Selmer

History

The community is named after Selma, Alabama. It incorporated in 1901. Six young people were killed (two died at the scene of the accident, and four died later at hospitals), and 20 others were injured. Lawsuits filed against the city and event organizers asked for more than $US 85 million in damages. 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. Troy Critchley pleaded guilty to 28 charges of reckless assault and was sentenced to 18 months' probation. On July 1, 2020, heavy rainfall caused severe flooding throughout Selmer and McNairy County. The mayor of McNairy County, Larry Smith, declared a state of emergency after homes, businesses, and public infrastructure were flooded. More than 20 people were rescued from the floodwaters, approximately 50 buildings sustained damage, and McNairy County's E-911 Communication Center had to be evacuated. Due to the damage to the dispatch center, emergency calls were temporarily rerouted to Hardin County Tennessee's emergency communication center. Several residents were forced to evacuate their homes, and the American Red Cross provided temporary hotel accommodations for displaced families. On April 3, 2025, an EF3 tornado struck the city in the early hours, killing five people and injuring fourteen others. The city lost an estimated $27.6 million in property damage. The tornado touched down in Downtown and Oak Hill neighborhoods destroying multiple homes and buildings.

Geography

Selmer is located at (35.172333, -88.592964). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. Downtown is a neighborhood in the heart of Selmer, often referred to as "the main drag of Selmer", this historic neighborhood is also the site of McNairy County Historical Museum, Selmer City Police Department, Selmer Civic Center, First Baptist Church, The Latta Theatre, and many more historic buildings, the Civic Center and the Latta Theatre and the police department are all operated by the city. Eastside is a neighborhood in East Selmer, this neighborhood is the site of Eastside Church Of Christ and McNairy Central High School. the church is operated by the city, but the school is operated by McNairy County School Board. Eaglewood is a neighborhood in Northeast Selmer, it is the site of Chip-A-Roos and Eaglewood III Estates, the recreational facility and the apartment complex are operated by the city. Falcon is a neighborhood in South Selmer, this neighborhood is the site of the Falcon Church, Falcon Cemetery, City of Selmer Fire Department, Owl Creek Lumber, Phillips 66, and McNairy County Sheriff's Office, the church, the cemetery, the fire department, Owl Creek Lumber, Phillips 66, and the sheriff's office are all operated by the city. Lakeview is a neighborhood in West Selmer, this neighborhood is the site of Lakeview Church, First United Methodist Church, and Selmer Golf & Country Club, both churches and the country club are operated by the city. Oak Hill is a neighborhood in North Selmer, the majority African-American neighborhood is the site of Oak Hill Cemetery, North Selmer Fire Station, Selmer Second Baptist Church, and Monogram Refrigeration LLC, Monogram and Oak Hill Cemetery and the fire department are all operated…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  206
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  161
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  155
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  142
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  130
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  126
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  125
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  120

Most recent

• M 2.52 — 2022-12-24
  5 km ENE of Booneville, Mississippi
• M 2.79 — 2018-07-06
  0 km WSW of Muscle Shoals, Alabama
• M 3.1 — 2008-05-10
  1 km SSE of Sherman, Mississippi
• M 2.7 — 2006-03-11
  17 km E of Olivet, Tennessee
• M 2.7 — 2003-12-11
  12 km ESE of Olivet, Tennessee
• M 2.5 — 2002-04-22
  3 km NW of Trenton, Tennessee