The city’s official website describes Cape Girardeau as a “regional destination for healthcare, education, shopping, and employment.” But the city and the surrounding region recovered slowly from the recession of 2008, and stability remained elusive for many people and small businesses. Opioid and heroin abuse also became growing problems in the 2010s. In 2015, the average per capita income was $24,479, and 16 percent of people lived below the poverty line.9
