The Clinchfield Railroad Bridge over the Nolichucky River at the mouth of Hollow Poplar Creek.

Map of Mitchell County with Poplar highlighted.Hollow Poplar Creek was the original name of this community near where the Toe River becomes the Nolichucky as it flows into the Nolichucky Gorge and Tennessee. It was named for an enormous poplar tree that once stood there. This hollowed tree supposedly served not only as a barn for livestock, but also as shelter for Confederate Soldiers traveling through the area during the Civil War. In the late nineteen century the Hollow Poplar community boasted a post office as well as a school and stores. The elevation is 1,993 feet above sea level. Today the community is most referred to as Poplar.