National Heritage Areas help to promote tourism, economic development, education and historic preservation within the boundary of the area. The Little Dixie area of 17-25 counties in Mid Missouri along the Missouri River has historic resources that are worth preserving. These resources tell the story of Missouri's connection to slavery and southern culture that shaped the politics and history of the state. Missouri is unique in that it was a slave-holding border state that did not secede but instead stayed with the Union. These two opposing viewpoints within the state of Missouri led to bloody conflicts much earlier than the start of the Civil War. This heritage area is meant to share Missouri's role in the Civil War and slavery story while also highlighting the heritage, culture and achievements the African-American community carried into their future after slavery.