Selmer, Tennessee, operates under a municipal governance system consisting of a Mayor and a Board of Aldermen, all of whom are elected officials.

This setup fosters a collaborative approach to decision-making, ensuring that the entire city's interests are represented and addressed.

The Mayor, along with the Aldermen, oversees various aspects of local governance, including public services, infrastructure development, and community initiatives.

Through regular meetings and public engagement, Selmer's elected officials work diligently to uphold transparency, accountability, and the well-being of the residents in the city.

The Rockabilly Highway Revival is an annual event held in downtown Selmer to commemorate its rich musical heritage.

His story has been made famous in the Walking Tall movies starring Joe Don Baker and Bo Svenson.

The oldest existing business in McNairy County is newspaper publisher, Independent Appeal, which was founded in 1902.

The Independent Appeal discontinued the print edition of its newspapers on December 28, 2022, and transitioned to a strictly online presence.

On June 16, 2007, a high-power Pro Modified drag racing car driven by Troy Warren Critchley lost control and killed six young people while performing a burnout routine during a car show charity parade on Mulberry Avenue in Downtown Selmer.

Critchley's car left the road and struck part of the crowd attending a charity parade for "America Can!

[22] 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.

[23][24] On March 20, 2008, Troy Critchley surrendered to authorities and was booked on the charges, with bond set at $35,000.

[24] Troy Critchley pleaded guilty to 28 charges of reckless assault and was sentenced to 18 months' probation.

High school terrorist threat, 2021 On June 3, 2021, a video surfaced the web of a 15-year-old threatening to shoot up and bomb McNairy Central High School, the teen said he made a terrorist threat video because he was depressed, and added he was tired of being bullied and wanted everyone to leave him alone.

At 7:30 PM, a McNairy County sheriff received a call from a concerned person about a teenage male threatening to shoot up and bomb a high school in Selmer, the sheriff subsequently responded to the threat at the teenager's home in the city of Selmer, the teen was subsequently taken into police custody then transported to a mental health treatment facility in Memphis.