Shelby County, Iowa

Shelby County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°40′53″N 95°18′46″W / 41.681388888889°N 95.312777777778°W / 41.681388888889; -95.312777777778
Country United States
State Iowa
Founded1851
Named afterIsaac Shelby
SeatHarlan
Largest cityHarlan
Area
  Total
598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
  Land598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
  Water0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
11,746
  Estimate 
(2023)
11,806
  Density20/sq mi (7.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websiteshelbycounty.iowa.gov

Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,746. The county seat is Harlan. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky.