Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Poplar Bluff is a city located in Butler County, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 16,651. It is the county seat of Butler CountyTemplate:GR.

The Black River Colosseum and the Three Rivers Community College are located in Poplar Bluff. Poplar Bluff. The city was founded as the county seat in 1849. The city was placed on the bluffs of Black River. It consisted of about 150 acres. The identity of the very first European visitor to the Poplar Bluff area is Hernando DeSoto. DeSoto 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 into Butler County. DeSoto and his men traveled through what is now Ash Hill and passed just outside of Poplar Bluff. Later, the French were the first Europeans who assert any territorial rights over the Poplar Bluff area. The French held the area until 1770, when it was ceeded by treaty to Spain. Spain held the area until 1802 when it was returned to France. Througout this time, the area of Poplar Bluff as well as all of Butler County, held almost no European settlements. Until the year 1819 when Solomon Kittrell, a native of Kentucky settled on Cane Creek. On cane creek, Kittrell took up a large tract of land, built a home, erected a distillery and established a store (or trading post). His supplies were brought in by ox teams from Cape Girardeau. When this first white settler moved into the Poplar Bluff area, it is reported that about 300 Native Americans resided in the area.

Geography

Poplar Bluff is located at 36°45'35" North, 90°24'10" West (36.759808, -90.402731)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.0 km² (11.6 mi²). 30.0 km² (11.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 16,651 people, 7,077 households, and 4,295 families residing in the city. The population density is 555.7/km² (1,438.9/mi²). There are 7,871 housing units at an average density of 262.7/km² (680.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 87.04% White, 9.71% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 7,077 households out of which 27.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% are married couples living together, 15.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% are non-families. 34.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.27 and the average family size is 2.91.

In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $22,068, and the median income for a family is $28,744. Males have a median income of $23,851 versus $18,770 for females. The per capita income for the city is $13,996. 24.4% of the population and 19.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 34.4% of those under the age of 18 and 17.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale Poplar Bluff a brief Historical Perspective: