[5] In 1719, Bernard de la Harpe led a group of French explorers through this area and gave the river its present name.

The present day city was founded in 1885, its name derived from the nearby Poteau River.

[7] A group of French explorers gave the river its present name during the early 18th Century.

[8] The Poteau Chamber of Commerce has written that the community was founded in 1885 as a few houses and Bud Tate's general store.

At the time of its founding, Poteau was in Sugar Loaf County, a part of the Moshulatubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.

[6] The Fort Smith and Southern Railway built a rail line through the Poteau area in 1886–1887, en route to Paris, Texas, including a station within the city.

[a] A telephone company franchise was granted in 1904, and an electric utility and waterworks system was begun in 1906.

[6] After statehood, Governor Charles N. Haskell declared Poteau as a, "... city of the first class.

Twyman Park offers picnic tables and shelters, a playground, tennis courts, a small pond, and a pool.

[24] The board approved his petition, resulting in the integration of the school system and marking Poteau as the first city in Oklahoma to allow African Americans to learn alongside white students in its primary and secondary schools.

Kiamichi Technology Center, the largest division of the Oklahoma CareerTech System has a branch location in Poteau.

[25] Robert S. Kerr Airport (KRKR; FAA ID: RKR), about 2 miles south of town, has a 4007’ x 75’ paved runway.