Over the last decade, Shelby County’s population grew a whop-ping 34 percent, and now tops 33,000. It also boasts the sixth-highest median household income in the state.
Strategically located between Louisville and Lexington, Shelby County is ideal for commuters seeking a pleasant drive to work while coming home to a peaceful, rural setting.
One mainstay of the Shelby County economy is the Saddlebred horse industry, which is experiencing a revival. Shelby County, known as the “Saddlebred Capital of the World,” is a destination for buyers of fine horses. Saddlebreds are showcased each year in the nationally-known Shelbyville Horse Show.
Commercial and retail outlets have shown extraordinary growth. Service businesses — such as tanning salons, banks and restaurants — increased by 177 percent between 1992 and 1997.
Shelbyville has a well-deserved reputation as a destination for antique shopping, along with a wide variety of specialty stores and the renowned Wakefield Scearce Galleries. And its famous Southern cooking — showcased at such establishments as Science Hill Inn and Claudia Sanders Dinner House — has been joined by a virtual melting pot of Latino, Chinese and Italian offerings.
Shelby County also has much to offer when it comes to other quality-of-life amenities, including Shelbyville’s Celebration of Lights in November, several horse shows, and the Shelby County Community Theater, which draws on local talent to produce several shows a year.
The Clear Creek Park Family Activity Center — complete with indoor and outdoor pools, gym, walk/jog track, game room, TV lounge, fitness center and gathering rooms — is a major draw.
For those who love the great outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing are available. Golf is also a popular sport, with a number of fine public and private facilities, including some of the best courses in the state.
To help preserve the county’s rural heritage and flavor, Shelby County channels residential developments into two categories: quarter-acre lots with sewers, and five-acre tracts with septic systems. Homebuyers can expect to pay $127,000 to $135,000 for a 1,300-to 1,400-square-foot home with a two-car garage and fireplace.
Black board fences surrounding lush green fields line the highways and back roads of Shelby County, many framing stately mansions. They serve as a backdrop for today’s subdivisions, with homes dotting the hills mostly along Interstate 64, which slices through Shelby County on an east-west path.
Article reprinted from Shelby County Magazine, published by Lanham Media Service for the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce
