Blytheville, Arkansas -- Southern, poor and dangerous

Blytheville contains one half of the county courthouses in Mississippi County Arkansas. The other is in Osceola. Mississippi County sits south of the Missouri bootheel.

Blytheville’s 2010 official population was 15,620, a decrease of 14.5% from the 2000 census. The city’s population has decreased each decade since 1970, when the population was 24,752.

As most Southern towns with a near 50-50 split of black-white population, Blytheville has high poverty rates – 23.3% of families; 28.6% of the total population. Blytheville’s demographics show a black population 52.15% black and 45.15% white.

Also as is common in nearly equal black-white head count, Blytheville has a high crime index, 946.2 in 2015, compared to a U.S. average of 284.1.

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http://www.bestplaces.net/crime/city/arkansas/blytheville shows a violent crime rate of 92, with 100 the highest rate possible. The U.S. average is 31.1. The town’s property crime rate is 86. U.S. average is 38.1.

Art Deco bus station in Blytheville.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blytheville,_Arkansas#/media/File:Blytheville_Greyhound_Bus_Station.jpg

Julie Adams, TV and film actress, lived eight years in Blytheville as a child. She was the object of affection of the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Adams">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Adams

1 st Lt. Edgar H. Lloyd was born and raised in Blytheville. He was killed Nov. 16, 1944, near Pompey France. Two months earlier, he destroyed five German machine nests.

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On September 14, 1944, Company E, 319th Infantry, with which 1st Lt. Lloyd was serving as a rifle platoon leader, was assigned the mission of expelling an estimated enemy force of 200 men from a heavily fortified position near Pompey, France. As the attack progressed, 1st Lt. Lloyd's platoon advanced to within 50 yards of the enemy position where they were caught in a withering machinegun and rifle crossfire which inflicted heavy casualties and momentarily disorganized the platoon. With complete disregard for his own safety, 1st Lt. Lloyd leaped to his feet and led his men on a run into the raking fire, shouting encouragement to them. He jumped into the first enemy machinegun position, knocked out the gunner with his fist, dropped a grenade, and jumped out before it exploded. Still shouting encouragement he went from 1 machinegun nest to another, pinning the enemy down with submachine gun fire until he was within throwing distance, and then destroyed them with hand grenades. He personally destroyed 5 machineguns and many of the enemy, and by his daring leadership and conspicuous bravery inspired his men to overrun the enemy positions and accomplish the objective in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. His audacious determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_H._Lloyd">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_H._Lloyd

Lloyd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on April 7, 1945.