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Bolivar, Missouri

17 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1884 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Northeast Marion Township. It lies in ZIP code area 65613. The Survey maps it on the Bolivar quadrangle. 10,679 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,056 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Bolivar within Polk County

On record in Bolivar

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 3 records

Population over time

2 figures

Bolivar grew from 10,325 to 10,679 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201010,325
202010,679+354 (+3%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 17 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

26 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 26 fires within 5 miles of Bolivar between 1992 and 2020, burning about 160 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning19
Missing data/not specified/undetermined3
Smoking1
Arson/incendiarism1
Recreation and ceremony1
Equipment and vehicle use1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 1999Debris and open burning1.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
6 September 1999Smoking3.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
4 September 1995Missing data/not specified/undetermined3.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
29 September 1999Debris and open burning7.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
1 September 1995Debris and open burning2.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
18 April 2007Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
11 April 2002Debris and open burning2.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
9 March 2008Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Polk County

Mines and quarries near this place

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Bolivar: 3 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Mcreynolds QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - LimestoneStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Vilas QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Polk County

Storms near this place

60 of 122 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bolivar in 122 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 50 thunderstorm wind, 47 hail, 16 flash flood, 5 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2024HailBolivar$9,550,000Hail ranging from baseball to softball in size fell to the northwest, north and east of Bolivar. 200 homes at an average of $32,000 suffered damages to siding, roofs and windows, and 350 cars were damaged, many totaled.
April 2022HailBolivar$5,500,000Golf ball to tennis ball sized hail and 50 mph winds were reported in Bolivar. Approximately 150 homes suffered severe damage to roofs, siding and windows. An equal number of cars suffered significant damage, with most 2014 model year and older totaled by insurance companies. This damage figure accounts for all damage in Polk County, Missouri for this event.
April 2023HailBolivar$3,000,000Baseball sized hail was reported in town. Emergency management reported 170 houses suffered damaged along with numerous cars. This entry includes all damages reported in Polk County during this event.
April 2013HailBolivar$500,000There were reports of broken windows and damage to siding on homes. The estimated damage cost for the entire county including the city of Bolivar due to this storm will be in this event.
April 2024HailBolivar$200,000Hail to the size of golf balls was reported in the northern portions of Bolivar. Limited reports of damage to roofs and vehicles occurred.
April 2024HailBolivar$200,000Hail up to half dollars in size was reported. Minor damage to roofs and vehicles occurred.
April 2024HailBolivar$120,000Hail up to two inches in size was reported with minor roof and vehicle damage occurring.
April 2017Flash FloodBolivar$100,000Numerous city streets including Highway 83 were flooded and impassable. Several homes and business sustained flood damage across the county. This report will contain the total dollar estimate for flood damage to infrastructure, businesses, and homes across Polk County.
June 2015Flash FloodBolivar$100,000Numerous city streets experience minor street flooding. Numerous county roads and low water crossings were flooded and impassable. The Polk County Jail reported flooding into the building. This storm report will contain the overall storm damage estimates across the entire Polk County for this storm event. Numerous roads, bridges, and low water crossings were heavily damaged.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBolivar$100,000no account filed
April 2024HailBolivar$80,000Half dollar sized hail was reported. Some minor roof damage occurred.
June 2008Flash FloodBolivar$75,000Excessive rain caused several homes and businesses to flood.
July 2021Flash FloodBolivar$60,000Excessive rainfall caused flooding across the city of Bolivar. Some homes were flooded or had sewage water in their basements. Numerous roads were also flooded and impassable.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindBolivar$50,000Three mobile homes were heavily damaged. A tree was blown down on another mobile home.
June 2005Flash FloodBolivar$50,000Slow moving thunderstorms trained over central Polk County, including the city of Bolivar, causing major flash flooding in and near the city. Several roads and highways were closed. Water flooded a nursing home, along with several houses.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindBolivar$50,000A local agricultural office reported numerous trees down and structural damage to homes and businesses.
September 1993Thunderstorm WindBolivar$50,000A metal storage building was wrapped around a utility pole and several carports were blown down or knocked of their foundation.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindBolivar$30,000A storm survey was conducted northeast of Bolivar where a church suffered structural damage to its exterior wall. There was also roof damage and a collapse of an interior room within a large metal office building. Several trees in the same area were laying to the south, west and east. The damage was classified as thunderstorm downburst winds.
October 2024Thunderstorm WindBolivar$30,000Power poles and lines were reported down causing power outages.
May 1998HailBolivar$30,000Golf ball hail damaged cars and roofs in town. Thunderstorms winds also downed trees and powerlines.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindBolivar$20,000A few power poles and lines were reported down.
August 2002HailBolivar$15,000no account filed
May 2019Thunderstorm WindBolivar$10,000A National Weather Service storm survey found straight line winds uprooted trees and overturned a construction trailer.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindBolivar$10,000A communication tower was blown down.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindBolivar$10,000Severe thunderstorm wind gusts downed a large tree onto a roof which caused damage.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindBolivar$10,000no account filed
July 1999Thunderstorm WindBolivar$10,000no account filed
July 2015Thunderstorm WindBolivar$5,000A large tree was blown down on to a wooden fence and a storage building causing damage.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindBolivar$5,000Power lines and large limbs were blown down along Buffalo Road.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindBolivar$5,000An outdoor shed was blown over and collapsed near Bolivar.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindBolivar$5,000Two power lines were snapped off and over the roadway at Highway 83 and 425th Road.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindBolivar$5,000A large sign was damaged.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindBolivar$5,000Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines.
April 1994HailBolivar$5,000Golf ball-size hail was reported along with wind gusts to 50 mph.
November 1998Thunderstorm WindBolivar$2,000no account filed
March 2017Thunderstorm WindBolivar$1,000Numerous large trees branches and several trees were blown down. A section of a wooden fence was blown down.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindBolivar$1,000A large section of a wooden fence was blown down near Bolivar.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindBolivar$1,000A large tree limb was blown down on to a powerline.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindBolivar$1,000The emergency manager reported power lines down in Bolivar.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindBolivar$1,000Thunderstorm winds blew down many trees in the Foose area, along old Highway 65 and EE.
April 2000Thunderstorm WindBolivar$1,000no account filed
June 2024Thunderstorm WindBolivar$500Tree limbs were downed by thunderstorms in Bolivar.
April 1994HailBolivar$50no account filed
September 1994Tornado (F0)Bolivar$30Two large barn doors ripped off, trees twisted off and deposited in pond several hundred yards away. Shingles lifted several hundred feet into the air. Report by K. Hargis, CD Director. Length and width is estimated.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindBolivar-A large tree was reported down blocking the road in town.
April 2024HailBolivar-Hail to the size of ping pong balls was reported northeast of Bolivar in a mainly rural area.
April 2024HailBolivar-Hail to the size of half dollars was reported.
April 2023HailBolivar-Ping pong ball sized hail was reported via MPing.
May 2023HailBolivar-Quarter sized hail was reported.
July 2023HailBolivar-Hail up to quarters in size was reported.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindBolivar-Several trees and large limbs were reported down.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindBolivar-The emergency manager recorded a wind gust of 70 mph on a private weather station.
April 2022Heavy RainBolivar-The Coop Observer reported a 24 hour rainfall total of 1.15 inches.
April 2022HailBolivar-Quarter sized hail was reported via MPing.
July 2021Flash FloodBolivar-Flooding in town forced an ambulance to detour to reach its destination.
July 2020Heavy RainBolivar-The Mesonet station AV374 measure 2.61 inches of rain in an hour and a half.
April 2019Thunderstorm WindBolivar-A large tree was reported down in town.
February 2019FloodBolivar-Missouri Highway 83 northbound was closed due to flooding.
July 2019Heavy RainBolivar-A 24 hour rainfall of 2.00 inches was measured.
July 2019Heavy RainBolivar-A 24 hour rainfall of 1.15 inches was measured.

Every storm recorded in Polk County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Karlin4.2 miles17
Burns5.4 miles16
Slagle6.0 miles17
Violet6.0 miles19
Cedar Vista6.5 miles16
Cliquot6.5 miles19
Sunset7.0 miles16
Van7.5 miles16

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on BolivarAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q959797The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 714498. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.