Mississippi

Bolivar

30,985
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Bolivar

Bolivar, Mississippi, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 1,356. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 30,985.

Its recorded population peaked at 71,051 in 1930, and has since declined by roughly 56 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Winterville Mounds Warfare Evidence, Winterville Mounds Conflict – Mississippi, Winterville Mounds Fortification, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202030,985
201034,145
200040,633
199041,875
198045,965
197049,409
196054,464
195063,004
194067,574
193071,051
192057,669
191048,905
190035,427
189029,980
188018,652
18709,732
186010,471
18502,577
18401,356
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bolivar

Military engagements that took place in Bolivar, Mississippi.

Winterville Mounds Warfare Evidence
1000
Winterville Mounds Conflict – Mississippi
1200
Winterville Mounds Fortification
1300
Skirmish at Napoleon (Desha County)
1862

Historic places in Bolivar

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bolivar, Mississippi.

Taborian Hospital
Mound Bayou
Grace Episcopal Church
Rosedale
Mound Bayou Historic District
Mound Bayou
Adath Israel Temple
Cleveland
Montgomery, I. T., House
Mound Bayou
Browse all Mississippihistoric sites ›

Other counties in Mississippi

Explore census history and historic records for more Mississippi counties.

AlcornAmiteAttalaBentonCalhounCarrollChickasawChoctawClaiborneClarkeClayCoahomaCopiahCovingtonDeSotoForrestFranklinGeorgeGreeneGrenada
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Everything a full report reveals about Bolivar County, Mississippi

This page charts the census history of Bolivar County, Mississippi. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bolivar

When does Bolivar first appear in the US census?
Bolivar, Mississippi first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 1,356.
What is the population of Bolivar?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bolivar had a recorded population of 30,985.
When did Bolivar's population peak?
Bolivar's recorded population peaked at 71,051 in 1930.
Were any battles fought in Bolivar?
4 documented military engagements took place in Bolivar, including Winterville Mounds Warfare Evidence, Winterville Mounds Conflict – Mississippi, Winterville Mounds Fortification.
How many historic places are in Bolivar?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bolivar, Mississippi.
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