[2] The county was established in 1792[3] and named for Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky.

Another early settler was Thomas Mitchell, who also moved to Shelby County in 1784.

Mitchell was born on December 16, 1777, in Augusta County, Virginia.

[6] Shelby County was historically a prohibition or completely dry county, but the city of Shelbyville is now wet (i.e., allows retail alcohol sales), and the county has voted wet and now allows package sales (7 days a week) and restaurants outside Shelbyville to sell alcoholic beverages by the drink if they seat at least 100 patrons and derive at least 70% of their total sales from food.

[8] Jeptha Knob at 1,188 feet (362 m) is the highest point in the Louisville area.

Guist Creek Lake and Marina offers 325 acres of fishing.

20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

[18] The county voted "No" on 2022 Kentucky Amendment 2, an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 52% to 48%, and backed Donald Trump with 64% of the vote to Joe Biden's 34% in the 2020 presidential election.