Selmer, Tennessee

Selmer is a city in and the county seat of McNairy County, Tennessee, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 4,446.

The community is named after Selma, Alabama. It incorporated in 1901.

On June 16, 2007, a Pro Modified drag racing car driven by Troy Warren Critchley lost control while performing a burnout routine during a car show charity parade on Mulberry Avenue in downtown Selmer. His car left the road and struck part of the crowd attending a charity parade for "America Can! Cars For Kids". 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 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 $10,000,000 in property damage. The tornado touched down in Downtown and Oak Hill neighborhoods destroying multiple homes and buildings.

Selmer is located at 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.17222°N 88.59306°W / 35.17222; -88.59306 (35.172333, -88.592964).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25 km²), 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.