Elected county councils were established in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, taking over administrative functions that had previously been performed by unelected magistrates at the quarter sessions.

[6][7] The council chose to adopt an official seal inscribed in Latin rather than English: Concilii comitatus Salopiensis sigilum commune.

[8] The county's legal name was confirmed as being Salop by the Local Government Act 1933.

[11] In 2006 the government published a white paper which encouraged more unitary authorities to be established, particularly in counties with small populations.

This started the process which culminated in the 2009 structural changes to local government in England.

Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council took legal action challenging the government's decision to proceed with the reorganisation, but was unsuccessful.

The whole county is also covered by civil parishes, which form a second tier of local government.

A move to a proposed new development on the banks of the River Severn in central Shrewsbury is being considered as at 2024.