Selmer, Tennessee
Selmer, Tennessee | |
|---|---|
| Town of Selmer | |
 Selmer City Hall in November 2013. | |
 Location of Selmer in McNairy County, Tennessee. | |
| Coordinates: 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.17222°N 88.59306°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| County | McNairy |
| Incorporated | 1901[1] |
| Named for | Selma, Alabama[2] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sherry Inman [3] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.57 sq mi (24.79 km2) |
| • Land | 9.55 sq mi (24.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 449 ft (137 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 4,446 |
| • Density | 465.55/sq mi (179.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 38375 |
| Area code | 731 |
| FIPS code | 47-66940[6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1301051[7] |
| Website | townofselmer |
Selmer is a Town in and the county seat of McNairy County, Tennessee,[8] in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 4,446 as of the 2020 census. It is named after Selma, Alabama.
History[edit]
County seat[edit]
An explosion, as the people passed over the mountains to a land of milk and honey, they came westward, to east Tennessee, then Middle Tennessee and last to West Tennessee. In 1818, the U. S. government paid 15 million dollars for a tract of land from Yazoo River in the south to the Ohio River in the north, bound on the east west by the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. Part of this purchase was West Tennessee. By 1820, they were beginning to settle in to a place we now call McNairy County. They left their worn out lands in Virginia, the Carolinas and other parts of Tennessee, to a virgin land in search of fertile soil and a better place to rear their families. The land, now called McNairy County, had been occupied by the Chickasaw Indians and was originally a part of Hardin County.
As the area grew, the pioneers petitioned the General Assembly for a new county. On October 8, 1823, history was made, when McNairy County came into being. As the railroad tracked its way through McNairy County, little villages began to flourish near the better way of transportation. The Civil War divided the county. 1,318 voted for separation and 586 voted against it. The county furnished two brigadier generals: Marcus J. Wright and Mark Perrin Lowery who was born in McNairy County but had moved to Mississippi.
After the war, talk began of moving the county seat to a point on the railroad. In 1891, after twenty years of struggle and at least 12 attempts were made the county seat of McNairy County was moved from Purdy to Selmer. The election of 1890 called for the courthouse to be moved from Purdy to a place called New South by a margin of 2063 to 563.[9]The postal officials in Washington would not recognize New South as a name so it was changed to Selma. When the papers came back from the authorities it was spelled Selmer.
The first County Court held at the new county seat was April 1891. One June 16, 1891, ceremonies were held to lay the corner stone for the new courthouse. After 65 years of glory, Purdy dissipated because of the refusal to allow the railroad to come through the town. Its' decline was almost immediate as many families moved to the new county seat. In 1901 Selmer was incorporated. [10]
Rockabilly[edit]
Situated on Rockabilly Highway (45 South), midway between Memphis and Nashville, Tupelo, Mississippi and Jackson, Tennessee, Selmer was ground zero for the cultural explosion that gave birth to rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll music. Many of the giants of rockabilly were influenced by local musicians and cut their teeth performing in the county. Iconic figures like Carl Perkins frequented community jams at the Latta Building in downtown Selmer. Perkins made his first recordings at Eastview with the amateur sound engineer, Stanton Littlejohn. Bethel Springs, where Perkins first met Elvis Presley, was the site of the King’s first live performance outside of Memphis. Legendary Hall of Fame Deejay, Daddy-O Dewey Phillips, who made Presley, Perkins, Cash, Lewis, and many others famous hailed from Adamsville. The Rockabilly Highway Revival is an annual event held in downtown Selmer to commemorate this rich musical heritage.
Buford Pusser[edit]
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[edit]
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.[11]
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.
Governance[edit]
Selmer, Tennessee, operates under a municipal governance system comprised 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 town at large. This setup fosters a collaborative approach to decision-making, ensuring that the entire town'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 town's residents.
Geography[edit]
Selmer is located at 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.17222°N 88.59306°W (35.172333, -88.592964).[12]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Town has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25 km2), all land.
Robert Sibley Airport[edit]
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.
Demographics[edit]
| 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:[13][14][5] | |||
2020 census[edit]
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000[15] | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 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/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.
2020 census[edit]
As of the census[6] of 2020, there were 4,446 people, 1,783 households, and 1,069 families residing in the Town. The racial makeup of the Town 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 Town, 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 Town 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.
Major highways[edit]
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[edit]
The railroad that runs through the Town is owned by Class 1 railroad, Norfolk Southern, and is operated by West Tennessee Railroad.
Climate[edit]
| 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[18][19] | |||||||||||||
National media attention[edit]
Matthew Winkler homicide, 2006[edit]
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[edit]
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™️[20] (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 Town and event organizers asked for more than $US 85 million in damages.[21][22][23]
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 Town of Selmer were named in the indictment.[24][25]
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.[25]
Troy Critchley pleaded guilty to 28 charges of reckless assault and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.[26]
After four years of litigation, the Town of Selmer approved a $500,000 settlement to be paid to the family of the victims injured and killed.[27]
Radio broadcasting[edit]
FM stations[edit]
- WXKV 90.5 Contemporary Christian
- WWGM 93.9 Mix
AM station[edit]
- WDTM 1150 Southern Gospel
Education[edit]
Primary Schools[edit]
- Selmer Elementary School
- Selmer Middle School
- McNairy Central High School (Home of the Bobcats)
Secondary Schools[edit]
- Selmer/McNairy County University of Tennessee at Martin Satellite Campus
Notable people[edit]
- Ray Bodiford, Tennessee politician
- Chad Harville, Baseball Pitcher
References[edit]
- ^ Tennessee Blue Book, 2005-2006, pp. 618-625.
- ^ McNairy County Archived February 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Tennessee History for Kids. Retrieved: February 4, 2013.
- ^ "Selmer | MTAS".
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Purdy McNairy Co. TN". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ Wright, Marcus. Reflections, A History of McNairy County Reminiscences of the Early Settlement and Early Settlers of McNairy Co, Tenn.
- ^ Rail, Janet. "Independent Appeal Moves to Online Only Format". Issuu. Independent Appeal. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- ^ "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Selmer town, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Selmer town, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Selmer town, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Station: Selmer, TN". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Cars for Kids™️". Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Car crash claims six lives as mayor urges investigation : Mid-South : Commercial Appeal
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Lawsuits over parade accident cripple charity"
- ^ "The Independent Appeal newspaper - March 5, 2008 Grand Jury indicts driver in Cars for Kids tragedy; NO festival this year" Archived March 26, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b ""Tennessee Department of Safety - Race car driver indicted by special Grand Jury"". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ^ http://cbs11tv.com/sports/Troy.Critchley.racer.2.908001.html[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Selmer Discusses Cars for Kids Settlement". Retrieved May 27, 2024.
External links[edit]
Municipalities and communities of McNairy County, Tennessee, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |