In 1949, Sam Walton wanted to leave Newport, Arkansas., in favor of St. Louis to buy a department store there. 

But his wife would have none of it. She insisted that they live in a town of no more than 10,000 people. 

Surprisingly, this was a boon that would set the course for his company, Walmart, since "small-town communities were a relatively untapped population for discount retailers." 

And now Walmart makes $1.8 million in profits an hour.