Mississippi waters have frequently flooded the flatlands, creating fertile alluvial land valued for farming.

Native Americans inhabited the land of the Caruthersville area for thousands of years before European settlement.

One such earthwork remains in this county, rising 270 feet above sea level about four miles southwest of Caruthersville.

The first few decades of the town's growth can be documented through Sanborn maps, which recorded building ownership, materials, and use.

This act authorized taxes for the purpose of building, repairing, protecting, and maintaining levees in the district.

White violence against African Americans increased in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as they were pushing them out of the political system and voting across the South.

These matches took place in a ring surrounded by chicken wire, in order to keep the athletes inside, and prevent any potential interference.

[11] During the night of April 2, 2006, 60% of Caruthersville was severely damaged or destroyed by a string of tornadoes that passed through the Midwestern United States.

On Monday morning, local police, state troopers, and National Guard had barred entrance into Caruthersville and issued it as a "no fly zone" to anyone who was not a resident, an emergency worker, or a member of the newsmedia.

According to the emergency management director from a nearby county, as many as 1,500 people were displaced by the storm, which struck the southwest side of the city.

[citation needed] As reported by Caruthersville's then-mayor, Diane Sayre, there were no confirmed fatalities within city limits, but electricity and water services were disabled.

[12] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

[20] Major resources for the Caruthersville area include commerce supplied by the Mississippi river barge and transport industry as well as agriculture which accounts for 60% of the local economy.

There is now a riverboat casino in Caruthersville which has revived the local economy and provided a new source of tourist revenue.