Poplar is a rural unincorporated community in Audubon County, Iowa, in the United States. It is part of the Poplar Rural District which is recognized as a rural historic district and was the largest rural settlement of Danish immigrants in the United States. with
Poplar lies west of the town of Audubon(18 October 1906). Church Dedication, Aududon County Journal ("a new church of the Danish Lutheran faith has been built at the country town of Poplar ...") near the border of Shelby County.Double Wedding at Poplar, Audubon County Journal ("The little town of Poplar out on the Shelby county line has made wonderful development in the past year in every respect. It was witnessed the birth of new business enterprises, the building of home ...")
History
The area was settled primarily by Danish immigrants.Poplar Iowa, Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. Audubon IAGenWeb, Retrieved 25 May 2021National Register of Historic Places - Multiple Property Documentation Form - Shelby and Audubon Counties in the State of Iowa (13 August 1991) ("The Danish influence in Jackson Township was even more pronounced in the rural community of Poplar.... In fact, at the time of the 1900 United States Population Census, only three of the 190 people living in the Poplar area were not of Danish descent ...")Poplar, Iowa, Museum of Danish America website, Retrieved 25 May 2021 A post office was established in Poplar in 1893, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1903.
It also had a general store.(1 January 1903). Advertisement, Audubon County Journal (advertisement for the store in Poplar; numerous references to Poplar on this page) A plan to lay out streets and potentially incorporate in 1902 never materialized.(2 October 1902). Poplar, Aududon Republican Poplar's population was 17 in 1925. The population was 14 in 1940.
Annual reunions of past and present residents of Poplar have occurred in recent years.(30 May 2014). Poplar Reunion Set for June 1, Harlan News Advertiser, p. B1
References