Introduction
Bolivar is a growing community that is home to a four-year liberal arts university; the Polk County Courthouse; the Bolivar Liberators (the mascot of the Bolivar R-1 School System); the Polk County Genealogical Society Library, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Dunnegan Memorial Park; Smith’s Restaurant known for its “famous pork tenderloin”, and a fully integrated rural healthcare system known as Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation and Citizens Memorial Hospital.
CMH and its Foundation is the largest employer in the city with over 2,000 employees. Bolivar also has two more buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, the First National Bank at 103 E. Broadway St. which houses Douglas, Haun & Heidemann, P.C. and Ollis/Akers/Arney office, and North Ward School that was used as a local school from 1901-1953, and is now home to the North Ward Museum.
Polk County can also boast of its low cost of living, as it is part of the Springfield Metro Statistical Area, and according to the Council for Community & Economic Research, the Springfield Metro area had a cost of living index of 86.0 for 2022. The state of Missouri had the 6th lowest cost of living in the U.S. in 2022 with 89.1.
Recreation
Amenities
Bolivar is located near two stunning recreational lakes: Stockton Lake to the west and Pomme de Terre Lake to the north. It is also home to a premier 18-hole championship golf course known as Silo Ridge Country Club and Golf Course.
Other amenities include the Historic Bolivar Speedway, which includes a 1/4-mile dirt track and is adding a 3/8-mile track next season.
The City of Bolivar has its own Parks and Recreation Department, which is in charge of the Bolivar Recreation and Aquatic Center, as well as maintaining the city’s other recreation centers, including the Bolivar Municipal Golf Course, the Dunnegan Memorial Park, the Cribbs Family Youth Park and several others. The 40-acre Dunnegan park includes a large lake that is home to several swans and ducks that live here year-round. The Rec Department also runs the city’s Youth Sports Program that includes youth soccer, basketball, football, baseball, softball and swim team. A Youth Wrestling club is also available for area students.
