SHELBY COUNTY
County Offices
937-498-7226
www.co.shelby.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
937-492-9122
www.sidneyshelbychamber.com
Sprawling over 420 square miles, Shelby County blends agricultural activity with growing industries for a healthy, stable local economy. Sidney serves as the hub city and county seat, providing healthcare, educational, cultural, commercial, and recreational amenities. The city is centrally located in Shelby County and enjoys an excellent location along the north/south I-75 corridor. Lake Loramie State Park along the county’s western edge is the outstanding natural feature. Residents enjoy a peaceful country atmosphere within a reasonable commute from the urban attractions in metropolitan Dayton.
Services
Newcomers to Shelby County will find friendly small communities and residential neighborhoods that excel in providing a high quality of life at a low cost of living. Most healthcare needs can be met close to home, anchored by the acute-care facility of Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney. The hospital offers a wide range of services that include cardiac care, endocrinology, lab and imaging, surgical specialties, occupational health, a Family Birth Center, a Diabetes Wellness Center, a sleep center, and women’s health. Providing comprehensive care that is usually associated with much larger institutions, the hospital also offers a Home Health program that ranks in the top 25 percent of agencies across the nation for quality outcomes. Dedicated professionals in every major specialty maintain offices and clinics in the county, while nearby Dayton adds regional healthcare facilities should the need for highly advanced care ever arise.
Educational services are equally well-developed throughout Shelby County, where parents are able to choose from outstanding public school districts or private school environments. The public school system is known for personalized attention with low pupil-teacher ratios and the advantage of progressive facilities. Opportunities are abundant for extra-curricular activities that develop individual talents from theater and music to sports, academic societies, and leadership organizations. Junior and senior high school students can take advantage of the Upper Valley Career Center in Piqua, serving Shelby and Miami counties with hands-on career training. Edison Community College, also in Piqua, provides an affordable start on a four-year degree but also offers a wide range of two-year degree and certificate programs in relevant fields. The Business and Industry Center within the college serves the greater community with customized training, resource services, consulting, and professional development courses for working adults. Additional options for a higher education less than an hour’s commute from home include ten four-year institutions, two branch campuses of state universities, two technical schools, and another community college.
Lifestyle
While the bright lights of Dayton are only minutes from a Shelby County address, the Gateway Arts Council ensures that the arts and opportunities for cultural appreciation are available close to home. The council plays a leading role by sponsoring local theater productions, professional musicians and performers, visual art exhibits, and student Arts in Public Education programs. The Cameo Theater in Sidney is a focal point of activity, staging many of the county’s performances and productions. The youth of Shelby County have the added advantage of the Muse Machine, an organization that brings exciting groups like the Dayton Philharmonic and the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company into participating schools. Local groups bring dance, community theatre, and band performances to the stage. Each summer, beautiful Tawawa Park in Sidney provides a beautiful setting for free public concerts by the Sidney Civic Band with its lineup of crowd-pleasing music from rousing patriotic tunes to soothing classical strains. The hills truly do come alive with music when the County Concert at Hickory Hill Lakes features headline performers in a three-day extravaganza.
The crown jewel of recreational amenities is Lake Loramie State Park north of Sidney near the village of Fort Loramie, featuring a 1,600-acre lake for outstanding boating and camping adventures. Throughout the county, developed sports centers and facilities provide opportunities for indoor and outdoor enjoyment. The lush 192-acre Tawawa Civic Park in Sidney is another regional treasure, with a wooded reserve for hiking and fishing in addition to picnic areas and trails or paths for hiking and jogging. The scenic Great Miami River flows through the city, adding fishing and boating opportunities just beyond the front doorstep. The city of Sidney also serves as the county’s commercial center, lining its picturesque courthouse square district with interesting shops and friendly cafes. Shopping centers are also available on the western edge of the city. Historic sites like the opulent Greatstone Castle, the 1883 Shelby County Court House, Monument Building, and the Ross Historical Center contrast with modern attractions like the nationally recognized Airstream Factory Tour. Regional highlights include the magnificent Ohio Caverns in West Liberty, the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, and the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen. Gracious living has always been a Shelby County tradition, reflected in the architectural diversity and craftsmanship of the area’s homes and neighborhoods. Styles range from well-preserved Victorians and turn-of-the-century manors shaded by towering trees to contemporary developments. From every perspective, Shelby County brings together the best of all worlds.
Sidney
City Offices
937-498-2335
www.sidneyoh.com
Chamber of Commerce
937-492-9122
www.sidneyshelbychamber.com
The city of Sidney serves as the educational, healthcare, commercial, and cultural center of Shelby County with an ideal location along Interstate 75. Active groups from the Gateway Arts Council to the Downtown Sidney Organization enhance the quality of life and ensure that the annual calendar is filled with cultural attractions and lively events that include the Great Sidney Farmers Market. The courthouse square stands as the centerpiece of the city, its stately beauty recently enhanced by the installation of four engaging works of public art. Residents enjoy nearly 400 acres of parkland, crowned by the 192-acre Tawawa Civic Park and the picturesque Great Miami River. Surrounded by open landscapes and rich agricultural land, Sidney draws newcomers to a high quality of life with good schools, a first-rate healthcare facility, local shopping, historic attractions, thriving industries, and a remarkably diverse selection of homes.
Shelby County Townships
The rolling townships that stretch across Shelby County add a wide selection of residential environments and lifestyle options. The fourteen townships are home to well-established small communities that include eight villages as well as the leading city of Sidney. The Village of Russia, which is pronounced roo-shee, is just one small example of the unique character that defines every corner of Shelby County. Newcomers will discover a wonderful blend of family-friendly communities throughout the countryside, each one just minutes away from shopping, recreation, and entertainment but also a short commute from big-city attractions or serene wilderness areas.
