Purdy, Tennessee is aruralunincorporated community 3.5 mi (5.6 km) northeast ofSelmer inMcNairy County,Tennessee. Until 1890, Purdy was the county seat of McNairy County.[1]
Failed development in the 1850s kept the community rural thereafter, without industries, major business ventures or tourism. During theCivil War the town was a crossroads, but during the war damage was done to the town which led to its decline.[citation needed]
In 1850, according toCensus records, the population of Purdy was 260. The population was residing in 43 dwellings in the district.[2]
Purdy is located at 35.22670 North, 88.53060 West, 3.5 mi (5.6 km) northeast of Selmer inMcNairy County.[3]
The elevation above sea level is 570 ft (173.7 m).[3]
Purdy wasplatted in 1825 by Col. John Purdy, and named for him.[4] Purdy was the county seat ofMcNairy County until 1890.[1]
In the 1850s, citizens of Purdy refused to support a railroad line through their community, while residents of nearbySelmer supported a railroad through their town. The railroad brought business and wealth to Selmer and the community of Purdy remained rural.[citation needed]
In 1890, due to the increasing economic development of Selmer following the railroad, the county seat was moved from Purdy to Selmer.[5]
Purdy's newspaper is theIndependent Appeal, which serves all of McNairy County. It was founded in 1902. It is located at 111 N. 2nd St. in Selmer.
The community's main source of income isagriculture (especiallycotton).
After theabolition of slavery,sharecropping was the primary means of income for low income families in the area. Mostly for the cultivation of cotton, land would be used bysharecroppers in return for a share of the crop to the landowner.
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.
Municipalities and communities ofMcNairy County, Tennessee,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
35°13′36″N88°31′50″W / 35.22667°N 88.53056°W /35.22667; -88.53056
