The town of Shelby, containing the hamlets of Shelby Center, East Shelby, West Shelby, Shelby Basin and Millville, and also part of the village of Medina is situated in the southwest corner of Orleans County.  The town Hall is located at 4062 Salt Works Road, Medina, NY 14103.

 

The Town of Shelby was part of the Town of Ridgeway and the County of Genesee.  By an Act of the Legislature of the State in March of 1818 the Town of Ridgeway was divided into two towns, and the Town of Shelby came into being.

 

Joseph Ellicott purchased 700 acres, in what is now known as Shelby Center.  He was attracted to the area because of the waterfall of the Oak Orchard Creek, which was a good source of power for mills.  Joseph Ellicott built the first sawmill and the first gristmill.  This was the start of the Town of Shelby.  As people continued to come, schools, churches, etc. were built.

 

In the West Shelby hamlet an 1852 map shows that there was a store and post office at the intersection of Salt Road and West Shelby Road.

 

Millville got its name from the several mills established there because of the available waterpower.  Millville also had churches and schools.

 

East Shelby and Shelby Basin had their churches, schools, stores and businesses.  Each one also had a post office.

 

Today the population of Shelby, according to the 2000 census is 5,420.  Gone are most of the stores, all of the post offices, and schools.  Shelby still has a few businesses and a few churches.  The Area has always had its farms and they are still a stable presence in the town.

 

Within the Town of Shelby there is situated the Iroquois Job Corp and the National Wildlife Refuge.

 

Lou Fuller

Town Historian