Shelby County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 929,744, and was estimated to be 910,226 in 2025, making it the most populous county in Tennessee and the 65th-most populous county in the United States. It is also the largest county in Tennessee in terms of geographic area. The county seat and the largest city is Memphis, a port on the Mississippi River and the second-most populous city in Tennessee and the 29th-most populous city in the United States. The county was named for Governor Isaac Shelby of Kentucky. It is one of only two remaining counties in Tennessee with a majority African American population, along with Haywood County. Shelby County is part of the Memphis metropolitan area. It is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River. Located within the Mississippi Delta, the county was developed as a center of cotton plantations in the antebellum era, and cotton continued as an important commodity crop well into the 20th century. The economy has become more diversified. It contains over 12.60% of the state's population.Based on the 2024 Estimate: 910,530 / 7,227,750 (TN pop.) = 12.60%
History
This area along the Mississippi River valley was long occupied by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. In historic times, the Chickasaw controlled much of this area. They are believed to be descendants of the important Mississippian culture, which established fortified and complex cities. The largest of these was Cahokia, which was active from about 950CE into the 15th century. It was developed on the east side of the Mississippi in present-day southern Illinois, roughly on the same latitude as present-day St. Louis, Missouri.
The Shelby County area was part of the lands acquired by the United States government from the Chickasaw as part of the Jackson Purchase of 1818. Shelby County was established by European-American migrants in 1819 and named for Isaac Shelby, the former governor of Kentucky who had helped negotiate the land acquisition. From 1827 to 1868, the county seat was located in then called Raleigh, Tennessee (now part of Memphis), on the Wolf River. After the American Civil War, in recognition of the growth of Memphis and its importance to the state economy, the seat was moved there (Raleigh has now been absorbed within the city limits of Memphis).
The lowlands in the Mississippi Delta, closest to the Mississippi River, were developed before the war for large cotton plantations; their laborers were overwhelmingly enslaved African Americans, whom planters transported from the east or purchased in the domestic slave trade. Well before the American Civil War, the population of the county was majority black, most of whom were slaves. Memphis developed as a major cotton market, with many brokers. After the war and emancipation, many freedmen stayed on these lands by working as sharecroppers.
Tennessee continued to have competitive politics after the freedmen were enfranchised. The eastern part of the state retained its Unionist leanings and supported the Republican Party. Blacks in the west also supported the Republican Party. Most conservative whites supported the Democrats. From 1877 to 1950, there were 20 lynchings of blacks by whites in Shelby County, the highest number of any county in the state.Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County , Equal Justice Initiative, 2015, p. 6
Most blacks were disenfranchised around the turn of the century when the state passed laws raising barriers to voter registration; the legislature also imposed Jim Crow laws, including racial segregation of public facilities. Blacks were mostly closed out of the political system for more than six decades. In the 20th century, mechanization of agriculture reduced the need for farm workers at a time when industries and railroads in the North were recruiting workers. The Great Migration resulted in many African Americans moving from rural areas into Memphis or out of state to northern cities for work and social and political opportunities.
After World War II, highways were constructed that led to development of much new housing on the outskirts of Memphis where land was cheap. Suburbanization, with retail businesses following new residents, took place in the county, drawing population out of the city. With continued residential and suburban development, the population of the metropolitan area became majority white. Six towns in the county have become incorporated; other communities are unincorporated. Residents enjoy many parks in the area as well as attractions in the city of Memphis.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.68%) is water. It is the largest county in Tennessee by total area. The lowest point in the state of Tennessee is located on the Mississippi River in Shelby County (just outside the Memphis city limits), where the river flows out of Tennessee and into Mississippi.
Rivers Loosahatchie River Mississippi River Nonconnah Creek Wolf River
Adjacent counties Tipton County (north) Fayette County (east) Marshall County, Mississippi (southeast) DeSoto County, Mississippi (south) Crittenden County, Arkansas (west)
Demographics
As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Shelby County was $281,782.
As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 359,692 estimated households in Shelby County with an average of 2.49 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $64,995. Approximately 19.0% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Shelby County has an estimated 60.1% employment rate, with 34.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 89.2% holding a high school diploma. There were 406,999 housing units at an average density of .
The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (87.0%), Spanish (8.3%), Indo-European (1.7%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.9%), and Other (1.1%).
The median age in the county was 36.4 years.
+Shelby County, Tennessee – racial and ethnic composition Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980 Pop. 1990 Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010 White alone (NH) 442,480(56.94%) 451,209(54.60%) 414,888(46.23%) 359,106(38.71%) 316,740(34.07%) Black or African American alone (NH) 321,757(41.40%) 358,827(43.42%) 434,201(48.38%) 481,431(51.90%) 475,074(51.10%) Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 766(0.10%) 1,416(0.17%) 1,538(0.17%) 1,804(0.19%) 1,561(0.17%) Asian alone (NH) 3,862(0.50%) 7,506(0.91%) 14,552(1.62%) 21,245(2.29%) 27,960(3.01%) Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 248(0.03%) 274(0.03%) 256(0.03%) Other race alone (NH) 1,327(0.17%) 281(0.03%) 946(0.11%) 1,097(0.12%) 3,614(0.39%) Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 7,735(0.86%) 10,595(1.14%) 26,832(2.89%) Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6,921(0.89%) 7,091(0.86%) 23,364(2.60%) 52,092(5.62%) 77,707(8.36%) Total 777,113(100.00%) 826,330(100.00%) 897,472(100.00%) 927,644(100.00%) 929,744(100.00%)
2024 estimate As of the 2024 estimate, there were 910,530 people, 359,692 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 406,999 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 40.4% White (32.5% NH White), 53.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.5% of the population.
2020 census As of the 2020 census, there were 929,744 people, 364,625 households, and 231,173 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 400,189 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 35.07% White, 51.34% African American, 0.36% Native American, 3.03% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.25% from some other races and 4.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.36% of the population.
There were 364,625 households, out of which 75.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.0% were married couples living together, 37.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and _% were non-families. _% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. and the average family size was 3. _ .
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, _% from 18 to 24, _% from 25 to 44, _% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $_, and the median income for a family was $_. Males had a median income of $_ versus $_ for females. The per capita income for the county was $_. About _% of families and _% of the population were below the poverty line, including _% of those under age 18 and _% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census As of the 2010 census, there were 927,644 people, 350,971 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 398,275 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 40.56% White, 52.11% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.30% from some other races and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.62% of the population.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 897,472 people, 338,366 households, and 228,735 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 362,954 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 47.34% White, 48.56% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.64% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from some other races and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.60% of the population.
There were 338,366 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.80% were married couples living together, 20.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,593, and the median income for a family was $47,386. Males had a median income of $36,932 versus $26,776 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,856. About 12.90% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.90% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government Countywide elected officials Office Name County MayorLee Harris (D) District AttorneySteve Mulroy (D) SheriffFloyd Bonner Jr. (D) TrusteeRegina Morrison Newman (D) Assessor of PropertyMelvin Burgess (D) County ClerkWanda Halbert (D) Register of DeedsWillie F. Brooks Jr. (D) Circuit Court ClerkJamita Swearengen (D)