Shelby is a village in Polk County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 714 at the 2010 census. Shelby lies along the north side of U.S. Highway 81 near the eastern edge of Polk County. It is six miles (10 km) east of Osceola, and just 17 miles (27 km) south and three miles (5 km) west of Columbus. Nebraska’s middle of population is close Shelby.

In 1873, Civil War veteran Horace A. Cowles set going on the Cyclone post office in his home one mile east and one mile south of present-day Shelby. In 1879, with the coming of the railroad, a second reveal office named Arcade was received one mile east of the gift site of Shelby. In the winter of 1880, the publicize office was moved once again a mile west to where Shelby is today. Postal authorities objected to the name “Arcade” due to confusion next the town of Arcadia in Loup County. In search of a supplementary name for the settlement, the people chose “Shelby”, after the post of an certified with the Omaha and Republican Valley Railway (a branch of the Union Pacific). The house which Arcade was established upon was owned by Gilbert Van Vorce and Peter Matter. Seeing a obsession for a trade center in the area, these men gave the railroad company half amalgamation in their property and the town was established. After the railroad retained its 200 feet (61 m) on each side and closest to the tracks, eight blocks were located upon each side parallel to the tracks. The original streets are nevertheless present and withhold the names of Walnut, Elm, Chestnut, Pine, Cherry, and Oak.

In 1880 the town of Shelby boasted a population of 93 like businesses which included a drug store, hardware store, hotel, boot and shoe shop, livery stable, and physician. J.T. Dunning built the first elevator, located upon the south side of the tracks along with the railway depot. The first store, owned by H.C. and Frank Dunning, sold general merchandise. Conrad Thelen and Charles Krumbach opened the first hardware store, which would run for 40 years.

Today Shelby has 690 residents, businesses, programs, community organizations, and a extra housing increase subdivision. Shelby applauded its centennial in 1979 and its quasquicentennial in 2004.