The area was settled primarily by Danish immigrants.[5][6][7] A post office was established in Poplar in 1893, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1903.[8]
It also had a general store.[9] A plan to lay out streets and potentially incorporate in 1902 never materialized.[10] Poplar's population was 17 in 1925.[11] The population was 14 in 1940.[12]
Annual reunions of past and present residents of Poplar have occurred in recent years.[13]
^(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 ...")
^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 ...")
^National 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 ...")