Shellman, Georgia

Shellman is a city in Randolph County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,083 at the 2010 census. Buildings in the commercial center have been designated as an historic district and listed in 1985 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Shellman is located at 31.75861°N, -84.61278°W (31.758473, -84.612731).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 sqmi, all land.

History
Shellman was incorporated in 1883. It was originally named Ward, in honor of John P. Ward, whose vision helped to bring the Southwest Georgia Railroad to the area and to place a depot in the spot that would become the center of the town.

Only two years later, the name of the town was changed to Shellman, in honor of Major R. F. Shellman, General Traffic Manager of the Central of Georgia Railroad. Major Shellman was a promoter of the young town and a donor to the construction of its new school, the Shellman Institute.

The Shellman Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Randolph County Georgia Historical Society  has published on its website three documents on the history of Shellman.


 * Land Ownership Around Shellman (1827-1883)
 * Commercial History of Shellman (1844-1950) 
 * Historic Buildings of Shellman (1830-1950), including
 * A catalogue of over 400 structures, with details of the ownership history and of the owners
 * Interactive maps which provide a brief description of the buildings as well as major land holdings around Shellman.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 861 people, 374 households, and 213 families residing in the city.

Notable people

 * Thomas Davis, NFL defensive player, grew up in Shellman.
 * Donnell Harvey, former NBA athlete, grew up here.
 * Diadourius Boudleaux Bryant, part of the prolific songwriting team of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, was born in Shellman in 1920.
 * Paul C. Broun Sr., Georgia State Senator was born here in 1916
 * Ernest Lanford, Former FSU golf coach (1991–2000) and starting pitcher for Shellman High School's state baseball championship in 1956.