Selmer, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Selmer, Tennessee
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| City of Selmer | |
Selmer City Hall in November 2013.
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Location of Selmer in McNairy County, Tennessee.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Tennessee |
| County | McNairy |
| Incorporated | 1901 |
| Named for | Selma, Alabama |
| 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
(2020)
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| • 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, 38315, 38367
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| Area code(s) | 731 |
| FIPS code | 47-66940 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1301051 |
Selmer is a city in Tennessee, located in the southwestern part of the state. It is also the county seat of McNairy County. In 2020, about 4,446 people lived there. The city gets its name from Selma, a city in Alabama.
Contents
City Government
Selmer, Tennessee, is run by a Mayor and a group of Aldermen. These officials are all chosen by the people who live in the city. The Aldermen represent the whole city, not just certain areas. This helps them work together for everyone's benefit. The Mayor and Aldermen manage important city services, like roads and community projects. They hold regular meetings to make sure everything is clear and that the city is doing well for its residents.
People of Selmer
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 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: | |||
In 2020, there were 4,446 people living in Selmer. There were about 1,783 households, and 1,069 families. Most people in the city were White, making up about 77.81% of the population. About 14.82% were African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 2.47% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, about 18.9% of the people were under 18 years old. About 17.5% were 65 years or older. The average age in Selmer was 38.6 years.
Selmer's Location
Selmer is located at coordinates 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W. The city covers an area of about 9.8 square miles (24.79 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
Main Roads
Two important highways, U.S. Route 64 (running east-west) and U.S. Route 45 (running north-south), meet in Selmer. This makes the city a key meeting point for travelers. In 2009, the part of Highway 45 South that goes through the area was named "Rockabilly Highway." This name honors the region's role in creating rockabilly music.
Railroad System
A railroad line runs through Selmer. It is owned by Norfolk Southern, a large railroad company, and operated by the West Tennessee Railroad.
Robert Sibley Airport
The Robert Sibley Airport (airport code SZY) is near Selmer. It has a runway that is about 5,002 feet (1,525 meters) long. The airport is located about 610 feet (186 meters) above sea level.
City Neighborhoods
Selmer has several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character:
- Downtown is the heart of Selmer. It's home to the McNairy County Historical Museum, the Selmer City Police Department, the Selmer Civic Center, and historic buildings like The Latta Theatre.
- Eastside is located in eastern Selmer. Here you'll find the Eastside Church Of Christ and McNairy Central High School.
- Eaglewood is in the northeast part of the city. It includes Chip-A-Roos and the Eaglewood III Estates apartment complex.
- Falcon is a neighborhood in southern Selmer. It has the Falcon Church, Falcon Cemetery, the City of Selmer Fire Department, and the McNairy County Sheriff's Office.
- Lakeview is in western Selmer. This area is home to Lakeview Church, First United Methodist Church, and the Selmer Golf & Country Club.
- Oak Hill is in northern Selmer. It features the Oak Hill Cemetery, North Selmer Fire Station, Selmer Second Baptist Church, and Monogram Refrigeration LLC.
- Rosewood is in southwestern Selmer. It is the site of Purdy Place Apartments and Rosewood Place Apartments.
Weather in Selmer
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.8 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Music and History
Rockabilly Music
The Rockabilly Highway Revival is a yearly event held in downtown Selmer. It celebrates the area's strong connection to rockabilly music, a fun and energetic style of music.
Sheriff Buford Pusser
Buford Pusser was the sheriff of McNairy County from 1964 to 1970. Selmer, as the county seat, was where he worked. His story became famous through the Walking Tall movies.
Local News
Newspapers
The Independent Appeal is the oldest business in McNairy County, starting in 1902. It used to print newspapers but now shares its news only online. The McNairy County News began in 2009. It has a website and a Facebook page, and it also prints a newspaper every Thursday.
Selmer in the News
Past Events in Selmer
Selmer has been in the national news for a few important events:
- In 2006, a local minister, Matthew Brian Winkler, was found deceased in his home. His wife, Mary Carol Winkler, was later found and brought back to Selmer.
- In 2007, during a charity car show parade, a drag racing car lost control. This sad event led to the deaths of six young people and injured many others. The city later approved a settlement related to the incident. The driver was charged and later pleaded guilty to reckless assault.
- In 2021, a teenager made a threat against McNairy Central High School. Authorities responded quickly, and the teen was taken into custody and received mental health support.
- In 2024, an incident occurred at a gas station in the Oak Hill neighborhood, where a person was fatally shot. An individual was arrested in connection with the event, and the case is still being investigated.
Radio Stations
Selmer has several radio stations:
FM Stations
- WXKV 90.5 plays Contemporary Christian music.
- WWGM 93.9 is a Mix station.
AM Station
- WDTM 1150 plays Southern Gospel music.
Education in Selmer
Selmer offers education from elementary to higher learning:
Primary and Secondary Schools
- Selmer Elementary School
- Selmer Middle School
- McNairy Central High School (Home of the Bobcats)
Higher Education
- Selmer/McNairy County has a satellite campus for the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Famous People from Selmer
- Ray Bodiford, a politician from Tennessee.
- Chad Harville, a professional baseball pitcher.
See also
In Spanish: Selmer (Tennessee) para niños
