[4] The city was named for one of its original proprietors, Augustus Schell of New York.

[6] Schell City is located at the intersection of Missouri routes C and AA approximately 1.5 miles south of the Osage River channel.

The Schell-Osage Conservation Area lies adjacent to the east side of the community.

The racial makeup of the city was 97.6% White, 1.6% Native American, and 0.8% from two or more races.

40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 19.8% of families and 25.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 21.3% of those 65 or over.