Bolivar is the county seat of Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,143 at the 2000 census. The city was named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers. The town is perhaps best known as the location of Southwest Baptist University and it was ranked number 87 on a list of 100 Best Small Towns in America in 1995. Bolivar is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bolivar is named after the South American historical figure, Simón Bolívar, who was nicknamed El Libertador (The Liberator). In another nod to history, the local high school, Bolivar High School, calls its sports teams the Liberators. There is also a small skate park within walking distance from the middle school