Joplin is the commercial, transportation, medical and cultural hub of a 5,000-square-mile area with parts in four states - Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
The city's website boasts that its 50,000 population swells to 270,000 during the workday as it draws from the 400,000 people who live within a 40-mile radius.
Joplin, located 140 miles south of Kansas City and 200 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, was founded in 1843 and operates on a city council-manager system. It sits at the junction of Interstate 44 and U.S. 71 and along historic Route 66. Joplin has been working on an ambitious downtown beautification project since 2005.
In 1933, the infamous outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow hid out in a Joplin garage for several weeks before fleeing after police were tipped off. They left behind a camera that yielded several iconic photos of the criminal duo.
The city's annual Boomtown Days festival in June features music, entertainment, kids activities, contests, food and games. The festival recalls Joplin's history as a lead-mining capital.
The Joplin Little Theater is the oldest continuously operating community theater west of the Mississippi, the city website boasts.
Famous people born in Joplin include poet Langston Hughes, golfer Hale Irwin, actors Bob Cummings and Dennis Weaver, and Emily Newell Blair who fought for women's suffrage.
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Hey cesar show these people some respect go hide in your querr hole
Earth Changes are coming. They will grow as the days pass and there will be no place on earth that will go unaffected by them. They are coming because God is getting tired of looking down upon man's evil day in and day out. War without end, murder, thefts, lies, fraud, sodomy, adultery, cruelty to children, maltreatment of the poor, medical experiments on unsuspecting and poor, devil worship and witchcraft. These are all reasons why God allows and even directs these things to happen to men. So next time you see a disaster and ask God why, you will understand that there is a simple reason for it. Evil will not be allowed to continue for much longer.
Lol. No matter how many times i hear that, it still cracks me up.
My mom and I got into an argument at the meat section at Wal-Mart. The police were called. I hid in the cereal and here I am.
I'm gay
Hey, Joe, weren't you talking about the Rapture just a few days ago?
Now you're going to start harping on every disaster that happens, and call out the God guard?
Please, enough already!
Please stop. That's as nice as I can ask.
Ok
This is my first time here. CNN is the only thing I can pick up on my digital ears. banasy!
Do we get free grilled cheeses when we get there?
@ Joe:
You may believe your 1:20 PM comment, but there are some here to whom it reads as if it were a script for Saturday Night Live.
Your implication that this natural disaster is punishment for mankind's actions can only multiply the anxiety and sorrow of those human beings who have lost loved ones and, in some cases, all of their property.
Please show some minimal respect for them.
Just a quick correction.....Joplin is not "the commercial, transportation, medical and cultural hub for the four state area." While Joplin may be "one such" major area for these activities, it is certainly not "the" hub as alluded to in the article.
@billy The article is in reference to the immediate Four State area. In which case Joplin is the major hub...
Obviously you don't live in the 4-state corner where Joplin is the HUB for shopping, dining and medical care. Need cancer treatment you have to go to Joplin. Baby need ICU care thats in Joplin. Wanna eat Red Lobster that's Joplin. How about flooring for your house – not in my town, that's 20 miles up the road to Joplin. Every Sunday we go shopping and eating in Joplin – exept for this weekend when we went Saturday to take grandson to Chucke Cheese – in JOPLIN.
270,000? That's a lot of visitors. Bet the clean up bill is high.
Joplin is anything but the hub of anything around here. And not trying to hate – i've been through many times, it's a lovely place with good donuts early in the morning. 50k? Tulsa has 390k. Springfield, MO, 159k. Kansas City, KS MO, 570k. Oklahoma City, 580k. Wichita, KS, 382k.
Joplin is a truckstop in the big scene. One of a few between Tulsa and Springfield, MO.
And i'm commenting on the article, not the town. The town is nice and i'm sad it got broke. What words are strong enough? You're on our highway signs and everything.
Let me put it this way: you look forward to going through joplin on your way somewhere else.
Personally I prefer Joplin to Tulsa any day. Here in the 4-state area, Joplin is to us what 71st street is to you. Even with the destruction, I will continue to look forward to Joplin.
There used to be a night spot on the highway near Joplin where I heard an extremely attractive young lady belt out a rendition of "Stormy Weather" that I'll never forget.
Perhaps she was a prophet–no, a little psychic.
I love karaoke
Hey, leeintulsa–
I've never been in a room that had karaoke.
Your loss:-)