NORTH-TO-SOUTH POSITION OF COUNTIES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRELATED 
WITH SELECTED OUTCOMES

John Hart, DC, MHS
Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic
P.O. Box 1452
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29304

A previous report indicated that the outcomes of cancer mortality, 
educational attainment (bachelor’s degree or higher), and per capita income 
had a tendency to worsen, from north-to-south, for people in states (n = 10) 
along the Mississippi River. The present report focuses on these outcomes in 
regard to counties along the Mississippi River. Both east and west River 
border counties (n = 45 and 42 counties respectively) were assessed. 
Comparison counties on both sides of the River, toward the middle of the 
states, were also assessed (n = 42 comparison counties on the east and 38 
comparison counties on the west). In addition, counties “split” by the River 
(n = 26 counties [17 in Minnesota and 9 in Louisiana]) were analyzed as a 
group. Each county was ranked according to its north-to-south position in 
ascending order (northern most = “1”) and correlated with the outcomes. The 
significance for the correlation coefficient was set with a 2 tailed p-value 
of < 0.05. Because the data were ranked, and did not display a normal 
distribution, the Spearman test was used for the correlations. The strongest 
and weakest correlations are reported as follows. Cancer mortality rates 
increased the most, from north-to-south, in west River border counties (r = 
0.751, p = 0.000) while its weakest correlation was observed in east 
comparison counties (r = 0.045, p = 0.7). Educational attainment decreased 
the most, from north-to-south, in west River border counties (r = -0.554, p = 
0.000) while its weakest correlation was observed in east River border 
counties (r = -0.138, p = 0.3). Income decreased the most, from north-to-
south, in west River border counties (-0.779, p = 0.000) while its weakest 
correlation was observed for split counties (r = 0.063, p = 0.7). In 
conclusion, counties along the west River border showed the strongest 
correlations for a worsening of all three outcomes compared to the other 
county regions. This region (west River border counties) showed the closest 
resemblance to previous north-to-south outcome correlations for states. 
Future research should seek to determine why people in west River border 
counties showed a stronger correlation for a worsening of these outcomes, 
from north-to-south, compared to the other county regions.  

Keywords: Mississippi River, county, north, south, outcomes, correlation.

In answer to questions contained in the Call for Abstracts:
Presenting author: John Hart 
Email: jhart@sherman.edu 
Phone: 864-578-8770, ext. 232
Fax: 864-599-4858
Okay to include my info on your website
Platform presentation (PowerPoint) preferred. Yes, I am willing to convert to 
poster if needed.