Shelbyville is the home of Josephine Garis Cochran who invented one of the first mechanical dishwashers ever built in 1886.

"[3] Another Shelbyville invention, the first commercial pick-up baler, was designed and developed by Raymore McDonald, as conceived and financed by Horace M. Tallman and his two sons, Leslie and Gentry.

This concept of field processing of farm forages made a significant contribution to the efficiency and economy of harvesting in the world's agriculture.

Located on West Main Street, the Tallman home is currently part of the Shelby Inn.

[6] Shelbyville was founded in 1827 and named in honor of Isaac Shelby, hero of the Revolutionary War and Governor of Kentucky.

The history of Shelbyville begins with Barnett Bone, a Tennessean who, in 1835, built a log cabin along the Kaskaskia River.

The first businesses were blacksmith shops, a general store and stage coach stop, and a grist mill.

The Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on the dam in 1963, and construction was completed in the early summer of 1970.