Missouri

Butler

42,130
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Butler

Butler, Missouri, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 1,616. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 42,130.

Its recorded population peaked at 42,794 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 2 percent.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Poplar Bluff Skirmish, Wappapello Skirmish (Wayne County), Butler County Guerrilla Action (southeast MO), and 25 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202042,130
201042,794
200040,867
199038,765
198037,693
197033,529
196034,656
195037,707
194034,276
193023,697
192024,106
191020,624
190016,769
189010,164
18806,011
18704,298
18602,891
18501,616
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Butler

Military engagements that took place in Butler, Missouri.

Poplar Bluff Skirmish
1861
Wappapello Skirmish (Wayne County)
1862
Butler County Guerrilla Action (southeast MO)
1862

Historic places in Butler

National Register of Historic Places listings in Butler, Missouri.

St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad Depot
Poplar Bluff
South Sixth Street Historic District
Poplar Bluff
Phillips, John Archibald, House
Poplar Bluff
Little Black River Archeological District
Naylor
Cynthia-Kinzer Historic District
Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff Public Library
Poplar Bluff
Rodgers Theatre Building
Poplar Bluff
Wheatley Public School
Poplar Bluff
North Main Street Historic District
Poplar Bluff
Wright-Dalton-Bell-Anchor Department Store Building
Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff Commercial Historic District
Poplar Bluff
Garfield Historic District
Poplar Bluff
Hargrove Pivot Bridge
Poplar Bluff
St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad Depot
Poplar Bluff
Moore-Dalton House
Poplar Bluff
Browse all Missourihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Missouri

Explore census history and historic records for more Missouri counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Butler County, Missouri

This page charts the census history of Butler County, Missouri. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Butler

When does Butler first appear in the US census?
Butler, Missouri first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 1,616.
What is the population of Butler?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Butler had a recorded population of 42,130.
When did Butler's population peak?
Butler's recorded population peaked at 42,794 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Butler?
3 documented military engagements took place in Butler, including Poplar Bluff Skirmish, Wappapello Skirmish (Wayne County), Butler County Guerrilla Action (southeast MO).
How many historic places are in Butler?
25 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Butler, Missouri.
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