HomeMississippiBolivar County
Bolivar County, Mississippi: commercial real estate data.
Bolivar County, Mississippi had an estimated 28,395 residents on July 1, 2024, down 8.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 30,986, across 877 square miles. County output reached $1.39 bn in 2024, 709 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 9 7(a) approvals worth $3.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Bolivar County
How many people live in Bolivar County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202429,534
- Households11,915
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$39,585
- Median age37.5
- Median gross rent$685 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$130,000
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over19,212
- Population under 187,273
- Share under 1824.6 percent
- Population 65 and over5,056
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6417,205
- Civilian labor force11,372
- Unemployment rate7.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over51.1 percent
- Rank by population among Mississippi counties26th of 82
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1489th of 3,222
Bolivar County is the 26th largest of 82 Mississippi counties by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.6 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Bolivar County
Is Bolivar County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202428,395
- Census 2020 base population30,986
- Population change since the 2020 census base-8.36 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-455
- Births, 2024349
- Deaths, 2024487
- Natural change, 2024-138
- Net domestic migration, 2024-345
- Net international migration, 202426
- Total net migration, 2024-319
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-2,062
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents3106th of 3,144
The county has lost 8.36 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Bolivar County
Where are people moving to Bolivar County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving465
- People arriving, from those returns883
- Tax returns filed by households leaving694
- Net household movement-229
- Adjusted gross income arriving$17.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-11.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$38,140
- Average income of a leaving household$41,336
- Largest single originSunflower County (72 households)
- Largest single destinationShelby County (82 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower County | 72 | 164 | $3.0 m |
| Washington County | 54 | 111 | $2.4 m |
| Shelby County | 40 | 73 | $1.1 m |
| DeSoto County | 27 | 50 | $648,000 |
| Coahoma County | 21 | 43 | $835,000 |
Households arriving report $3,196 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Sunflower County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Bolivar County
What is the Bolivar County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.39 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.43 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-2.9 percent
- GDP change over five years29.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Mississippi areas BEA publishes27th of 82
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1574th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$46,913
Output grew -2.9 percent in the latest year and 29.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Bolivar County
Employment by industry in Bolivar County
- Covered employment, annual average10,569
- Establishments reporting841
- Average annual pay$44,457
- Average weekly wage$855
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,894
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$46,339
- Retail trade, employment1,630
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,897
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,121
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$16,442
- Manufacturing, employment1,117
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$61,264
- Transportation and warehousing, employment438
- Construction, employment268
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 1,894 | 97 | $46,339 |
| Retail trade | 1,630 | 152 | $37,897 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,121 | 75 | $16,442 |
| Manufacturing | 1,117 | 17 | $61,264 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 438 | 22 | $89,898 |
| Construction | 268 | 38 | $51,165 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 264 | 82 | $45,354 |
| Other services, except public administration | 261 | 61 | $32,563 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,894 jobs, 17.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Bolivar County
How many businesses are in Bolivar County?
- Establishments, all industries709
- Employment at those establishments8,073
- Annual payroll$383.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bolivar County
Building permits in Bolivar County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202415
- Declared construction value permitted$3.9 m
- Single family units authorized15
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$257,652
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.3
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Bolivar County
SBA loans in Bolivar County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded9
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$3.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$377,322
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- Largest single approval$760,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)215
- Jobs per approval23.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals5
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer44.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Most active lenderNewtek Bank, National Association (4)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.2 m
- Average 504 approval$3,084,000
- Median 504 approval$3,084,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval33.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.9
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$9.6 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bolivar County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Bolivar County
Do SBA loans in Bolivar County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full1
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
- Status: Paid in full1
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 1 loan has reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bolivar County
SBA lending by place in Bolivar County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Cleveland, approvals5
- Shelby, approvals4
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 5 | $2,175,900 |
| Shelby | 4 | $1,220,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bolivar County
How large is Bolivar County?
- Land area877 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Mississippi counties2nd of 82
- Width, east to west33.1 mi
- Height, north to south40.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land34
- Establishments per square mile0.81
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bolivar County
Flood risk in Bolivar County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Bolivar County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 280011
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book16
- Of those, participating in the NFIP16
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 9
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Bolivar County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Bolivar County (community 280011), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Bolivar County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 9, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Bolivar County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Bolivar County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202429,534
- Households11,915
- Average household size2.48
- Median household income$39,585
- Median age37.5
Common questions
Bolivar County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Bolivar County, Mississippi?
The Census Bureau estimates 28,395 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 29,534, in 11,915 households, ranking 26th of 82 Mississippi counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Bolivar County's population growing?
The population has fallen 8.36 percent since the 2020 census base of 30,986, to 28,395 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 349 births against 487 deaths, with net migration of -319. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Bolivar County?
$39,585. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $130,000, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $685 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Bolivar County?
709 establishments, employing 8,073 people with an annual payroll of $383.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Bolivar County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,894 jobs, 17.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,569 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,457, or $855 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Bolivar County?
9 7(a) approvals totaling $3.4 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $6.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Bolivar County?
15 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Bolivar County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Bolivar County come from?
The largest single origin is Sunflower County, with 72 households. Arriving households report an average income of $38,140 against $41,336 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Bolivar County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Bolivar County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Bolivar County
Cities and places in Bolivar.
19 Census places lie wholly or partly in Bolivar County. All 19 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | city | 10,623 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Rosedale | city | 1,703 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Shelby | city | 1,700 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Shaw | city | 1,508 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mound Bayou | city | 1,449 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Renova | town | 978 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Benoit | town | 509 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Merigold | town | 484 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Duncan | town | 477 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boyle | town | 414 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gunnison | town | 392 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Beulah | town | 327 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Winstonville | town | 132 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Skene | CDP | 129 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Alligator | town | 116 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pace | town | 104 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bolivar | CDP | 59 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Scott | CDP | 27 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Symonds | CDP | 24 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |