Selma is competing in a USA Today travel contest. The Queen City was nominated in USA Today’s latest 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel award contest. Selected by a panel of experts, Selma is the only Alabama city in the Best Historic Small Town category.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity,” said Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheryl Smedley. “This was all by surprise.”

Competing against 19 other cities, Selma is currently in the top 10. Other cities include Thomasville, Georgia; Deadwood, South Dakota; Sitka, Alaska; and Hudson, New York.

“When I got this information, at 4:30 p.m. yesterday we were at 19. This morning we’re at number five,” Smedley said.

People can vote once daily until Monday, April 25 at noon. Results will be announced Friday, April 29 at noon.

The website 10best.com provides original content for top attractions, destinations and activities. In partnership with USA Today, the website’s readers are encouraged to vote to help determine the top 10 in varying topics related to travel.

Other ballots include Best Small Town Weekend Escape, Best Small College Town, Best Coastal Small Town 2016, Best Archaeological Site, Best Geological Formation and others.

In the ballot, a brief description of the history of the voting rights involvement in Selma is given.

Smedley said although the movement is a important aspect of Selma’s history, she hopes the attention from being nominated for Best Historic Small Town will encourage people to explore other aspects of Selma’s past.

The city’s surviving architecture and involvement in the Civil War are two other prominent features for Selma.

“We have architecture, arts and natural beauty here as well,” Smedley said.

She hopes the recognition will also help Selma’s continuing effort in becoming a destination location.

Smedley said the city has been part of other similar contests in the past but doesn’t believe Selma has been nominated with this particular contest before.

“It’s an all-around event for the community to participate in,” Smedley said. “It doesn’t cost them anything except a minute of their time.”

For more information or to participate, visit www.10best.com/awards/travel