Bolivar County, Mississippi

Major highways

• Future Interstate 69
• U.S. Route 61
• Mississippi Highway 1
• Mississippi Highway 8
• Mississippi Highway 32

Adjacent counties

• Coahoma County (north)
• Sunflower County (east)
• Washington County (south)
• Desha County, Arkansas (west)

National protected area

• Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,985. The median age was 37.7 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83.7 males age 18 and over.^[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 32.6% White, 62.5% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.4% from some other race, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.^[13]

46.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.7% lived in rural areas.^[14]

There were 11,994 households in the county, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.9% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 42.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 13,628 housing units, of which 12.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.7% were owner-occupied and 43.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.7%.^[12]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 34,145 people living in the county. 64.5% were Black or African American, 33.5% White, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.9% of some other race and 0.6% of two or more races. 1.9% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 census

As of the census^[15] of 2000, there were 40,633 people, 13,776 households, and 9,725 families living in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18/km²). There were 14,939 housing units at an average density of [7] per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.11% Black or African American, 33.24% White, 0.10% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,776 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.20% were married couples living together, 27.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 14.00% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 19.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 87.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,428, and the median income for a family was $27,301. Males had a median income of $27,643 versus $20,774 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,088. About 27.90% of families and 33.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.90% of those under age 18 and 27.90% of those age 65 or over.

Colleges and universities

• Delta State University (Cleveland)

The county is within the boundaries of two community college districts: Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College.^[19][20] CCC's main campus is in rural Coahoma County outside of Clarksdale, and MDCC's campus is in Moorhead in Sunflower County.

Public School Districts

School districts:^[21]

• Cleveland School District (Cleveland)
• North Bolivar Consolidated School District (Mound Bayou; previously in Shelby)
• West Bolivar Consolidated School District (Rosedale, Shaw, and Benoit)

Former school districts:^[22]

• Benoit School District (Benoit)
• Mound Bayou School District (Mound Bayou)
• Shaw School District (Shaw)

The five school districts other than the Cleveland School District, were, in 2012, among the 20 smallest of the 152 school districts in the State of Mississippi.^[23] In the State of Mississippi, Bolivar County was the only county that had six school districts.^[24] Consolidation was urged to save money and facilitate cooperation. In 2012 the Mississippi Senate Education Committee passed a bill asking the State of Mississippi to consolidate the six school districts in Bolivar County to three or two.^[23] The Mississippi Senate passed the bill 37–11.^[24]

As recently as the 1960s the school board of Bolivar County censored what black children were allowed to learn, and mandated that "Neither foreign languages nor civics shall be taught in Negro schools. Nor shall American history from 1860 to 1875 be taught.”^[25]

Private School

• Bayou Academy (Cleveland)

Cities

• Cleveland (county seat)
• Rosedale (county seat)
• Mound Bayou
• Shaw (small portion in Sunflower County)
• Shelby

Towns

Census-designated places

• Bolivar
• Scott
• Skene
• Symonds

Unincorporated places

Ghost towns