Selmer is a town in McNairy County, Tennessee, in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 4,541 at the 2000 census and estimated at 4,488 at the 2015 census. It is the county seat of McNairy County. It is named after Selma, Alabama. Buford Pusser served as the sheriff of McNairy County from 1964 to 1970.