Selmer, Tennessee
Governance
Selmer, Tennessee, operates under a municipal governance system consisting of a Mayor and a Board of Aldermen, all of whom are elected officials. Unlike some municipalities where Aldermen represent specific districts or wards, Selmer's Aldermen serve the city at large. This setup fosters a collaborative approach to decision-making, ensuring that the entire city's interests are represented and addressed. The Mayor, along with the Aldermen, oversees various aspects of local governance, including public services, infrastructure development, and community initiatives. Through regular meetings and public engagement, Selmer's elected officials work diligently to uphold transparency, accountability, and the well-being of the city's residents.
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 588 | — | |
| 1910 | 529 | −10.0% | |
| 1920 | 546 | 3.2% | |
| 1930 | 925 | 69.4% | |
| 1940 | 957 | 3.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,759 | 83.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,897 | 7.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,495 | 84.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,979 | 13.8% | |
| 1990 | 3,838 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,541 | 18.3% | |
| 2010 | 4,396 | −3.2% | |
| 2020 | 4,446 | 1.1% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,657 | 3,545 | 3,425 | 80.53% | 80.64% | 77.04% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 722 | 636 | 658 | 15.90% | 14.47% | 14.80% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 8 | 14 | 14 | 0.18% | 0.32% | 0.31% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 12 | 22 | 25 | 0.26% | 0.50% | 0.56% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.25% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 72 | 87 | 203 | 1.59% | 1.98% | 4.57% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 70 | 91 | 110 | 1.54% | 2.07% | 2.47% |
| Total | 4,541 | 4,396 | 4,446 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,446 people, 1,669 households, and 1,104 families residing in the city.
As of the census of 2020, there were 4,446 people, 1,783 households, and 1,069 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 77.81% White, 14.82% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 1,21% from other races, and 5.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.
There were 1,783 households, out of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 27.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 18.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 25% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,696, and the median income for a family was $68,503. Males living alone had a median income of $45,412 versus $19,075 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,350. About 14.3% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 23.6% of those age 65 or over.
Geography
Selmer is located at 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.17222°N 88.59306°W (35.172333, -88.592964).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Town has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25 km), all land.
Major highways
The major highways U.S. Route 64 (east-west), and U.S. Route 45 (north-south) intersect in the city, making it an important crossroads. In 2009 the Tennessee Legislature designated Highway 45 South, between Interstate 40 and the Mississippi state line, Rockabilly Highway in recognition of the region's contributions to the development of rockabilly music.
Railroad
The railroad that runs through the city is owned by Class 1 railroad, Norfolk Southern, and is operated by West Tennessee Railroad.
Robert Sibley Airport
The Robert Sibley Airport (IATA airport code SZY (ICAO: KSZY)) is located in the area, with no ATC, a 5,002-foot (1,525 m) runway, and at 610 feet (190 m) above sea level. The UN/LOCODE for the city is USSQE.
Climate
| Climate data for Selmer, Tennessee (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
84 (29) |
89 (32) |
92 (33) |
96 (36) |
107 (42) |
106 (41) |
107 (42) |
101 (38) |
97 (36) |
87 (31) |
77 (25) |
107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 49.1 (9.5) |
53.7 (12.1) |
62.8 (17.1) |
72.7 (22.6) |
80.3 (26.8) |
87.4 (30.8) |
90.3 (32.4) |
89.7 (32.1) |
84.3 (29.1) |
73.8 (23.2) |
61.8 (16.6) |
51.9 (11.1) |
71.5 (21.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 39.3 (4.1) |
43.1 (6.2) |
51.4 (10.8) |
60.4 (15.8) |
68.9 (20.5) |
76.5 (24.7) |
79.8 (26.6) |
78.8 (26.0) |
72.6 (22.6) |
61.1 (16.2) |
50.1 (10.1) |
42.2 (5.7) |
60.4 (15.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.5 (−1.4) |
32.5 (0.3) |
39.9 (4.4) |
48.2 (9.0) |
57.6 (14.2) |
65.7 (18.7) |
69.3 (20.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
60.8 (16.0) |
48.5 (9.2) |
38.4 (3.6) |
32.5 (0.3) |
49.2 (9.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) |
−11 (−24) |
7 (−14) |
22 (−6) |
29 (−2) |
39 (4) |
47 (8) |
45 (7) |
30 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
5 (−15) |
−14 (−26) |
−21 (−29) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.69 (119) |
5.30 (135) |
5.75 (146) |
5.64 (143) |
5.36 (136) |
4.79 (122) |
5.17 (131) |
3.84 (98) |
4.35 (110) |
4.14 (105) |
4.37 (111) |
5.66 (144) |
59.06 (1,500) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.3 (0.76) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.0 (2.5) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.5 | 11.2 | 11.8 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 8.6 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 119.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Rockabilly
The Rockabilly Highway Revival is an annual event held in downtown Selmer to commemorate its rich musical heritage.
Buford Pusser
Sheriff Buford Pusser served as the sheriff of McNairy County from 1964 to 1970. Selmer, as the county seat, is the location of the courthouse and old jail, which was his base of operations. His story has been made famous in the Walking Tall movies starring Joe Don Baker and Bo Svenson. The movies were filmed in nearby Henderson.
Newspapers
The oldest existing business in McNairy County is newspaper publisher, Independent Appeal, which was founded in 1902. The Independent Appeal discontinued the print edition of its newspapers on December 28, 2022, and transitioned to a strictly online presence.
The McNairy County News began publication in 2009. The paper has an online presence at mcnairycountynews.com and a Facebook page, as well as a weekly printed publication each Thursday.
National media attention
Matthew Winkler homicide, 2006
Selmer became a focus of national news media in late March 2006. A local minister, Matthew Brian Winkler, was shot to death by his wife Mary Carol Winkler at their Selmer home. After Mary was said to have fled Selmer with the couple's three daughters, she was apprehended in Orange Beach, Alabama, and was returned to Selmer for trial. She has confessed to the authorities concerning the shooting of her husband with a shotgun. In trial she stated that her husband both physically and emotionally abused her. This murder/trial can be seen on the television show 'Snapped' Season 6 Episode 1, aired in 2007.
Drag racing catastrophe, 2007
On June 16, 2007, a high-power Pro Modified drag racing car driven by Troy Warren Critchley lost control and killed six young people while performing a burnout routine during a car show charity parade on Mulberry Avenue. Critchley's car left the road and struck part of the crowd attending a charity parade for "America Can! Cars For Kids" (not affiliated with Kars4Kids). Six young people were killed. Two died at the scene of the accident, and four died later at hospitals in Selmer, Jackson and Memphis. A total of 20 others were injured and were transported to various hospitals throughout western and middle Tennessee. Lawsuits filed against the city and event organizers asked for more than $US 85 million in damages.</ref> The City of Selmer approved a $500,000 settlement in September 2011.
On March 4, 2008, the McNairy County grand jury returned an indictment against Critchley on six counts of vehicular homicide due to recklessness, a Class C felony, and 22 counts of reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony. Neither Cars for Kids™️ nor the City of Selmer were named in the indictment.
On March 20, 2008, Troy Critchley surrendered to authorities and was booked on the charges, with bond set at $35,000. The trial was set for November 3, 2008.
Troy Critchley pleaded guilty to 28 charges of reckless assault and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.
Radio broadcasting
FM stations
- WXKV 90.5 Contemporary Christian
- WWGM 93.9 Mix
AM station
- WDTM 1150 Southern Gospel
Education
Primary Schools
- Selmer Elementary School
- Selmer Middle School
- McNairy Central High School (Home of the Bobcats)
Secondary Schools
- Selmer/McNairy County University of Tennessee at Martin Satellite Campus
Notable people
- Ray Bodiford, Tennessee politician
- Chad Harville, Baseball Pitcher