BlockFrom the record
22 National Register listings published here.
Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service
Butler County, Missouri
55 topographic sheets cover 54 settlements here, and 22 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Research this county
What the record shows
- 666 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
- 22 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 16 buildings, 5 districts and 1 structure.
- The Geographic Names Information System records 54 populated places in this county; 54 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
Places on the National Register
22Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
Wildfire, 1992 to 2020
319 firesEvery wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 319 of them, burning about 2,401 acres. 1 started naturally and 42 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 196 |
| Debris and open burning | 62 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 42 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 8 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 5 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 4 |
| Other causes | 1 |
| Natural | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. Five of them were set deliberately.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 April 2010 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 334 acres | Missouri Department of Conservation | BEAVERDAM |
| 20 April 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | 285 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | DOG PACK |
| 5 April 2000 | Debris and open burning | 185 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | HEATHER HOLLOW |
| 23 March 1996 | Debris and open burning | 170 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | CATTAIL CREEK |
| 4 April 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | 138 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | PIPEGATE |
| 20 April 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | 90 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | ALMOST BIT |
| 28 February 2012 | Arson/incendiarism | 64 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | FISHER POND |
| 9 March 2007 | Arson/incendiarism | 55 acres | Mark Twain National Forest | PP FIRE |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
Storms, 1956 to 2025
60 of 523 shownThe NOAA Storm Events Database holds 523 reports for this county, causing 11 deaths, 49 injuries and about $79,178,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 183 |
| Hail | 142 |
| Flash Flood | 58 |
| Flood | 52 |
| Tornado | 48 |
| Heavy Rain | 20 |
| Funnel Cloud | 18 |
| Wildfire | 1 |
| Lightning | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2009 | Flood | Stringtown | 3 killed, 1 hurt | Flooding of roads and creeks was fairly widespread. Numerous county roads were under water. A portion of Highway N was closed. Several water rescues were conducted as motorists drove into flooded areas. Three teenagers drowned after their vehicle went into a flooded creek following a crash with another vehicle. The three high school students were in a vehicle that overturned in a flooded creek after colliding with another vehicle on Highway PP. One of the vehicles hydroplaned and struck the other. The three victims were trapped in the overturned vehicle and had to be extricated. The driver of the other vehicle also went into the water but was able to escape with only minor injuries. The incident occurred on the west edge of Poplar Bluff. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | 2 killed, $45,000 | A moving vehicle along Highway 53 was destroyed by a very large oak tree that fell on it. Both occupants of the vehicle were killed, probably on impact. A small fire started in the engine compartment after emergency responders arrived. A 40-foot semi-trailer was overturned in the immediate vicinity of the crushed vehicle. The tin roof was lifted off a barn. A portion of a large shed collapsed. |
| February 1976 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 killed, 13 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| March 2025 | Tornado (EF3) | Stringtown | 1 killed, $15,000,000 | An EF-3 tornado started along County Road 462 southeast of Stringtown and moved east northeast along County Road 450 all the way into Poplar Bluff. On the way it damaged numerous trees and did significant damage to several homes. Right as it crossed U.S. 67 on the northwest side of Poplar Bluff it struck a church and a nearby mobile home park. One person was killed when their mobile home was destroyed. It then did mainly roof damage to numerous buildings as it continued east northeast through town. It crossed U.S. 60 and headed northeast and completely destroyed a home on Highway T. It eventually dissipated as it reached County Road 572 northwest of Rombauer or just east of Saint Francois. Hundreds of trees were damaged. The estimated peak wind was 145 mph. |
| May 2017 | Flood | Poplar Bluff | 1 killed, $2,500,000 | Major flooding occurred on the Black River as the month began. At the Poplar Bluff river gage, the river crested at 21.96 feet late on the morning of the 1st. This crest was only a few inches below the record crest of 22.15 feet, set in March of 2008. The main levee from Poplar Bluff to the Qulin area was under extreme stress. One section of levee broke in the vicinity of County Road 608, requiring eight houses to be evacuated. The levee was overtopped in more than a dozen spots. The part of the levee protecting Poplar Bluff, including the downtown area, was overtopped in a couple of places. Police and firefighters went door-to-door on the south side of Poplar Bluff advising residents of a levee breach just outside the city limits. Some homes in the flood plain were flooded, mostly in rural areas south of Poplar Bluff. Areas of south central Butler County were evacuated. A total of about 54 homes were damaged, and two were destroyed. About 10 businesses were damaged. A Red Cross shelter at the Black River Coliseum sheltered about 80 residents. There were two fatalities as a result of the river flooding. The first drowning victim was a 69-year-old woman, whose body was recovered from inside her vehicle on May 2 but who actually drowned on April 30. Her vehicle was swept off a county road outside of Harviell. The second drowning involved a 60-year-old man, whose truck was washed off Route 53 into a ditch near County Road 618. Most area schools were closed during the crisis. Grain bins were flooded, though some of the crop was removed before the flooding could damage it. Numerous state and county roads were closed, including Highway 53. Parts of Qulin were flooded. Between Qulin and Neelyville, residents of the Coon Island area were evacuated. In the Neelyville area, about a half dozen or so people were evacuated by boat. Damage to public property alone was estimated at nearly two million dollars. |
| August 2016 | Flood | Hillard | 1 killed, $150,000 | Moderate flooding occurred along the Black River, resulting in one fatality and some flooded homes. Several homes were evacuated, and there was considerable flooding of streets and highways. In Poplar Bluff, portions of several streets were flooded with several feet of water, mainly those streets with river frontage. A city riverside park was flooded. Southeast of Poplar Bluff in a rural area, individuals were evacuated from a home on County Road 611, and homes on County Road 608 were threatened. Just east of Poplar Bluff, a water rescue of a flooded home was conducted near the intersection of Missouri Highway B and County Road 559. Flooding of farmland was rather extensive south and southeast of Poplar Bluff. Floodwater from the river eventually shut down Highway 53 near the Black River bridge between Qulin and Poplar Bluff. The flooding was exacerbated by a levee breach at County Road 202 near Qulin. A 44-year-old woman was possibly attempting to find an alternate route around the flooding when her car became submerged on County Road 647 near Highway 53. The incident occurred on the night of the 16th. The vehicle and its deceased occupant were located on the afternoon of the 19th. At the Poplar Bluff river gage, the river crested at 20.28 feet on the afternoon of the 16th. Flood stage is 16 feet. |
| April 2017 | Flood | Poplar Bluff | 1 killed, $20,000 | The Black River rose rapidly above flood stage on the 30th, climbing about 14 feet in 18 hours. The flooding reached the major category as the month was closing out. A drowning occurred when a vehicle was swept off a county road outside of Harviell. The drowning victim was a 69-year-old woman, whose body was found inside her vehicle on May 2. The Black River continued rising beyond the end of the month. |
| April 2015 | Flash Flood | Qulin | 1 killed, $20,000 | Flash flooding of drainage ditch number 1 for the Black River apparently caused a drowning fatality. A vehicle travelling along a small farm road parallel to the ditch got stuck in mud. The male victim was located several days later about 400 yards south of his pickup truck and six feet from the bank of the ditch. The search was suspended for about two days to allow the water to recede. |
| April 2002 | Tornado (F4) | Hendrickson | 14 hurt, $30,000,000 | The tornado crossed into Butler County in the Mark Twain National Forest, then proceded east-southeast, passing 6 to 7 miles north of Poplar Bluff. An upscale residential subdivision beyond the northern outskirts of Poplar Bluff, just off U.S. Route 67, received extensive damage. At least two well-constructed homes were levelled by peak winds estimated around 210 MPH. A total of 50 homes were destroyed in Butler County, 16 others received major damage, and 30 homes received minor damage. Most of the damaged homes were north of Poplar Bluff. Total damage figures for Butler County included timber losses in the national forest. The total number of injuries requiring hospital care that were directly attributed to the storm was 16. Five of the injured were admitted in critical condition. There were no fatalities from the storm. A woman who lived off U.S. Highway 67 took shelter in her bathtub. She reported that she and the bathtub were blown about 200 feet. She was reportedly found in the median of the highway. She was treated for a cracked sternum, broken ribs, a broken toe, and bruised lungs. In another incident on Highway 67, a large chunk of asphalt was blown through a vehicle's window, striking one of the people inside. The car was extensively damaged when it was blown off the road, but the 3 people inside received only cuts and bruises. |
| May 1973 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 7 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1993 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 4 hurt, $5,000,000 | A tornado touched down 5 miles west of Poplar Bluff destroying five houses and two mobile homes. Several minor injuries were reported. Reported by the Missouri Highway Patrol and Butler County officials. |
| June 1975 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 4 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Qulin | 2 hurt, $450,000 | Much of the roof of an elementary school was blown off. Debris from the roof knocked down power lines. Some blocks on the west side of the building were knocked in, and a metal awning was smashed. Baseball field fencing and playground equipment were damaged. A window was blown out of a general store. Two children received minor cuts. A large uprooted tree fell on the corner of a mobile home, damaging the roof. Another tree fell on the front porch of a house, blocking the front door. A partially enclosed back porch was damaged. A small steeple was blown off a church, along with two pieces of siding. Tree limbs were down across town. Corn in a nearby field was flattened. |
| June 1973 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 1 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1970 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 2013 | Flash Flood | Hendrickson | 1 hurt, $90,000 | Northwest of Poplar Bluff, flash flooding of Cane Creek resulted in a vehicle being inundated. A water rescue was conducted near U.S. Highway 60 and County Road 410, where two people were trapped in the vehicle, including a child. One person was injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment. Another water rescue was conducted on a secondary road near the junction of U.S. Highway 60 and Route T, east of Poplar Bluff. Two occupants were removed from the vehicle with no injuries. In the city of Poplar Bluff, persons were evacuated from a flooded home near the junction of Business Loop 60 and U.S. 67. About four miles west of Poplar Bluff, the fire department evacuated an elderly couple by boat from their home on County Road 450. Water was too deep for fire trucks to pass. |
| May 1968 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 1 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 2011 | Flood | Poplar Bluff | $4,500,000 | Major flooding occurred on the Black River. The river crested at 21.41 feet at Poplar Bluff, which was the third highest crest on record. The record crest was set only a few years earlier in 2008. The main levee from Poplar Bluff to the Qulin area was overtopped in more than three dozen spots, and a breach occurred in one spot just outside of Poplar Bluff. The part of the levee protecting most of Poplar Bluff, including the downtown area, was on the verge of failure for over 24 hours. Some homes in the flood plain were flooded, mostly in rural areas south of Poplar Bluff. Areas of south central Butler County were evacuated. A Red Cross shelter housed over 300 residents at times. Most area schools were closed during the crisis. Grain bins were flooded, though some of the crop was removed before the flooding could damage it. Numerous state and county roads were closed, including Highway 53. A couple of critical water rescues were conducted on Highway 53, where two motorists were stranded in submerged vehicles. The driver of a submerged pickup truck was found in chest-deep water, still in his seat belt. He was transferred into a boat and taken to dry land. In a nearby location, a van was swept off the roadway. It was found nose-up in a ditch. The driver was able to climb into the back of the van, open the doors, and step onto a fire department tanker truck that parked next to him. Hundreds of National Guard troops assisted with rescuing people stranded in homes and vehicles. A preliminary count indicated 53 homes and 23 businesses were flooded in south and east parts of Poplar Bluff, in addition to two churches and an unknown number of public buildings. Numerous additional homes were flooded outside the Poplar Bluff city limits, including the Qulin and Broseley areas. Parts of Qulin were flooded, including a number of homes. The flooding in Qulin was reportedly about the same as the 2008 flood. Between Qulin and Neelyville, residents of the Coon Island area were evacuated by special National Guard tactical vehicles. In the Neelyville area, about a half dozen or so people were evacuated by boat, and about two dozen others left on their own. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Poplar Bluff | $2,500,000 | Record flooding of the Black River occurred. At the Poplar Bluff gage, the river crested at 22.15 feet on March 19 at 4:30 P.M. CDT. The previous record crest was 21.68 feet in December of 1982. Flood stage there is 16 feet, and major flooding begins at 21 feet. Hundreds of homes were inundated, and the river even flooded parts of the downtown area. Residents were evacuated in south and east Poplar Bluff. Boats were used to evacuate many stranded residents. U.S. Coast Guard boats and helicopters from as far away as New Orleans assisted in evacuation efforts. The helicopters airlifted 37 people and six dogs to safety. Flood gates were installed for the first time since a flood wall was built in 1997. The flood gates offer protection up to 23 feet. Levee breaks were responsible for a considerable amount of the flooding in and around Poplar Bluff. The vast majority of the flooded homes and businesses were on the south and east sides of Poplar Bluff. At least five levee breaches occurred, resulting in many water-covered farms. Highway 53 was closed due to a levee break southeast of Poplar Bluff. Evacuation shelters were set up in Poplar Bluff. At least 100 victims stayed in a shelter at the Black River Coliseum in downtown Poplar Bluff. U.S. Highway 60 was closed when the river overflowed the four-lane highway west of the bridge. The community of Hilliard was severely impacted, where even the upper level of at least one home was under water. Some county roads were scoured down to bedrock. A large electric substation along U.S. Highway 67 was shut down by the river flooding. |
| March 2008 | Flood | Stringtown | $2,000,000 | Historic flooding struck much of Butler County. At least 1,000 people in the county were displaced from their homes by flooding. U.S. Coast Guard boats and helicopters from as far away as New Orleans assisted in evacuation efforts. The helicopters airlifted 37 people and six dogs to safety. Several of those evacuated were from Coon Island. In northwest parts of the county, an elderly couple along JJ Highway were stranded on the roof of their home. An industrial park was inaccessible due to flooding of Pike Creek. Numerous evacuations were conducted by law enforcement and fire personnel. Broken levees along the Black River and other rivers inundated large parts of the county. Several families in Qulin were forced from their homes, although it was not immediately clear which river or creek was causing the flooding. Long-time local residents had never witnessed such an event. Shelters were established at the Black River coliseum, a church, and a family center. About 70 percent of the roads in the county were impassable at one point. Countywide, at least 142 homes were damaged, and 26 were destroyed. |
| March 2025 | Tornado (EF2) | Parks | $1,400,000 | An EF-4 tornado that started in Arkansas lifted northeast through Ripley County and into Butler County just north of U.S. 160 east of Fairdealing. The tornado produced EF-2 damage as it briefly moved east, paralleling U.S. 160, and then turned northeast, dissipating just south of Lone Hill. The most significant damage was along County Road 488 where it destroyed one house and did major roof damage to a few others. It also snapped dozens of trees and an wooden power pole in that area. The estimated peak wind was 132 mph. The total path length of the tornado was 118 miles. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Fisk | $800,000 | Major flooding continued on the St. Francis River from April. At the Fisk river gage, the river crested at 27.10 feet on the evening of May 3. This was the second highest crest on record, exceeded only by a crest of 28.00 feet in April of 1927. The river came within inches of overtopping a levee on the left bank. Much of Fisk was evacuated. At least one house was inaccessible by vehicle because of floodwaters. |
| April 2011 | Hail | Poplar Bluff | $750,000 | Golf-ball size hail fell just north of Poplar Bluff. Quarter size hail fell on the northwest side of Poplar Bluff on Highway 67. At a car dealership, the hail broke 20 skylights in the shop building and damaged approximately 300 vehicles. The damage to the vehicles was generally minor, consisting of dents but no broken windshields. The hail covered the ground. |
| March 2017 | Tornado (EF1) | Broseley | $500,000 | Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. This tornado passed across Highway 51 about a mile south of Broseley. A farm machine shed was leveled. Numerous other sheds or small structures were damaged or destroyed. Large irrigation piping was blown hundreds of feet in varying directions. Farm implements were blown over, and two camper units were rolled over. At least four houses received minor to moderate damage to roofs, siding, and windows. Numerous trees were uprooted. There was also some spotty straight-line wind damage to outbuildings and trees just north and east of the tornado track. This tornado was the first of several that were spawned by the same eastward moving supercell. |
| July 1997 | Hail | Hendrickson | $500,000 | A severe thunderstorm tracked east-southeast across Butler County, producing hail up to baseball size from the northwest corner of the county through the Poplar Bluff area into east central parts of the county. Dents were up to 3 inches long on vehicles, and at least 15 windshields were broken. At least 3 dozen homes sustained hail damage to roofs or siding. About 50 insurance claims were filed for house damage, and close to 200 auto claims were filed. Most of the damage was on the north side of Poplar Bluff, and from Hendrickson east across the northern part of the county. |
| May 2011 | Flood | Fagus | $500,000 | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Neelyville | $350,000 | Wind damage was reported across much of southern Butler County, mainly from Neelyville to Qulin. Approximately 30 houses received minor to moderate damage, mainly to their roofs. An elementary school lost sections of its roof. A garage was destroyed, falling on three vehicles. Tin roofs were blown off several barns. Structural damage occurred to the front porch of a home when the reinforcement poles holding the porch roof collapsed. Carports were blown over onto vehicles, causing damage to the vehicles. Windows were broken out of two combines. A tree fell on a mobile home, causing damage to it. Two businesses sustained roof damage. |
| April 1996 | Tornado (F2) | Poplar Bluff | $300,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Tornado (EF1) | Parks | $275,000 | An EF-2 tornado (max of EF-1 in Butler County) began in far southeast Oregon County, then tracked northeastward across the entirety of Ripley County before entering Butler County just north of US-160. The track continued into the western edge of Poplar Bluff with minor roof and shingle damage to homes. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and snapped along the tornado track. Several homes sustained gutter and shingle damage. Estimated peak winds with the Butler County portion of this tornado were 105 mph. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Qulin | $250,000 | A shop building was destroyed. The rather large metal building had a covered open storage area on the north side. Nearby grain bins were dented. |
| December 2010 | Tornado (EF2) | Stringtown | $250,000 | The tornado briefly touched down in the vicinity of a residence along County Road 421. About one-third of the roof of the well-built residence was removed, landing about 1,000 feet away in a field. Seven people were in the residence at the time. They were not in the basement, but nobody was injured. Other damage consisted of several uprooted and snapped trees, shingles off a small shed, a damaged antenna tower, and damaged fences. A National Weather Service damage survey indicated a convergent orientation to the debris. Peak winds in this tornado were estimated around 120 mph. The average path width was 50 yards. |
| September 2006 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $250,000 | Southern portions of the county were flooded extensively. The community of Neelyville was particularly hard hit. A total of 46 occupied structures were damaged, and another ten were affected. Of the 46 damaged structures, four suffered major damage. Sixteen of the structures were businesses. Numerous roads were covered with water. U.S. Highway 67 was flooded south of Poplar Bluff, and state highway workers posted warning signs. A couple of county roads were washed out. A couple of county roads near Neelyville were closed. The three-day rainfall for the period ending the morning of the 24th was about a foot in far southern parts of the county. A co-operative observer in Qulin measured 13.35 inches. |
| May 1990 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 2014 | Flash Flood | Lone Hill | $200,000 | Widespread flooding occurred throughout the county. Water was flowing over numerous roads. Water rescues were being performed. A person was trapped in a car on W Highway, just northwest of Poplar Bluff. The storm total rainfall was 5.48 inches at a location seven miles northwest of Poplar Bluff. A report of 4.8 inches was received from the city of Poplar Bluff. Some erosion damage occurred to rural bridges and roads. Schools were closed the following day in some districts. |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF1) | Neelyville | $175,000 | The intermittent damage path began along U.S. Highway 67 south-southwest of Neelyville. The damage along U.S. Highway 67 south of town was minor roofing and siding damage to eight structures. A bank window was blown out. The tornado was rated EF-0 in this area. The tornado then increased to EF-1 northeast of Neelyville, where two mobile homes were destroyed and six others were damaged. Peak winds were estimated near 90 mph. |
| May 2017 | Flood | Fisk | $150,000 | Major flooding occurred on the St. Francis River. The river crested at 26.13 feet on the Fisk river gage on the night of the 2nd. The record crest is 28.00 feet in 1927. This part of the river is heavily regulated by the Wappapello Dam. Above the dam, the river was at record levels. Very large amounts of water were released by the dam ahead of the record crest to relieve pressure on the dam. The community of Fisk was endangered by the flooding. |
| February 2008 | Tornado (EF2) | Fisk | $150,000 | The tornado touched down near the intersection of Highways FF and CC. Parts of roofs were ripped off of several houses. As it moved east, it threw tin silos more than 900 yards. One of the silos hit a house and likely played a role in destroying the house. The roof and most of the exterior walls were blown off the three bedroom brick house. The family survived in a closet near the back room of the house unhurt. At the same location, an abandoned mobile home was destroyed, and the metal frame was bent. Debris from this area was spread east about 1.5 miles. Peak estimated wind speeds were near 130 mph. The damage path continued into Stoddard County. |
| February 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | Neelyville | $130,000 | A National Weather Service damage survey revealed a microburst with estimated peak winds near 90 mph struck south central Butler County. The microburst began just north of Allred Lake Natural Area along County Road 2601 and ended along County Road 214 in Coon Island Conservation Area. The maximum path width was about 1000 yards. A semi and an empty grain bin were both flipped onto their sides. Three wooden electrical poles were pushed nearly to the ground. A grain silo was severely dented. A mobile home was shifted off its foundation, and a small portion of its roof decking was removed. Several outbuildings were severely damaged or destroyed. One brick home suffered wind damage to several of its window sills. A handful of trees were uprooted, and several large tree limbs were broken. |
| June 2024 | Flash Flood | Hillard | $100,000 | Torrential early morning rainfall resulted in street flooding in Poplar Bluff, while subsequent rounds of heavy rainfall intensified flooding issues. Multiple motorists were stranded in several locations across the city. Multiple city roads were closed including Westwood Ave/Bus U.S. 67. Poplar Bluff High School had close to 6 inches of water in one of the hallways. Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport received 3.89 inches of rainfall between 0500-0900CST while a spotter reported 5.08 inches of rain near Westwood Hills Country Club through 1000CST. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $100,000 | In Poplar Bluff, several trees were blown down, and at least three small trailers were overturned. Just east of Poplar Bluff at and near the airport, damaging winds caused significant damage. A wind gust to 67 mph was measured by the Poplar Bluff airport's automated weather observation system. A parked small plane was overturned and pushed into a building. In the same general area, several telephone poles were knocked down. Numerous tree limbs and power lines were down. This damage was produced by a supercell thunderstorm that tracked east-southeast to New Madrid County. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $100,000 | Widespread damage to trees and power lines was reported across southwest and south central Butler County. Trees were down on a house and cars on County Road 461. Roofs were damaged and numerous trees were down on County Road 470. Trees and power lines were damaged four miles south of Poplar Bluff. |
| October 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Broseley | $100,000 | One mobile home was overturned. There was shingle damage to one home. Another home sustained partial roof loss. An agricultural pivot irrigation system was overturned. Several large trees and branches were snapped. Peak winds were estimated near 100 mph. |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $100,000 | The automated weather observation system at the Poplar Bluff airport measured a wind gust to 64 mph. A steeple was blown off a church in the city of Poplar Bluff. The steeple was made of fiberglass and measured about four feet by four feet at its base and was about 15 feet tall. In the city of Poplar Bluff, tree limbs and a few whole trees were blown onto power lines. Broken power poles were reported off U.S. Highway 67 north of Poplar Bluff and Highway B east of Poplar Bluff. One of the biggest outages disrupted power to over 600 customers. Power was not fully restored until the following morning. Street department crews cleaned up tree debris well into the next day. In the city of Poplar Bluff, street crews removed 15 trees, 12 of which blocked streets. Limbs were blown down across the city. Outside the city, county road crews reported four roads were blocked. A motorist escaped injury when a tree fell on a vehicle on Highway B east of Poplar Bluff. The vehicle was towed away. |
| March 2010 | Hail | Lone Hill | $100,000 | Ping-pong ball size hail caused major damage to vehicles and roofs. A pickup truck received more than 100 dents in the hood. Shingles were damaged on houses. The hail covered the ground one inch deep, and some piles were three or four inches deep. Hail damage to one SUV was estimated at 4,200 dollars. |
| October 2009 | Flood | (P02)Poplar Bluff Ar | $100,000 | Flooding began on the Black River on the 30th. At the Poplar Bluff river gage, the river did not crest until November. Several businesses and a church on the northeast edge of Poplar Bluff were surrounded by floodwaters. The river flooded portions of the Black River Industrial Park off Business Loop 60. Floodwaters were fifteen inches deep on the industrial park road, six inches in a diesel machine shop, and two feet in a warehouse. Water was crossing the parking lot of another business but did not reach it. Clinton Park in Poplar Bluff was flooded. Some low-lying fields and woods along the river were flooded. River water broke through a private levee near County Road 611 southeast of Poplar Bluff. Some farmland was flooded by the levee break. |
| February 2008 | Tornado (EF1) | Harviell | $100,000 | Large trees, limbs, and power poles were snapped off. An old barn was blown over, and a newer barn lost part of its roof and a large door. There was some shingle damage to homes. A large tree was uprooted and fell against a residence. Tree limbs fell on a vehicle and through a bedroom window. Several grain bins were dented by wind-blown debris. One equipment shed was blown away. The average path width was 275 yards. Peak winds were estimated near 90 mph. |
| January 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $100,000 | Thunderstorm winds destroyed 7 trailers in a trailer park. Three houses were partially unroofed. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $100,000 | Numerous large trees were down, mainly in the south part of Poplar Bluff. A convenience store lost part of its roof. A tractor trailer was overturned. A garage was moved from its foundation and demolished. Several vehicles were damaged by falling trees. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $80,000 | In Poplar Bluff, trees and power lines were blown down. Two trees landed on cars. A few roofs were damaged in the city. |
| October 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Harviell | $80,000 | A large wood-frame mechanic shed was destroyed. Several trees were snapped, and one large tree was uprooted. A carport was destroyed. Peak winds were estimated near 95 mph. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Fisk | $75,000 | High winds ripped the metal roof off a storage building at the elementary school. Debris from the roof struck the elementary school, damaging air conditioning units and a corner of the school roof. Parts of the roof were wrapped around a telephone pole. Highway DD was closed because of debris. Windows were broken on two school busses. Some trees were damaged. A telephone pole snapped. At a nearby house, a porch roof was damaged and a window was broken by airborne debris. |
| May 2007 | Flash Flood | Poplar Bluff | $75,000 | Several creeks flooded rapidly after 3 to 7 inches of rain deluged the county. At least two vehicles were swept off roads and into raging creeks. In the first incident, a car was swept off County Road 459 about two miles south of Highway M. A woman was stranded on the roof of the car, which was washed up against some trees. With the assistance of a teenage high school student, the woman and her small dog waded through swiftly moving water to safety. The second incident occurred on County Road 410, north of U.S. Highway 60 in the Mark Twain National Forest. In that incident, a woman was attempting to drive through floodwaters when the vehicle stalled. The car was not swept off the road, and she was able to walk to get help. Numerous rural residents were forced to remain near their homes due to flooded roads. Unofficial rainfall reports for May 3 ranged from 3.2 inches in Poplar Bluff to nearly 7 inches northwest of Poplar Bluff. A meteorologist northwest of Poplar Bluff measured just over four inches in four hours, bringing his 24-hour rainfall to 6.62 inches. Cane Creek overflowed its banks, flooding pastures and cropland. A resident on County Road 421 northwest of Poplar Bluff reported a levy was topped for the first time in 25 years. Gravel county roads were damaged by erosion. There were numerous low water crossing areas and drainage ditches washed out. Up to six inches of water was over Highway 142 south of Poplar Bluff. |
| January 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $70,000 | no account filed |
| January 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $60,000 | A roof was blown off a home just east of Poplar Bluff. The entire end of a shed was blown down at a local lumber company in the city. Near Highway WW in Poplar Bluff, a roof was blown into a power line. Elsewhere in Poplar Bluff, a travel trailer was blown into the roadway. Two mobile homes were damaged and blown off their foundations. |
| January 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Junland | $60,000 | A small older, poorly constructed home was leveled and blown a few feet to hundreds of yards. A mobile home was blown 60 feet to several hundred yards. A few trees or tree limbs were snapped and a couple small structures were blown over. Peak winds were 130 mph with an average damage path width of 80 yards. |
| February 2025 | Heavy Rain | Poplar Bluff | $50,000 | Heavy rainfall (up to 3) caused a retaining wall to collapse, damaging 4 vehicles. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Neelyville | $50,000 | Severe thunderstorm winds blew down four transmission line poles, knocking out power to 2,000 utility customers. Two of the poles were 75-foot poles, and the other two were 55 feet. |
| April 2011 | Flash Flood | Poplar Bluff | $50,000 | Four water rescues were conducted from homes and cars. Five intersections were closed. Water was into three homes. |
| April 2011 | Flash Flood | Poplar Bluff | $50,000 | Nearly 60 Poplar Bluff residents were rescued after city streets became flooded. Fire and police departments conducted 59 water rescues, both of houses and vehicles. Utilizing three boats, the fire department performed about 33 rescues. Because the boats were unmotorized, firefighters had difficulty pulling them through 4 to 5 feet of water. Vehicles were driving through water up to their headlights on a local thoroughfare. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Poplar Bluff | $50,000 | Numerous trees were blown down in a narrow path across the north side of Poplar Bluff. The city street department reported 26 trees across streets and six others down in cemeteries. Many others were down in yards. The trees were as large as three feet in diameter. Windows were blown out at a junior high school. At the high school baseball field, a chain-link fence was blown down. Advertising signs were damaged, and one sign was blown away. The roof was blown off the skybox seats at the football field. A window was blown out of a store in a shopping center. A fireworks display tent collapsed. |
Mines and quarries
85 recordedThe Survey's mineral resources record lists 85 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 83 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Iron | 49 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 28 |
| Clay | 5 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 3 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Williamsville Quarry & Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Aden Mine | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Kirby Mine | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Black River Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Hodges Ferry Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Williamsville Sand & Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Allen Bank | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Black River Bank Number One | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Blue Spring Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Burkett Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Deal Mine Number 1 | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Deal Mine Nunber 2 | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Dover Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Garrett Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| George Tract | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| George Tract Number 1 | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| George Tract Number Three | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Gibson Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Government Land Number One | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Hendrickson Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Hill Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Hillis Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Hooper Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Indian Ford Bank Number Four | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Indian Ford Bank Number Three | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Indian Ford Bank Number Two | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Kauffman Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Leib Bank | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Lewis Iron Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Lmiller Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Luke Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Magill Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Markham Mine | Iron | Past Producer | Surface | |
| Missouri University Land Number One | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Mo Lumber & Min Co Tract Number 10 | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Mo Lumber & Min Co Tract Number 11 | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Mo Lumber & Min Co Tract Number 12 | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Noah Edwards Mine | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Scott Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Sexton Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Sheets Land | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Shrout's Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Smith + Company Bank | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Smith Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| St Francois Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Thomas Land | Iron | Prospect | ||
| Thompson Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Thompson Bank | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Iron | Past Producer |
Every populated place in the county
54Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
-
Ashcroft Addition
Poplar Bluff township · 63901 · On Pike Creek · Harviell quadrangle
14 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Belcher
Beaver Dam township · 63901 · On Dolly Branch · Fairdealing quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
-
Broseley
Ash Hill township · 63932 · On Menorkenut Slough Number 19 · Broseley quadrangle
9 sheets, 1940 to 1984
-
Brush Arbor
Cane Creek township · 63937 · Near North Fork Hollow · Ellsinore quadrangle
13 sheets, 1934 to 1983
-
Hanleyville
Ash Hill township · 63932 · On Blue Spring Slough · Hanleyville quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Hendrickson
Black River township · 63967 · Near Happy Hollow · Hendrickson quadrangle
13 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Hilliard
Poplar Bluff township · 63901 · On Buck Creek · Poplar Bluff quadrangle
15 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Hubbells
Neely township · 63954 · Near Sharecropper Ridge · Naylor quadrangle
11 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Keeners
Black River township · 63967 · Near Haynes Hollow · Williamsville quadrangle
13 sheets, 1934 to 1983
-
Kelly Town
Poplar Bluff township · 63901 · On Black Creek · Poplar Bluff quadrangle
15 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Kremlin Mill
Neely township · 63945 · On Fox Branch · Fairdealing quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Milltown
Epps township · 63901 · Near Old Still Hollow · Stringtown quadrangle
13 sheets, 1934 to 1983
-
Oglesville
Gillis Bluff township · 63961 · Near Melville Ridge · Oglesville quadrangle
13 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Platanus
Gillis Bluff township · 63961 · Oglesville quadrangle
13 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
-
Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff township · 63901 · On Black Creek · Poplar Bluff quadrangle
15 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Rombauer
St. Francois township · 63901 · On Cattail Creek · Rombauer quadrangle
14 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Roxie
Beaver Dam township · 63901 · On Haw Branch · Fairdealing quadrangle
12 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
-
Sims
Neely township · 63954 · On Cane Creek · Naylor quadrangle
11 sheets, 1935 to 1983
No longer a settlement
-
Stringtown
Beaver Dam township · 63901 · Near Oak Ridge · Stringtown quadrangle
13 sheets, 1934 to 1983
-
Vinegar Hill
Poplar Bluff township · 63901 · On Black Creek · Harviell quadrangle
14 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Whitlow
Gillis Bluff township · 63961 · Near Melville Ridge · Oglesville quadrangle
13 sheets, 1935 to 1983
-
Wilby
Black River township · 63967 · On Widow Creek · Poplar Bluff quadrangle
15 sheets, 1935 to 1983
The vanished settlements of Butler County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
Provenance
- Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
- Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
- Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
- Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
- Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
- Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.