1771History
The French held the area until 1771 when it was ceded by treaty to Spain.
1802History
Spain held the area until 1802 when it was returned to France.
1819History
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.
1849History
Butler County was organized in 1849 and Poplar Bluff was chosen as the county seat.
1855Architecture
In 1855 the first courthouse was built and the town grew.
1899History
The lowest temperature ever recorded was −25 °F (−32 °C) on February 13, 1899.
1901History
The hottest temperature on record is 112 °F (44 °C), recorded 3 times in 1901 on July 12, 22, and 23.
1927Disaster
A tornado leveled most of the city, especially the original business district along Main and Broadway streets, on May 9, 1927.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,023 people, 7,181 households, and 4,154 families residing in the city.
2016History
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 wa...
2018History
It is one of 15 nail companies in the US, and accounted for half of US nail production as of June 2018.
2019History
On April 3, 2019, Mid-Continent Steel and Wire received a steel tariff exemption, allowing them to maintain their workforce and increase production.
2020History
== Demographics ==
=== 2020 census ===
The 2020 United States census counted 16,225 people, 6,566 households, and 3,665 families in Poplar Bluff.
2022Education
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.
2025Disaster
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.