Poplar Bluff

Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Nickname(s): Gateway to the Ozarks, The Bluff, PB
Location of Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Coordinates: 36°45′35″N 90°24′10″W / 36.75972°N 90.40278°W / 36.75972; -90.40278
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Butler
Government
- Mayor	Susan K. Williams (R)
Area
- Total	11.6 sq mi (30.0 km2)
- Land	11.6 sq mi (30.0 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	361 ft (110 m)
Population (2007)
- Total	17,029
- Density	1,438.9/sq mi (555.6/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	63901-63902
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-59096[1]
GNIS feature ID	0751712[2]

Poplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County^[3] and is known as "The Gateway To The Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 16,651; a 2007 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,029. The Poplar Bluff Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of all of Butler County. The city is at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 60 and U.S. Highway 67.

Geography

Poplar Bluff is located at 36°45′35″N 90°24′10″W / 36.75972°N 90.40278°W / 36.75972; -90.40278 (36.759808, -90.402731),^[4] along the Black River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30.0 km²), all of it land.

Poplar Bluff takes its name from a bluff that overlooks Black River. When first settled, the bluff was covered with poplar trees. The Butler County Courthouse and the offices of the Daily American Republic newspaper sit on this site. Poplar Bluff lies along an escarpment separating the Ozark Foothills from the Mississippi embayment in Southeast 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 conveniently located right in the center on the Black River.

History

The city was founded as the county seat in 1849. It consisted of about 150 acres. The identity of the very first European visitor to the Poplar Bluff area is Hernando de Soto. De Soto landed at Tampa Bay in May of 1539. Later he crossed the Mississippi River. He then traveled to a point below the mouth of the St. Francis River and eventually into Butler County. De Soto and his men traveled through what is now Ash Hill and passed just outside of Poplar Bluff. Later, the French were the first Europeans to assert any territorial rights over the Poplar Bluff area. The French held the area until 1770 when it was ceded by treaty to Spain. Spain held the area until 1802 when it was returned to France. Throughout this time the area of Poplar Bluff, as well as all of Butler County, held almost no European settlements up until 1819. When the first white settler family moved into the Poplar Bluff area in 1819, it is reported that about 300 Native Americans resided in the area.

The earliest permanent settlements in what is now Butler County occurred in the early 1800s 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 became the center of population.

The character of the early settlers of this county is evidenced in the choice they made for the county seat. They could have well chosen the Cane Creek area, site of the first settlement. It would have been undoubtedly a convenience to them and a financial benefit, but they chose to have their county seat in the center of the county on a navigable river to make it more easily accessible to all who would come here to live. The river in the early days of the 19th Century was used like a major highway is today.

They chose an uninhabited bluff on Black River on which to place the town that would contain their governing offices and they named it for the beautiful poplar trees that grew profusely on that bluff. They called it Poplar Bluff and they set out to build a town which eventually became their county seat. By the end of 1850 a town had been started and some ten families lived in Poplar Bluff. In 1855 the first courthouse was built and the town grew. Finally, on February 9, 1870, Poplar Bluff was incorporated.

The City's Historical Preservation Commission has more information on the history of Poplar Bluff and the area. The website features numerous history articles and photos, an online coloring book, puzzles, a trivia quiz and a place for Poplar Bluff area residents and former residents to share their recollections.

In 1927 a tornado leveled most of the city, especially the original business district along Main and Broadway streets.

Demographics

As of a census estimate in 2006, there were 16,651 people, 7,077 households, and 4,295 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,438.9 people per square mile (555.7/km²). There were 7,871 housing units at an average density of 680.2/sq mi (262.7/km²).

The racial makeup of the city was 88.6% White, 9.9% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population. According to a 2008 demographical study conducted by Claritas, Inc., there are an estimated 26,777 people who live within a five-mile radius of Poplar Bluff’s City Center.

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.

Education

Public Schools

The Poplar Bluff R-1 School District serves the educational needs of most of the city's residents and nearby. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, there are seven elementary schools, one junior high and one senior high school in the school district for a total of nine schools. During the 2008-2009 school year, there was a total of 4,934 students and 374 certified 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, and tennis; boys' baseball, golf, football, and wrestling; and girls' softball, volleyball, cheerleading, and swimming.

Elementary Schools

• Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center
• Mark Twain Kindergarten Center
• O'Neal Elementary
• Oak Grove Elementary
• Lake Road Elementary
• Eugene Field Elementary
• Poplar Bluff 5th and 6th Grade Center

Secondary Schools

• Poplar Bluff Junior High School
• Poplar Bluff Senior High School

Private Schools

Poplar Bluff is also home to six private schools that serve both the educational and religious needs of students and their families.

• Agape Christian School
• Sacred Heart Catholic School
• Southern Missouri Christian School
• Thomas M. Lane Seventh-day Adventist Church School
• Westwood Baptist Academy
• Zion Lutheran

Colleges and Universities

Three Rivers Community College (TRCC) is located in Poplar Bluff and provides quality college courses along with career and technical programs. TRCC offers the same freshman- and sophomore-level classes as many four-year public universities for about a third of the cost. Its affordable career and technical programs give students the skills necessary to succeed in the workplaces of today and tomorrow. TRCC also offers very strong programs in the areas of financial aid, career advising, and job placement. The school colors are yellow and black and its mascot is the Raider. TRCC Basketball Coach Gene Bess has more NJCAA wins than any coach in history.

Rodgers Theatre

Notable people

• Linda Bloodworth-Thomason: Television producer of Designing Women
• Julie McCullough: Growing Pains and Playboy Playmate
• Scott Innes: Voice actor for Scooby-Doo
• Tyler Hansbrough: North Carolina Basketball star who was drafted by the Indiana Pacers
• Ben Hansbrough: Notre Dame Basketball player
• Tim Lollar:Professional Baseball Pitcher

Transportation

• Poplar Bluff (Amtrak station)
• Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport
• City Cab
• SMTS
• Three Rivers Travel
• Kelly's Tours & Travel

References

External links

• The History of Butler County 1870-1930

• Poplar Bluff, Missouri is at coordinates 36°45′35″N 90°24′10″W / 36.759808°N 90.402731°W / 36.759808; -90.402731 (Poplar Bluff, Missouri)Coordinates: 36°45′35″N 90°24′10″W / 36.759808°N 90.402731°W / 36.759808; -90.402731 (Poplar Bluff, Missouri)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Butler County, Missouri County seat: Poplar Bluff Cities Fisk | Neelyville | Poplar Bluff | Qulin Townships Ash Hill | Beaver Dam | Black River | Cane Creek | Coon Island | Epps | Gillis Bluff | Neely | Poplar Bluff | St. Francois Unincorporated communities Broseley | Fagus | Harviell | Hendrickson | Rombauer

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