Shellman was incorporated in 1883. It was originally named Ward, in honor of John P. Ward, whose vision helped to bring the South-Western Rail Road 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 history of Shellman is extensively recorded in two documents published by the Randolph County Georgia Historical Society : •
A History of Shellman (1827-1883) •
Historic Buildings of Shellman (1830-1950) ==Demographics==