POPLAR BLUFF, a small post-village of Butler co., Missouri. (Baldwin & Thomas, A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States ... 1854)
POPLAR BLUFF The county seat of Butler county, Butler township, is situated on the west bank of Big Black river, at the head of steamboat navigation, 157 miles from St. Louis. The country around is rich and fertile and well timbered; productions are grain of all kinds. In the north-east corner of the county on the river, is a valuabled bed of iron ore, belonging to a Mr. Brunot, of of Pittsburgh, Pa. The town was first settled in 1850, and takes its name from an old poplar cabin, built on the last high land on the edge of the swamps by the hunters. Improved land is worth from $5 to $10 per acre, and unimproved, $1 to $2. Population 200. County Sheriff - Jacob Jones. (Missouri State Gazetteer..., 1860)