Selby is the principal town of the Selby District, a local authority area created in the 1974 local government reorganisation.  The two minor towns of Sherburn in Elmet and the brewing town of Tadcaster are also part of the Selby district.

The town's population, known as Selebians, was 13,012 as of the last national Census (2001).

Selby was built around it's famous Abbey church, formerly part of a huge monstic complex, as it's magnificent centrepiece.  Much of the town's wealth historically came from the river on which it resides, The Ouse.

Selby's river and port was once hugely important to the towns growth, together with it's canal which links the town with Leeds and as far as Liverpool beyond.

Selby is located almost equidistant between nearby major regional hub of Leeds, the historical tourism hotspot of York and the modern port of Hull.

As the town has expanded, together with the opening of the Selby by-pass in 2003, investment and regeneration has started to benefit the Town. The previously neglected Waterfront area of the town has already seen much investment, with more to follow as multi million pound flood defence works near completion.

Shopping areas are seeing improvement too, with new edge-of-town shopping complexes such as the Three Lakes Park bringing new retailers to the town. Town Centre shopping is also set to benefit from a major revamp in the coming years.

Yorkshire Forward and local authority, Selby District Council, are also working on a new 25 year vision for the future of the town's economy, environment and community as part of their 'Urban Renaissance programme