #258 in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population.

Shelby is more Asian than neighboring Light Oak (0.1% Asian), Earl (0% Asian), Kingstown (0.3% Asian), and Lattimore (0.2% Asian). Shelby is less Asian than neighboring Patterson Springs (1.1% Asian).

Shelby's Hispanic Population

1,122 residents of Shelby identify as Hispanic, or 5.1%. This makes the Hispanic share of the population of Shelby slightly less than the Hispanic share of the population of North Carolina (10.7% Hispanic). Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is ranked #440 in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population.

Shelby is more Hispanic than neighboring Patterson Springs (1.9% Hispanic), Light Oak (1.6% Hispanic), Kingstown (1.4% Hispanic), and Lattimore (2% Hispanic). Shelby is less Hispanic than neighboring Earl (5.6% Hispanic).

Shelby's Native American/Other Population

154 residents of Shelby identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other, or 0.7%. This makes the Native American/Other share of the population of Shelby roughly similar to the Native American/Other share of the population of North Carolina (1.5% Native American/Other). Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is ranked #394 in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population.

Shelby is more Native American/Other than neighboring Patterson Springs (0.2% Native American/Other), Light Oak (0.1% Native American/Other), and Kingstown (0.2% Native American/Other). Shelby is less Native American/Other than neighboring Earl (1% Native American/Other).

Shelby's Multiracial Population

862 residents of Shelby identify as Multiracial, or 3.9%. This makes the Multiracial share of the population of Shelby roughly similar to the Multiracial share of the population of North Carolina (3.9% Multiracial). Of the 776 places in North Carolina, Shelby is ranked #335 in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population.

Shelby is more Multiracial than neighboring Kingstown (1.4% Multiracial). Shelby is less Multiracial than neighboring Light Oak (4.2% Multiracial), and Earl (5.1% Multiracial).

Source: 2020 Census State Redistricting Data and Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.