Editing Missouri Bootheel (section)

==Culture and economy==
The Bootheel is on the edge of the [[Mississippi Delta]] culture that produced the [[Delta blues]].  Its relatively large [[African American|black]] population makes it distinct from the rest of [[rural]] Missouri. The area has a unique rural black culture reflected in its music, churches and other traditions. The black population ranges from about 26% in [[Pemiscot County, Missouri|Pemiscot County]], to 15% in New Madrid County, and about 9% in Dunklin County.

The Bootheel once had a reputation for lawlessness. Remote settlements along the river banks, miles from paved roads, provided an ideal environment (and market) for [[moonshine|moonshining]] and [[Rum-running|bootlegging]].{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

Culturally, the Bootheel is considered more [[Southern United States|Southern]] than [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]]. It was settled largely by people from the South, both black and white. It is considered part of the [[Mid-South (region)|Mid-South]], a region centered on the [[Memphis metropolitan area]]; it is also included in the area of the [[Upper South]]. Definitions of the Mid-South vary but in general include west [[Tennessee]] and [[Kentucky]], north [[Mississippi]], northeast [[Arkansas]], and the Missouri Bootheel.<ref>[http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/?n=background History of the National Weather Service: Memphis, Tennessee], National Weather Service</ref> The locations of the region's television stations had reflected this until the early 21st century prior to smaller, but closer cities obtaining local stations and before the digital transition in 2009:
*[[KFVS-TV|CBS]] and [[KBSI-TV|Fox]] affiliates ([[KFVS-TV]] and [[KBSI (TV)|KBSI]], respectively) are located in [[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Girardeau]] (the prior affiliate was [[WREG-TV]] in Memphis)
*[[WSIL-TV|ABC]] affiliates include [[WSIL-TV]] in [[Harrisburg, Illinois]], and [[KAIT]] in [[Jonesboro, Arkansas]] (the prior affiliate was [[WATN-TV|WATN]] in Memphis)
*[[WPSD-TV|NBC]] affiliate [[WPSD-TV]] is in [[Paducah, Kentucky]]; digital subchannel [[KAIT-DT2]] from Jonesboro is a secondary affiliate (the prior affiliate was [[WMC-TV]] in Memphis)

Economically, the agricultural area is one of the more [[poverty|impoverished]] parts of Missouri. It does not enjoy the benefits of tourism as do areas of the nearby [[Ozark Mountains]].  There is some manufacturing, but the area is primarily agricultural.  Because of its alluvial past, the area's rich soil is ideal for growing [[soybeans]], [[rice]] and [[cotton]]. Some [[truck farming|truck crops]] are grown, most notably various types of [[melons]], especially [[watermelon]]s.  A limited amount of livestock is raised. In contrast to much of the rest of Missouri, there are few [[fence]]s.

No large cities are located in the Bootheel. Sizable towns include [[Kennett, Missouri|Kennett]], the birthplace of singers [[Sheryl Crow]], [[David Nail]], and [[Trent Tomlinson]]; and [[Sikeston, Missouri|Sikeston]], the birthplace of professional athletes [[James Wilder Sr.]], [[Brandon Barnes (linebacker)|Brandon Barnes]], and [[Blake DeWitt]]. Sikeston's city limits fall within both [[Scott County, Missouri|Scott County]] and [[New Madrid County]]. [[Cape Girardeau]] and [[Poplar Bluff, Missouri|Poplar Bluff]] are often considered to be part of the Bootheel due to the influence the two cities have had on the development of the region, but neither is located within its geographic boundaries.

[[Hornersville, Missouri|Hornersville]], a small town in southern Dunklin County, was home to [[William H. Ray (shoe mascot)|William H. "Major" Ray]], a one-time 19th-century circus "[[midget]]".  He later became known as the representative of the [[Buster Brown]] shoe [[brand]].  He and his wife, Jennie, are buried in a cemetery in Hornersville.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2140|title=Buster Brown's Grave, Hornersville, Missouri|website=RoadsideAmerica.com}}</ref> [[Caruthersville, Missouri|Caruthersville]] is the county seat of Pemiscot County.

The small towns of [[Senath]] and [[Arbyrd]] are also located in Dunklin County.  They are home to a locally celebrated [[Will-o'-the-wisp|ghost light]], sometimes called the "Senath Light" or "Arbyrd light".  It occurs between these two towns and closer to [[Hollywood, Missouri|Hollywood]] near the Lulu Church and Cemetery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghosts.org/ghostlights/ghostlights.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908035550/http://www.ghosts.org/ghostlights/ghostlights.html|title=Ghostlights|website=Ghosts.org|archive-date=September 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=5611718|title=Ghost Hunters Investigate the Senath Lights|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061031195121/https://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=5611718|archive-date=October 31, 2006 |date=October 31, 2006 |author=Yalanda Young|website=Kait8.com}}</ref>

The Missouri Bootheel is the home of two members of the musical group the Kentucky Headhunters, Doug and Ricky Phelps. They received their education at Southland C-9, the consolidated schools of Arbyrd and [[Cardwell, Missouri]].  They performed at the Cotton Pickin Festival in the small town of [[Arbyrd]]; a place where they spent much time while growing up. They both performed as [[Brother Phelps]], and then Doug came back and performed with [[The Kentucky Headhunters]]. This festival is a major attraction and draws a huge crowd for a town of only about 550 people. Other prominent acts at [[Arbyrd]] include [[T. Graham Brown]] and [[The Bellamy Brothers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dddnews.com/story/1564331.html|title=Local News: Cotton Pickin' Concert, Sept. 12 |date=August 23, 2009 |publisher= Delta Dunklin Democrat|website=DDDnews.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dddnews.com/story/1460433.html|title=Arbyrd prepares for Cotton Pickin' Festival 2008|date=September 11, 2008|author=Deanna Coronado|publisher= Delta Dunklin Democrat|website=DDDnews.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/archive/kentucky-headhunters-vol-35-no-23/|title=Kentucky Headhunters|author=Steve Dougherty |date=June 17, 1991|website=PEOPLE.com}}</ref>

Also in the northern part of Dunklin County lies the town of Malden, the home of country/rockabilly singer [[Narvel Felts]]. Felts' music has played worldwide, as he continues to tour.