There is no doubt about the huge influence Wal-Mart plays in the United States today. Some may argue that the retail giant benefits smaller communities by bringing jobs and affordable household goods into the area. Others would say that Wal-Mart stores are spreading across the country like a cancer, gobbling up corner stores and Mom ‘n Pop shops that once defined small towns. Whatever your view, it’s interesting to see the growth, starting with just a few locations in Arkansas in the 1960s to the more than 3,000 stores today.