Bootheel
Around Bootheel
Photo: formulanone from Huntsville, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · Missouri · 58k people
Bootheel
Locals say The Bootheel · “The Bootheel”, “Missouri's Delta”
Deep soil, wide skies, and the river's pull.
Harvest GoldDelta GreenRiver Bottom Brown
Welcome to the Bootheel, where the Mississippi runs deep and the hunting is legendary. Whether you're here for the catfish or the county fair, you'll find a friendly wave and a strong cup of coffee. Pull up a chair and stay a while.
Clubs for Bootheel
No clubs for Bootheel yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Bootheel. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Bootheel. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- New Madrid Earthquake Museum Tells the story of the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes.
- Big Oak Tree State Park Wetland preserve with boardwalk trails and birdwatching.
- Mississippi River Levee The massive earthen levee that shapes the riverfront landscape.
- Pemiscot County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Caruthersville, built in 1902.
- New Madrid County Courthouse Courthouse in New Madrid, rebuilt after the 1927 flood.
- Stoddard County Courthouse County courthouse in Bloomfield, a classic red-brick building.
- Outdoors Duck hunting
- Outdoors Fishing on the Mississippi
- With kids Visit the New Madrid Earthquake Museum
- With kids Attend a county fair
- Evenings Local taverns
- Evenings VFW hall dances
- Locals love Duck hunting blinds
- Locals love Small-town diners
Through the year
- Pemiscot County Fair July Carnival rides, livestock shows, and local food in Caruthersville.
- Stoddard County Fair August A classic county fair with 4-H exhibits and tractor pulls in Dexter.
- New Madrid County Fair September Local agriculture, crafts, and entertainment in New Madrid.
- Christmas Parades December Small-town parades in Dexter, Caruthersville, and New Madrid.
The Bootheel has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are perfect—mild temps and lower humidity.
Talk like a local
- “New Madrid”
- Locals pronounce it 'New MAD-rid' (emphasis on MAD).
- “The Bootheel”
- The region's nickname, shaped like the heel of a boot.
- “Levee”
- The river embankment, a common landmark.
- “Y'all”
- Plural 'you' used in everyday speech.
Getaways
- Sikeston Home of Lambert's Cafe and the Sikeston Depot.
- Poplar Bluff Historic downtown and the Black River.
- Kennett The 'Gateway to the Bootheel' with a lively square.
- Reelfoot Lake Famous for bald cypress trees and eagle watching.
Local flavour
Teams
- Southeast Missouri State Redhawks NCAA Division I
- Missouri Tigers NCAA Division I
- Arkansas Razorbacks NCAA Division I
Also rooting for Dexter High School Bearcats, New Madrid County Central Eagles, Caruthersville Tigers, Portageville Bulldogs
Eat and drink
- Fried catfish Local river catfish, often served with hushpuppies and coleslaw
- Pulled pork BBQ Slow-smoked pork with a tangy vinegar-based sauce
- Fried okra A staple side dish in the delta
- Sweet tea Served at every diner and family gathering
- Pecan pie Southern dessert featuring local pecans
- Meat-and-three diners Local diners offering a choice of meat and three side dishes
Where people go
- Cotton gins Historic and working structures where cotton is processed
- Grain elevators Tall, iconic structures dotting the flat landscape
- Mississippi River levees Earthen embankments that hold back the river and offer long views
- Duck hunting blinds Seasonal camps and blinds along the river and wetlands
- Small-town diners Gathering spots for coffee, gossip, and hearty meals
- New Madrid Earthquake Museum Commemorating the 1811–1812 earthquakes that shaped the region
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaSikestonMissouriWhere the river meets the fields and the rolls fly.Poplar BluffMissouriWhere the Ozarks meet the riverKennettMissouriFlat, fertile, and friendlyReelfoot LakeTennesseeWhere the cypress meet the water and the fishing is always good.Cape GirardeauMissouriWhere the river meets the heartlandFredericktownMissouriSlow hills, deep roots.Union CityTennesseeHome of Reelfoot LakeParagouldArkansasWhere peaches and Southern hospitality grow
Stoddard, New Madrid and Pemiscot counties, MO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.