Bolivar, Tennessee

History

Bolivar was named for South American revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar. The area is home to several historic properties and historic districts among the National Register of Historic Places listings in Hardeman County, Tennessee including Bolivar Court Square Historic District, Western State Hospital Historic District, North Main Street Historic District, and the Bills-McNeal Historic District.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 sqmi, of which 8.5 sqmi is land and 0.12% is water.

Demographics

2020

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,205 people, 2,224 households, and 1,183 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,802 people, 2,161 households, and 1,462 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,352 housing units at an average density of 277.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 56.39% African American, 42.33% White, 0.50% Asian, 0.07% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from two or more races, and 0.07% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 2,161 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,651, and the median income for a family was $35,298. Males had a median income of $30,442 versus $21,544 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,973. About 19.5% of families and 23.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 28.6% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bolivar has a Humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

|Jan record high F = 80 |Feb record high F = 85 |Mar record high F = 91 |Apr record high F = 92 |May record high F = 99 |Jun record high F = 106 |Jul record high F = 109 |Aug record high F = 109 |Sep record high F = 103 |Oct record high F = 97 |Nov record high F = 87 |Dec record high F = 81 |year record high F = 109

|Jan avg record high F = 69.7 |Feb avg record high F = 72.9 |Mar avg record high F = 80.2 |Apr avg record high F = 85.3 |May avg record high F = 88.7 |Jun avg record high F = 93.6 |Jul avg record high F = 96.1 |Aug avg record high F = 96.4 |Sep avg record high F = 92.9 |Oct avg record high F = 86.5 |Nov avg record high F = 78.3 |Dec avg record high F = 70.2 |year avg record high F = 97.6

|Jan avg record low F = 11.7 |Feb avg record low F = 16.5 |Mar avg record low F = 22.8 |Apr avg record low F = 32.1 |May avg record low F = 42.6 |Jun avg record low F = 54.2 |Jul avg record low F = 60.3 |Aug avg record low F = 58.0 |Sep avg record low F = 45.3 |Oct avg record low F = 32.6 |Nov avg record low F = 22.5 |Dec avg record low F = 17.1 |year avg record low F = 9.6

|Jan record low F = -14 |Feb record low F = −18 |Mar record low F = 6 |Apr record low F = 24 |May record low F = 29 |Jun record low F = 40 |Jul record low F = 49 |Aug record low F = 42 |Sep record low F = 28 |Oct record low F = 20 |Nov record low F = 2 |Dec record low F = −7 |year record low F = -18 | access-date = September 25, 2021}} | access-date = September 25, 2021}}

Transportation

Bolivar is served by the county-owned William L. Whitehurst Field airport.

Notable people

• Wayne Chism, former basketball player for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, lived in Bolivar and played high school basketball at Bolivar Central High School.
• Wayne Farris, known as Pro Wrestler The Honky Tonk Man, lived in Bolivar.
• Campbell Gray, Episcopal Bishop of Northern Indiana
• Odell Horton, United States district judge for the district of Western Tennessee
• Wayne Haddix, former National Football League defensive back, born in Bolivar and played high school football at nearby Middleton High School.
• Willie Kemp, former basketball player for the University of Memphis, lived in Bolivar and played high school basketball at Bolivar Central High School.
• Elizabeth Avery Meriwether, suffragist and writer
• Lynn Norment, journalist, editor and writer for Ebony magazine
• Joe Reaves, former basketball player for the Phoenix Suns, lived in Bolivar and played high school basketball at Bolivar Central High School.
• William E. Troutt, 19th president of Rhodes College

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. (October 25, 2007). "US Board on Geographic Names". [[United States Geological Survey]].
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, [https://www.tn.gov/ecd/pdf/StateProfile/2011certpop.pdf Certified Population of Tennessee Incorporated Municipalities and Counties] {{webarchive. link. (June 30, 2014 , State of Tennessee official website, July 14, 2011. Retrieved: December 6, 2013.)
6. Kenny, Hamill. (1945). "West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains". The Place Name Press.
7. "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". U.S. Census Bureau.
9. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau.
10. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bolivar city, Tennessee".
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bolivar city, Tennessee".
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bolivar city, Tennessee".
13. [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=678004&cityname=Bolivar%2C+Tennessee%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Bolivar, Tennessee]