Guide updated July 2026
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Shelbyville, TN
“The Walking Horse Capital of the World”
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Complete Guide to Shelbyville, Tennessee
Shelbyville is a working county seat in Middle Tennessee, the center of Bedford County and the host city of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, an event held there annually since 1939 that draws an estimated 250,000 spectators and roughly 2,000 horses each summer. The economy is built on manufacturing and agriculture: major employers include Tyson Foods, Marelli (formerly Calsonic Kansei, a Nissan supplier), Newell/Rubbermaid, and Musgrave Pencil Company, one of the last wood-cased pencil makers in the U.S., which gave the town its 'Pencil City' nickname. The character is small-town and practical, anchored by a historic nine-acre Courthouse Square Historic District with 19th-century architecture and the Duck River, which National Geographic has described as one of the most ecologically diverse rivers in the country. Children are served by Bedford County Schools, a district of roughly 9,000 students headquartered in Shelbyville. The honest commute caveat for out-of-state movers: downtown Nashville is about 58 miles away and runs roughly an hour each way without traffic, so Shelbyville works better for local employment or remote work than for a daily Nashville office commute.
What's changing in Shelbyville
Updated June 2026Shelbyville/Bedford County's Marquee Project: Duksan Electera's $95M EV-Battery Electrolyte Plant
The biggest development reshaping Shelbyville and Bedford County is Duksan Electera America's $95 million electrolyte manufacturing facility — billed as the largest single-site electrolyte plant in the United States — which held its grand opening in January 2025. A second marquee project, the $45.4 million Bedford County Higher Education Center (TCAT Shelbyville), is being built alongside it.
MARQUEE PROJECT — Duksan Electera America manufacturing facility. South Korea-based Duksan Electera, an electrolyte manufacturer supplying lithium-ion/EV battery cell makers, chose Shelbyville for its first North American plant. The project was announced in July 2022 by Gov. Bill Lee and TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, broke ground, and held its grand opening on January 29, 2025. It is now operational.
Investment & jobs: $95 million capital investment in Bedford County, with a commitment of 100-plus new jobs (101 cited at announcement) over five years.
Size & capacity: roughly 220,000 sq ft of building area plus 50,000 sq ft of outdoor tank storage. The plant is designed to produce about 60,000 tons of electrolytes annually and is described as the largest electrolyte manufacturing facility in the country. The facility (designed by Gresham Smith) includes a two-story Class-A office building, clean rooms, dry rooms, refrigerated warehousing, and enhanced fire protection for sensitive chemicals.
Expansion outlook: company leadership has said it could expand production within the existing footprint and is scouting additional Tennessee locations, with a stated goal of becoming the leading U.S. electrolyte manufacturer by 2028. (Forward-looking company statements, not guarantees.)
SECOND MAJOR PROJECT — Bedford County Higher Education Center (TCAT Shelbyville). A $45.4 million project in Shelbyville serving as the new main campus for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Shelbyville on a 20-acre site. Scope includes a two-story academic building with classrooms, student services, administrative offices, a student commons/eatery, labs (nursing, CAD technology, office technology), and a multi-use atrium. Builder: American Constructors Inc.; design: Bauer Askew Architecture. The City of Shelbyville and Bedford County purchased and donated the land.
Other notable activity: Shelbyville's FY26 budget funds several city projects, including Riverview District/Spring Street improvements, a River Overlook, and a Fairfield Pike turn-lane/sidewalk/signal upgrade. These are public-infrastructure investments rather than a single private megaproject.
Bottom line for context: Duksan Electera is the clear marquee private-sector development (largest single capital investment and a nationally significant facility), while the TCAT Higher Education Center is the largest public/institutional project.
- Marquee project
- Duksan Electera America electrolyte manufacturing plant, Shelbyville
- Investment
- $95 million
- Jobs
- 100+ (101 at announcement) over 5 years
- Facility size
- ~220,000 sq ft building + 50,000 sq ft outdoor tank storage
- Capacity
- ~60,000 tons of electrolytes/year; largest such plant in the U.S.
- Timeline
- Announced July 2022; grand opening Jan 29, 2025
- Developer/company
- Duksan Electera America, Inc. (S. Korea); facility designed by Gresham Smith
- Status
- Operational
- Second major project
- Bedford County Higher Education Center (TCAT Shelbyville), $45.4M, under construction
What's New to Eat, Drink & Shop in Shelbyville
Updated July 2026Shelbyville's downtown square is in the middle of a food-and-drink revival, and Bedford County has added new destinations from a record-setting distillery bar to a high-speed karting complex. Here are the recently opened (2023-2026) and confirmed coming-soon spots in Shelbyville and Bedford County, TN.
Farm-to-table restaurant and steakhouse at 123 S. Side Square downtown, set in the historic Knox Pitts Hardware building, with steaks, fresh seafood, craft burgers and sandwiches, and pastas. Co-owned by Jeb House and Chavigny Beasley; offers upstairs and downstairs dining with full-service bars, plus a monthly Sunday brunch. Open Wednesday through Saturday.
Restaurant · opened 2024
A combined coffee bar, restaurant, bar, and live-music venue at 100 S. Spring Street on the Shelbyville square, opened by country musician Craig Campbell and his wife Mindy as the second location of their Eagleville original. The renovated 12,000-square-foot building serves specialty coffee, breakfast and lunch, beer and wine, and craft cocktails, with a performance space. Grand opening Nov. 8, 2025.
Coffee · opened November 2025
Southern comfort-food diner at 3340 US-231 North, founded by Cole and Lexi Krieg with a Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber ribbon-cutting. Serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, 6am-2pm.
Restaurant · opened 2025
Bar and restaurant at Nearest Green Distillery on US-231, home to a 518-foot bar recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest permanent continuous bar in the world. Serves handcrafted cocktails and dining across 17 stations with cabaret seating and live entertainment, open Friday through Sunday.
Bar / Brewery · opened 2023
Drive-thru coffee stand at 1815 N Main Street, part of the 7 Brew chain, serving specialty coffee, smoothies, energy drinks, and teas on Shelbyville's north-side commercial corridor.
Coffee · opened 2024
A 34-acre high-speed go-kart racing complex at 3225 US-231, featuring a half-mile track and Italian-made CRG karts. A Phase 2 expansion planned for 2026 is set to add a longer competition course and a trackside restaurant.
New spot · opened November 2024
Why People Love Shelbyville
Neighborhoods & areas in Shelbyville
Shelbyville Quick Facts
Figures reviewed July 2026. We pull current, address-level comparables before any offer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Shelbyville?
The median home price in Shelbyville is approximately $295,000, with homes ranging from $180K – $600K.
How far is Shelbyville from Nashville?
Shelbyville is approximately About 1 hour (58 miles via I-24) from downtown Nashville. Exact commute time depends on traffic and your specific destination.
What's it like living in Shelbyville, TN?
Shelbyville is the seat of Bedford County, a manufacturing-and-agriculture town of about 25,000 best known as home of the Tennessee Walking Horse Nati... It's commonly a fit for Value-focused buyers and Horse-industry and equestrian families.
What are the popular neighborhoods or areas in Shelbyville?
Areas commonly searched in Shelbyville include Courthouse Square / Downtown Shelbyville, Wheatfield (Ole South new construction off Hwy 231 South / Colloredo Blvd), Stones Throw, Shelbyville North, Highway 231 South corridor, Duck River-area properties. Each offers a different balance of price, amenities, and lifestyle, and we can pull recent comparable sales so you decide what fits.
Who handles real estate in Shelbyville, TN?
The Will Johnson Team (eXp Realty) works Shelbyville regularly — a 5.0-rated team on Google and Zillow, RealTrends Verified 2026, licensed in Tennessee since 2013, and quoted as an expert source by CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal. Call 615-265-1000 — the first conversation carries no commitment.
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