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 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Osceola, and just 17 miles (27 km) south and 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Columbus. Nebraska's center of population is near Shelby.

Polk County is a county in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 5,214. Its county seat is Osceola. The county was formed in 1856, and was organized in 1870. It was named for President James K. Polk.