As we travel west, Route 66 continues to connect many of the the cities and towns in the Tri-State (Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) mining district, which produced lead and zinc for 120 years. Peak production in the district occurred between 1918 and World War II, and slowly declined after the war. The last active mine, near Baxter Springs, Kansas, closed in 1970. The city of Miami experienced the same early 20th Century mining boom as the rest of the region, with miners and support people flocking to live and work in the area. Route 66 came along during the boom, in the late 1920's.
Miami was lucky, at least for a while. In 1943, just as the mining era began its decline, the B. F. Goodrich company built a tire plant in the city. That plant supported the economy for over forty years, until its closing in 1986. Today, the mix of companies in town is not as solid as it could be. Blitz USA, in business since World War II and the largest manufacturers of gas cans in the United States, the "leader in portable fuel containment," nonetheless filed Chapter 11 in 2011. Miami also hosts some entities that offer only modest growth potential, including a couple of colleges, a 117 bed hospital, and the Stables Casino. ("High stakes bingo" anyone?) As for Route 66's effect on the local economy, I believe it was also always modest at best, as a city as large as Miami (13,500+ residents today) can amply support the restaurants and other roadside businesses in town without the increased traffic.
The Coleman Theater serves as the top 66 attraction in Miami. Mine owner George L. Coleman settled in Miami during the early boom times, and he built the theater in town that bears his name in 1929. Take a look inside at the "Mighty Wurlitzer" pipe organ, and marvel at the fact that the Three Stooges played there. Then have a burger at Waylan's as you head out of town, Onionhead. Log Book: 633 miles motored on old 66.
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