Poplar Bluff, Missouri

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Poplar Bluff is a city in Butler County in southeastern Missouri, United States. It is the county seat of Butler County<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. The population was 16,225 at the 2020 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Poplar Bluff Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of all of Butler County. The city is at the crossroads of U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 67.

History

Postcard featuring Poplar Bluff, produced in 1946

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 reportedTemplate:By whom 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.<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive</ref> The tornado killed 98 people, tying it as the seventeenth deadliest tornado in U.S. history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="nris">Template:NRISref</ref><ref name="nps">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nps1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nps2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

Poplar Bluff is located along the Black River.<ref name=atlas>Missouri Atlas & Gazetteer, DeLorme, First edition, 1998, p. 67 Template:Isbn</ref> According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

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 Template:Convert and the hottest month, July, has a mean of Template:Convert.<ref name=NCEI/> On average, 58 days exceed Template:Convert and 2 exceed Template:Convert.<ref name=NCEI/> 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.<ref name=NCEI/> The hottest temperature on record is Template:Convert, recorded 3 times in 1901 on July 12, 22, and 23.<ref name=NOAA/> The lowest temperature ever recorded was Template:Convert on February 13, 1899.<ref name=NOAA/>

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Demographics

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2020 census

The 2020 United States census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 8,076 housing units at an average density of 614.6 per square mile (237.3/kmTemplate:Sup). 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 17,023 people, 7,181 households, and 4,154 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 8,038 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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 Template:Convert. There were 7,871 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.

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.

Government

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The city hall of Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff High School Stadium

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.Template:Citation needed

Economy

The largest US nail manufacturer, Mid-Continent Steel and Wire, is located in Poplar Bluff.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is one of 15 nail companies in the US, and accounted for half of US nail production as of June 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On April 3, 2019, Mid-Continent Steel and Wire received a steel tariff exemption, allowing them to maintain their workforce and increase production.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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".<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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:

Library

Poplar Bluff has a lending library, the Poplar Bluff Public Library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Transportation

Gateway arch

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

Notable people

See also

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References

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