COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Shelby County: higher-rate fatality band
Shelby County (TX) is in the higher per-capita third: 33.1/100k (#306 of 2,328). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 64
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 8
- Latest Year Deaths
- Near average count
- 33.1
- Per 100k Residents
- Well above average
- Stable
- Trend
Higher per-capita fatality band
Shelby County ranks #306 of 2,328 by deaths per 100,000 residents (33.1/100k) - top-third rate among rated U.S. counties.
Shelby County in the higher-rate third
According to NHTSA FARS, Shelby County sits in the higher-rate third at 33.1 per 100k (#306 of 2,328), #48 of 160 in TX.
- #306 of 2,328
- higher-rate third
- #1,127 of 3,137
- by total FARS fatalities
- #48 of 160
- in TX by rate
- Stable
- fatality trend
FARS milepost strip
Milepost SHELBY-419 · Shelby 33.1/100k · #306 of 2,328
Shelby County · 33.1/100k · stable
- CAUSE 33.1/100k
- PHOTO #306 of 2,328
- VS-ST 64 book
- CRASH Stable
- FARS 58 crash
- NHTSA +21.4% vs TX
Stamps derive from this county's NHTSA FARS row (per-100k or book, corpus rank, trend, nationwide peer NAME, vs-state gap), not a trip-risk forecast. PlainRoadSafety is informational only. See our disclaimer. Verify with NHTSA FARS → · Read with methodology → · Understanding road fatality data → · Texas state profile →
How does Shelby County compare?
2023 road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Shelby County is 21% deadlier than the comparison
2023 road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents and a 2023 FARS record.
Among the 15 rated counties in Texas, Shelby County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, above the state's own per-capita average of 27.3 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure. The gap between Shelby County's rate and the state average is 5.8 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Nolan County, at 55.9 per 100,000 (a difference of 22.8). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Leon County (96.7), Wilbarger County (79.9), Ward County (73.0), Eastland County (72.1), Milam County (69.4), Karnes County (66.6), Dawson County (66.6), Comanche County (64.1), Falls County (63.6), Freestone County (63.6), Panola County (61.3), Blanco County (61.3), Live Oak County (60.4), Nolan County (55.9).
Shelby County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
33 Higher than most a lower per-capita rate than 13% of 2,328 rated counties
rated U.S. counties, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-09-03
More road safety data related to Shelby County
Contextual links from this profile to rankings, tools, research, and peer geographies on PlainRoadSafety.
- Shelby County vs other counties by ratePer-100k fatality comparison
- Texas statewide fatality dataAll counties in this state
- Deadliest states for drivingContext for TX
- State fatality changesYear-over-year state trends
- Browse all U.S. countiesAlphabetical county index
- All state profiles51 state dashboards
- State vs U.S. safety comparisonRoute-level lookup tool
- National statistics downloadFARS CSV + findings
- How to read FARS fatality dataMethodology primer
- Per-mile vs per-capita road riskRate denominator explained
- Counties starting with SLetter index including TX counties
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Shelby County, Texas?
Shelby County recorded 64 total traffic fatalities across 58 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 8 fatalities. The county averages approximately 7.1 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Shelby County?
Despite a comparatively active crash history (58 recorded crashes), individual cause-code breakdowns are not published for Shelby County in the current FARS release. Statewide data for Texas may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Shelby County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Shelby County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Shelby County?
Shelby County has a fatality rate of 33.1 per 100,000 residents, which leaves it more dangerous than most U.S. counties by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
Where does Shelby County rank for road fatality rate?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, Shelby County ranks #306 of 2,328 U.S. counties by road-fatality rate per 100,000 residents (highest first) and #48 of 160 rated counties in TX, the same sort used on the deadliest-states and county rate listings. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
How does Shelby County compare to the rest of Texas?
Shelby County's per-capita rate of 33.1 per 100,000 residents is above the Texas county average of 27.3. Visit the Texas state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Shelby County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.