Shelby Ice & Fuel
1916 Shelby Map Pt10
1921 SHelby Map Pt14
Uptown aerial photograph of Shelby
1905 Shelby Map Pt1
General Daniel Morgan
1909 Unveiling of the Civil War monument
1921 SHelby Map Pt8
1921 SHelby Map Pt10
1907 Courthouse monument view
Contact Us
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We welcome contributions of photographs, documents, and stories related to Cleveland County history.
Welcome
Welcome to the Cleveland County History Project! Step back in time and discover the people, places, and stories that shaped our county. From the early settlers before 1841 through the Golden Age of the 1920s, our history comes alive here. Whether you're researching family roots, exploring local landmarks, or just curious about the past, you'll find something meaningful in these pages.
Did You Know?
The First Land Ever Donated for Shelby Was a Gift, Not a Sale
Before James Love ever offered his 150 acres for the town site of Shelby, the very first land given toward creating the town came from William Forbis and his wife, Elizabeth. On June 16, 1841, they made an outright deed of gift for forty acres, stating it was given “for good will and attachment toward the new county measures lately adopted by the Legislature.” This land lay near what is now West Marion Street and the present high school area. The gift could not even be accepted until the county court met two months later, making the Forbis tract the earliest physical contribution to the founding of Shelby.
Features
- Browse by category: Towns, Institutions, Businesses, Hotels, People, and more
- Search by tags and categories
- Historical eras: Pre-1841 through the Golden Age (1900-1930)
- Full-screen zoom viewer: Click any image to pan and zoom in detail
- High-resolution images available for most items
- Detailed descriptions and historical context
- Designed to be approachable, not intimidating like traditional archives
Announcements
- January 2026: Project launched with initial collection
- We're actively seeking contributions from community members
- Check back for new additions