Unyielding is a University of Missouri School of Journalism project for Investigate Midwest.

Nestled in Missouri’s Bootheel is the small town of Kennett, the Dunklin County seat. With just over 10,000 residents, it’s a close-knit community where good-natured teasing is a common show of affection.

Once a sprawling swampland, it has since been transformed into an expanse of flat, fertile fields where agriculture stands as the backbone of the region’s economy.

Kennett’s houses don’t get much taller than one story, and as visitors stroll down the main street, they’re welcomed by a mix of restaurants, boutiques and a cozy hair salon. These buildings are dwarfed in size by a silent, boarded-up hospital, its vacancy a remembrance of what the community has lost.

It’s the kind of community wher

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