Poplar Bluff, Missouri

History

The French were the first Europeans to assert any territorial rights over the Poplar Bluff area. The French held the area until 1771 when it was ceded by treaty to Spain. Spain held the area until 1802 when it was returned to France. The area that would become Poplar Bluff and Butler County had no permanent European settlement until 1819, when the first white family moved into the area. It was reported that about 300 Native Americans resided in the area at that time.

The earliest permanent settlements in what is now Butler County occurred in the early 19th century along the Natchitoches Trail, an old Native American trail west of what is now Poplar Bluff on Ten Mile Creek and Cane Creek. Butler County was organized in 1849 and Poplar Bluff was chosen as the county seat. In 1855 the first courthouse was built and the town grew.

A tornado leveled most of the city, especially the original business district along Main and Broadway streets, on May 9, 1927. The tornado killed 98 people, tying it as the seventeenth deadliest tornado in U.S. history. On March 15, 2025, a low end EF3 tornado hit the western and north western part of town, killing one person and damaging many structures.

Several buildings in Poplar Bluff are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Butler County Courthouse, Cynthia-Kinzer Historic District, Alfred W. Greer House, Hargrove Pivot Bridge, Mark Twain School, J. Herbert Moore House, Thomas Moore House, Moore-Dalton House, North Main Street Historic District, John Archibald Phillips House, Poplar Bluff Commercial Historic District, Poplar Bluff Public Library, Rodgers Theatre Building, South Sixth Street Historic District, St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad Depot, St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad Depot, Wheatley Public School, Williams-Gierth House, Williamson-Kennedy School, Wright-Dalton-Bell-Anchor Department Store Building, and Zehe Building.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 16,225 people, 6,566 households, and 3,665 families in Poplar Bluff. The population density was 1,234.8 per square mile (476.8/km). There were 8,076 housing units at an average density of 614.6 per square mile (237.3/km). The racial makeup was 77.37% (12,553) white, 11.57% (1,878) black or African-American, 0.52% (84) Native American, 0.89% (144) Asian, 0.06% (9) Pacific Islander, 1.19% (193) from other races, and 8.41% (1,364) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 2.5% (425) of the population.

Of the 6,566 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18; 34.3% were married couples living together; 39.3% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 38.3% consisted of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.2.

25.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 90.7 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $35,603 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,999) and the median family income was $46,845 (+/- $4,821). Males had a median income of $23,477 (+/- $3,135) versus $19,077 (+/- $4,343) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $21,308 (+/- $1,457). Approximately, 18.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under the age of 18 and 13.2% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,023 people, 7,181 households, and 4,154 families residing in the city. The population density was 1318.6 PD/sqmi. There were 8,038 housing units at an average density of 622.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 84.79% White, 9.97% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.06% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.

There were 7,181 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.9% male and 54.1% female.

2000 census

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 16,651 people, 7,077 households, and 4,295 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,438.9 PD/sqmi. There were 7,871 housing units at an average density of 680.2 /sqmi.

The racial makeup of the city was 87.04% Caucasian, 9.71% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 7,870 households, out of which 52.7% were married couples living together, 20.28% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.9.

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,068, and the median income for a family was $28,744. The per capita income for the city was $13,996. About 19.3% of families and 24.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

Poplar Bluff is located along the Black River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.98 sqmi, of which 12.91 sqmi is land and 0.07 sqmi is water.

Poplar Bluff takes its name from a bluff that overlooks the Black River. When first settled, the bluff was covered with tulip poplar trees in one of their few abundant populations west of the Mississippi River. The Butler County Courthouse and the offices of the city's Daily American Republic newspaper sit on this site. Poplar Bluff lies along an escarpment separating the foothills of the Ozarks from the Mississippi embayment of southeastern Missouri. The foothills lie to the north and west and the embayment is to the south and east. The surrounding area is commonly known as the "Three Rivers" with many local organizations and businesses using the name. The three rivers—Current River, Black River, and St. Francis River—are 40 miles apart with Poplar Bluff located in the center on the Black River.

Climate

Poplar Bluff has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Winters are cool with occasional snowfalls while summers are hot and humid. Rain is abundant year round, but especially in spring and fall. The coldest month is January with a mean of 34.9 °F and the hottest month, July, has a mean of 80.5 °F. On average, 58 days exceed 90 °F and 2 exceed 100 °F. In the winter, an average of 10.6 days fail to exceed freezing, while there are 83 days where lows dip below freezing on average. The hottest temperature on record is 112 °F, recorded 3 times in 1901 on July 12, 22, and 23. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -25 °F on February 13, 1899.

| Jan record high F = 78 | Feb record high F = 83 | Mar record high F = 92 | Apr record high F = 94 | May record high F = 100 | Jun record high F = 110 | Jul record high F = 112 | Aug record high F = 112 | Sep record high F = 108 | Oct record high F = 96 | Nov record high F = 85 | Dec record high F = 79 | year record high F = 112

|Jan avg record high F = 64.5 |Feb avg record high F = 70.1 |Mar avg record high F = 77.3 |Apr avg record high F = 84.5 |May avg record high F = 90.6 |Jun avg record high F = 96.5 |Jul avg record high F = 99.0 |Aug avg record high F = 98.6 |Sep avg record high F = 93.6 |Oct avg record high F = 86.5 |Nov avg record high F = 75.4 |Dec avg record high F = 65.3 |year avg record high F = 101.0

|Jan avg record low F = 9.2 |Feb avg record low F = 14.1 |Mar avg record low F = 22.2 |Apr avg record low F = 33.7 |May avg record low F = 43.6 |Jun avg record low F = 56.4 |Jul avg record low F = 62.6 |Aug avg record low F = 60.0 |Sep avg record low F = 46.6 |Oct avg record low F = 34.0 |Nov avg record low F = 23.7 |Dec avg record low F = 14.7 |year avg record low F = 5.7

| Jan record low F = −23 | Feb record low F = −25 | Mar record low F = 0 | Apr record low F = 23 | May record low F = 28 | Jun record low F = 41 | Jul record low F = 48 | Aug record low F = 44 | Sep record low F = 31 | Oct record low F = 17 | Nov record low F = 4 | Dec record low F = −10 | year record low F = -25 | access-date = July 24, 2021}} | access-date = July 24, 2021}}

Government

Poplar Bluff operates under a council–manager form of government. The city manager appoints heads of various city departments and agencies including Airport Director, Art Museum Director, Black River Coliseum Director, Finance, Personnel, Collections Director, Fire Department Chief, City Planner, Police Chief, and Street Superintendent.

Economy

The largest US nail manufacturer, Mid-Continent Steel and Wire, is located in Poplar Bluff. It is one of 15 nail companies in the US, and accounted for half of US nail production as of June 2018. At its peak, the Mexican-owned firm employed about five hundred workers in the area, but as of 2018 uncertainty over steel tariffs threatens the plant's future. On April 3, 2019, Mid-Continent Steel and Wire received a steel tariff exemption, allowing them to maintain their workforce and increase production.

Education

Public schools

The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District serves the educational needs of most of the residents of Poplar Bluff and the surrounding area. There are seven elementary schools, one junior high and one senior high school in the school district. During the 2022–2023 school year, there were 5,204 students and 609 total staff members enrolled in the Poplar Bluff R-1 School District. The school colors are maroon and white and its mascot is the mule. Athletics offered in the school district include boys' and girls' basketball, soccer, track, cross country, tennis, golf, band, wrestling and swimming; boys' baseball and football; and girls' softball, volleyball, cheerleading, and pom squad.

Elementary schools

• Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center
• Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center
• O'Neal Elementary
• Oak Grove Elementary
• Lake Road Elementary
• Eugene Field Elementary
• Poplar Bluff Middle School

Secondary schools

• Poplar Bluff Junior High School- 7th and 8th grades
• Poplar Bluff High School- 9th through 12th grades
• Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center

Private schools

• Sacred Heart Catholic School
• Thomas M. Lane Seventh-day Adventist Church School
• Westwood Baptist Academy

Colleges and universities

Three Rivers College is a community college located in Poplar Bluff. It provides college courses along with career and technical programs. Three Rivers offers freshman and sophomore level classes similar to many four-year public universities. The school colors are gold and black and its mascot is Rocky Raider. Three Rivers Basketball Coach Gene Bess has been recognized as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) "all time most winning Junior College coach".

News and media

The Daily American Republic newspaper is the local news of record for Poplar Bluff. It has a daily print edition and a website which provides news. Poplar Bluff is located in the Cape Girardeau–Paducah–Harrisburg–Carbondale media market and is served by the television stations covering that market, which include:

• WPSD-TV 6 (NBC) Paducah
• KFVS-TV 12 (CBS) Cape Girardeau
  • KFVS-TV 12.2 (The CW) Cape Girardeau
• KPOB-TV 15 (ABC) Poplar Bluff (satellite of WSIL-TV 3, Harrisburg)
• KBSI 23 (Fox) Cape Girardeau
• WDKA 49 (MNTV) Paducah

Library

Poplar Bluff has a lending library, the Poplar Bluff Public Library.

Transportation

Amtrak provides passenger train service from the Poplar Bluff station.

Bluff Area Transit Service provides Poplar Bluff residents with deviated fixed route public transit service. The service operates 4 routes from 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday.

The city is at the crossroads of U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 67.

Notable people

• Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, television producer (Designing Women)
• Christian Boeving, fitness model, bodybuilder and actor
• Sean Fister, 1995, 2001 and 2005 World Long Drive Champion, inducted to 3 Hall of Fames
• Leroy Griffith, burlesque theater owner and film producer
• Tyler Hansbrough, NBA basketball player for the Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Hornets
• Scott Innes, radio broadcaster and voice actor for Scooby-Doo
• Charles Jaco, CNN reporter
• Billie G. Kanell, Medal of Honor recipient, United States Army
• Archie League, first air traffic controller in the US and past FAA Air Traffic Service director
• Tim Lollar, professional baseball pitcher
• Matt Lucas, singer, drummer and songwriter
• Julie McCullough, actress-model (Growing Pains and Playboy Playmate)
• Kameron Misner, professional baseball player for the Tampa Bay Rays
• Derland Moore, professional football player
• William Wilson Morgan, Yerkes Observatory astronomer who discovered the shape and spiral-arm structure of the Milky Way galaxy
• Mikel Rouse, composer

References

References

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