In reference to the significance of a marginal profession, 44 Missouri chiropractors practicing in 20 rural counties (total enumeration) were compared with 39 randomly selected Kansas City chiropractors to determine the following characteristics: (1) social background; (2) place history (at time of birth, start of school; termination of 8th grade, and termination of high school); (3) progress in entering the field (education); and (4) nature of the practicing chiropractor and his practice. Findings indicated that rural chiropractors were: (1) from white collar families with entrepreneural tendencies; (2) pursuing this field out of a need to fulfill an entrepreneural imperative, rather than a specific career calling; (3) practicing in areas comparable to their place of origin; and (4) trained in or adjacent to their state of origin. It was concluded that the concepts of localism and client control influenced this marginal profession, as competition with and isolation from colleagues renders the practitioner vulnerable to client control while localism furthers community acceptance. It was argued, therefore, that localism and client control were interrelated influences on the chiropractor practice. (JC)