| Poplar, North Carolina | |
| Named For: | A poplar tree[1] |
| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated community |
| Pushpin Map: | North Carolina#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Poplar |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Carolina |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mitchell |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Coordinates: | 36.0875°N -82.3364°W |
| Elevation M: | 678 |
| Elevation Ft: | 2224 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 28740[2] |
| Area Code: | 828 |
| Blank Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank Info: | 1022036[3] |
Poplar is an unincorporated community in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States. The community is located along North Carolina Highway 197 (NC 197), at the banks of the Hollow Poplar Creek and between the southern slopes of the Unaka Range and the North Toe River. It is also the last community along the CSX Blue Ridge Subdivision before crossing into Tennessee towards Erwin.
The community was named after an enormous poplar tree that once stood in the area; hollowed out, it supposedly served not only as a barn for livestock, but also as shelter for Confederate Soldiers traveling through the area during the American Civil War.[1] [4] Originally called "Hollow Poplar," a post office was established in 1872 of the same name; but in 1892, both the community and post office became simply Poplar.[5] In 1902, the South & Western Railroad established rail service in the area (today CSX).[6] In 1949, the Post Office closed and combined with the Relief Post Office.[7] [8]