Selmer became the county seat of McNairy County in April 1891 after the seat was moved from Purdy when Purdy citizens voted against having the railroad pass through their town, sending the line 4 miles west to what became Selmer. Many leading citizens of Purdy then moved to Selmer, where the County Court held its first session at the new county seat on April 7th, 1891, and all courts have met there since. The cornerstone for the new courthouse was placed on June 16th, 1891, and Selmer's first bank was also established that year. By the turn of the century, McNairy County was considered the most favorably situated county among Tennessee's counties and cities, and Selmer grew rapidly because it was served by two railroads and two national concrete highways, 45 and 64. The McNairy County Historical Museum preserves many county artifacts, the McNairy County Archives holds documents from Selmer's flourishing years, downtown murals depict the area's Rock-n-Roll and Rockabilly music history, and pictures of McNairy County Music Hall of Fame inductees are displayed on Court Avenue.