The history of the village dates back to the mid-17th century, when it emerged during the construction of the Belgorod defensive line. Initially, it was a suburban settlement near the fortress of Koroch, but later a church was built, and Popovka transformed into a village with wooden houses, thatched roofs, and woven fences. According to popular legend, the name of the village originated from the surname of the first settler from the service class, Popov.

With the expansion of the Moscow state to the south, the fortress of Koroch lost its defensive significance. The service people first became one-dweller peasants and then ordinary state peasants. Landowners from outside began to appear in the village, taking land from the locals and bringing their serfs, creating hamlets. This is how the hamlets of Krucheny and Golevka emerged, owned by Lukinov Ilya Ivanovich.

The village grew rapidly, and by 1862, there were already 114 households and a population of 1,406 people. On average, a family consisted of 13 members. Various crafts developed: weaving, barrel-making, pottery, wickerwork, harness making, and the preparation of dried fruits. In 1874, the first parish school opened in the village. In 1884, Popovka was part of the Bulanovskaya volost of the Novoskolsky district.

In 1918, Soviet power was established in Popovka, and in the same year, a stone church was built with altars dedicated to Alexander Nevsky and Nicholas the Wonderworker. During the Soviet era, the church building was used for economic purposes, and it is currently in a semi-ruined state.