[1] Failed development in the 1850s kept the community rural thereafter, without industries, major business ventures or tourism.
[2] Purdy is located at 35.22670 North, 88.53060 West, 3.5 mi (5.6 km) northeast of Selmer in McNairy County.
The railroad brought business and wealth to Selmer and the rural community of Purdy remained so.
Modern machines such as the cotton picker have made manual cultivation obsolete over time as they took over work from laborers.
In 2007, Purdy was a rural unincorporated community with no industries, major business ventures or tourism.