Poplar Bluff, Missouri

Poplar Bluff was incorporated in February 1870.

In 1927 a tornado leveled most of the city, especially the original business district along Main and Broadway streets.[9]

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 17,023 people, 7,181 households, and 4,154 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,318.6 inhabitants per square mile (509.1/km²). There were 8,038 housing units at an average density of 622.6 per square mile (240.4/km²). 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.

Poplar Bluff is located at 36°45′25″N 90°23′34″W (36.756944, −90.392778),[10] along the Black River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.98 square miles (33.62 km²), of which 12.91 square miles (33.44 km²) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km²) is water.[3]