Budget-friendly home prices and outdoor recreation
In Poplar Bluff, a rolling landscape harbors an eclectic collection of homes that can be had at relatively accessible prices. Local Realtor Todd Henson considers affordability to be the biggest draw of this southeastern Missouri city, a quality that can apply whether someone’s looking for a classic home or a modern one. But no matter what type of home someone in this community of 16,000 chooses, they gain access to a region flush with outdoor recreation opportunities on the outskirts of the Ozark Mountains. “What keeps people here is the nature scapes,” says Henson, who’s with Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc. and is a native. “We are the gateway to the Ozarks, and have easy access to the natural scenic riverways, national forests, hiking and the outdoors.”
Poplar Bluff is nestled near the Ozark Mountains with roughtly 16,000 people calling it home.
Poplar Bluff offers many accessible living options.
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A mix of older homes, renovations and new subdivisions
The city's median home price is $173,000, and buyers can choose from a variety of ages and styles, Henson says. Many of Poplar Bluff’s older homes, dating to the late 19th century, are in the center of town. Bungalows sell for between $15,000 and $200,000 based on condition. “In some of the older parts of town, you’re seeing a lot of developers reinvesting into older houses,” Henson says. “Whether they’re fixing them up, flipping them. But also maintaining the characteristics of the homes.” The new Legacy Estates and Magnolia Lane subdivisions offer houses priced between $200,000 and $350,000. “Those are the two big subdivisions in our area that people are really flocking to,” says Derek Emmons, a Realtor with Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc., who has 11 years of industry experience.
Poplar Bluff saw a drop in property and violent crimes from 2023 to 2024, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Bungalows in varying styles can be found throughout Poplar BLuff.
Many homes in the center of Poplar Bluff date back to the late 19th-century.
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Healthcare and manufacturing are major local industries
The 412-bed Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is the city’s largest employer with 1,400 employees. John J. Pershing VA Medical Center is another major employer. More than 20% of the city's workforce is in manufacturing, according to the local economic-development authority. Local manufacturing companies include Briggs & Stratton, Revere Plastics and Nortek. Emmons says there are a lot of remote workers in the city, too.
Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines and relies on the hard-working Poplar Bluff community.
The Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center is the city's largest employer.
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The Gateway to the Ozarks
Poplar Bluff maintains a rural character, and outdoor activities abound in and around the city. The city’s park system has multiple options, from the walking trails at McClane Park to the playground at Hendrickson Park. Less than 10 miles from the center of the city, Mark Twain Natural Forest, part of the Ozark Highlands, features land for hunting and the 21-mile Wolf Creek Trail.
Multiple bodies of water in the region, including Lake Wappapello, Clearwater Lake and Current River, are open for fishing and swimming. “Current River is a huge attraction,” Emmons says. “People come from all over the country just to float on the river.” The Black River Coliseum Aquatic and Fitness Center is an option for fee-based indoor activity.
The climate in Poplar Bluff rotates through all four seasons. “We have a lot of activities in the summer,” Henson says. “Autumn, with the rolling hills, we have a nice fall. Very vibrant-colored springs. And then snow.” The city averages a little over 7 inches of snow each year. Also, since 2010, Missouri has averaged 55 tornadoes each year, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
Anglers in search of crappie, catfish and bass can find fishing opportunities at Lake Wappapello State Park.
The Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff is a great large venue for concerts, rodeo, and dances.
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Historic brick streets and events downtown
Westwood Boulevard is packed with big-box stores, chain eateries and the AMC CLASSIC Poplar Bluff 8 theather. Downtown Poplar Bluff’s signature brick streets give way to locally owned businesses, including restaurants, clothing stores, a comic book store and a barbershop. “A lot of the buildings down there are ready for development,” Henson says. “There’s already been a lot of investors putting money into the downtown area. And some of the older, historic buildings are still very affordable and ripe for business development and growth.” The area's Margaret Harwell Art Museum is one example of a repurposed building, a late 19th-century neoclassic home that now houses a variety of pieces from artists known nationally and worldwide.
Downtown is also home to events including the annual Iron Horse Festival in late September, which features food, live entertainment, crafts vendors and a car show. The Butler County Fair, around the same time, is another major event at the Poplar Bluff Motorsports Park and Black River Coliseum.
Westwood Boulevard
Downtown Poplar Bluff
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Interstate expansion could reduce travel time, boost development
U.S. routes 60 and 67 are major roadways in Poplar Bluff. The area will include a portion of Interstate 57, too, as part of an ongoing project to extend that highway. “It’ll be the fastest route from Chicago to Dallas,” Henson says. “That’ll help development. A lot of the city officials and Chamber of Commerce are excited about that development coming through.” Locals can also travel out of town via the Amtrak station or by flying out of the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, 70 miles northeast.
An alternative school and Three Rivers College
Poplar Bluff School District carries a B rating on Niche. The system serves over 5,000 students and includes the Mark Twain School, an alternative campus for students in grades 4 to 12 who need targeted attention.
The two-year Three Rivers College is a higher-education option with the main campus in Poplar Bluff. Three Rivers has roughly 2,700 students and offers programs ranging from criminal justice to nursing.
The Poplar Bluff School District carries a B rating on Niche.
Three Rivers College is a two-year higher education option in Poplar Bluff.
Anthony Rodebush, originally from Carter County, home of the Current River, grew up working on a cattle and hog farm, and waiting for the moment he could get to the river. When he wasn't busy working on the farm, he spent most of his time on the river fishing for trophy smallmouth, chasing whitetail deer and turkey, or playing basketball. Anthony attended Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff on a basketball scholarship and finished his college career playing at Drury University in Springfield Missouri with a BA in criminology. He has spent the last 25 years in Ozark, Mo living on the Finley River with his wife Karen and raising their two sons Walker and Nash. Anthony and his wife also enjoy home improvement and after remodeling and selling several homes, he found that he has a passion for real estate. Anthony's extensive knowledge of the Ozarks, leadership skills from working with the public, and his competitive, yet laid-back nature, will make buying or selling your home or property an enjoyable experience.
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