Shelly Township was organized in 1874. It was named after John Shelly believed to be the first permanent settler in Norman County.         In 1897, the Great Northern Railroad came through Shelly. The Railroad Company spelled the name with two L's rather than one L on the depot.         In 1902, the Village elected their first officers and the village was incorporated.         Shelly is located two miles east of the Red River and ten miles south of Climax.         At our centennial in 1997, we chose "A Small Town with a Big Heart" for our motto.