Selma Land Company (1819-18 ).

The Selma Land Company was organized in 1819, and founded the town of Selma, Dallas Co., Ala., in the same year. When the town was incorporated in 1820, the company changed its name to the Selma Town Company.

In addition to other tracts of land, this company bought the land upon which Selma now stands and decided to build a town at that point. The place was surveyed and laid off into 125 lots and 37 half lots. The name Selma was given to the town by William R. King, who named the company. Among the town's first commissioners in 1820 were Dr. George Phillips, chair; E.M. Bolles, Benjamin S. Saunders, and Gilbert Shearer. Also, in Nov. of 1820 the commissioners offered to donate forty acres of land or more in fee simple to a university of the State of Alabama, if such was ever created.