Selmer, Tennessee
Location of Selmer, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.17222, -88.59306
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	McNairy
Area
- Total	9.8 sq mi (25.4 km²)
- Land	9.8 sq mi (25.3 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	449 ft (137 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	4,541
- Density	464.5/sq mi (179.4/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	38375
Area code(s)	731
FIPS code	47-66940[1]
GNIS feature ID	1301051[2]

Selmer is a town in McNairy County in southwestern Tennessee. The population was 4,541 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McNairy County^[3]. It is named after Selma, Alabama.

The notable sheriff, Buford Pusser, served as the sheriff of McNairy County from 1964 to 1970.

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. The investigation was headed by Investigator Roger Rickman and Winkler was convicted in 2007 of voluntary manslaughter.

In 2007, a drag racing car lost control during a burnout during a parade in Selmer. Six people were killed and 20 were injured.^[4][5]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 4,541 people, 1,935 households, and 1,234 families residing in the town. The population density was 464.5 people per square mile (179.3/km²). There were 2,173 housing units at an average density of 222.3/sq mi (85.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.61% White, 15.92% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.

There were 1,935 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,494, and the median income for a family was $38,313. Males had a median income of $31,176 versus $21,989 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,350. About 10.9% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 19.9% of those age 65 or over.

History

County seat

In 1890, the county seat of McNairy County was moved from Purdy to Selmer.^[6]

Buford Pusser

The notable sheriff, Buford Pusser, served as the sheriff of McNairy County from 1964 to 1970, and since Selmer is the county seat, the location of the courthouse and the jail, this was his base of operations. His story has been made famous in the Walking Tall series of movies starring Joe Don Baker and Bo Svenson. The movies were filmed in nearby Henderson, Tennessee.

Geography

Selmer is located at 35°10′20″N, 88°35′35″W (35.172333, -88.592964)^[7].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²).

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 town is USSQE. The current manager of Robert Sibley Airport is Chris Tull.

Major highways

The major highways U.S. Route 64 (east-west), and U.S. Route 45 (north-south) intersect in this town, making it an important crossroads. Selmer's position on Route 64 places it on the historic Lee Highway, which stretches from New York to San Francisco.

National media attention

Matthew Winkler Murder 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.

Drag racing catastrophe 2007

On June 16, 2007, a high-power Pro Modified drag racing car driven by Australian-born 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 the Cars For Kids charity parade. 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. Results of a Tennessee Highway Patrol inquiry into the accident have not been announced. Pending lawsuits filed against the city and event organizers ask for more than $US 85 million in damages.^{[4] [5] [8]}

On March 4, 2008, the McNairy County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Troy 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 or the City of Selmer were named in the indictment.^{[9] [10]}

On March 20, 2008, Troy Critchley surrendered to authorities and was booked on the charges. Bond is set at $35,000.00. The trial is set for November 3, 2008. ^[10]

Notable natives

• Chad Harville, baseball pitcher, (born in Selmer 1976.)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
4. ^ ^{a b} Car crash claims six lives as mayor urges investigation : Mid-South : Commercial Appeal
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070618/NEWS01/706180315/1002
6. ^ Purdy McNairy Co. TN
7. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
8. ^ "Lawsuits over parade accident cripple charity"
9. ^ "The Independent Appeal newspaper - March 5, 2008 Grand Jury indicts driver in Cars for Kids tragedy; NO festival this year"
10. ^ ^{a b} "Tennessee Department of Safety - Race car driver indicted by special Grand Jury"

External links

• Selmer, Tennessee is at coordinates 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.172333, -88.592964 (Selmer, Tennessee)Coordinates: 35°10′20″N 88°35′35″W / 35.172333, -88.592964 (Selmer, Tennessee)