Bowie, Texas

On July 22, 1881, Bowie was incorporated as a town in Montague County, Texas. (There is also a Bowie County, which includes Texarkana in northeastern Texas.) The town began to expand with the arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway in 1882.[5] In 1884, four men robbed the First National Bank of Bowie and allegedly left with over $10,000 in gold coins. Townspeople gave chase and eventually captured the robbers, who were hanged for their crimes.[6] By 1913, the town had a population of more than 5000, and included the Bowie Commercial College.[7]

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the town on his train on July 11, 1938. He ceremonially purchased biscuits from businessman Amon G. Carter of Fort Worth, who had grown up in Bowie.[8] On August 19, 1941, Rex Beard, Jr., robbed the First National Bank of Bowie and was captured in December of that same year.[9] An EF2 tornado hit the town of Bowie on May 22, 2020. It was the first recorded tornado in Bowie.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bowie has a total area of 5.52 square miles (14.3 km²).[4]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,218 people and 2,489 housing units in the town. The population density was 945.6 people per square mile. There were 2,090 households in the town. The average household size was 2.32 persons and the average family size was 2.99. The racial makeup of the town was 91.9% White, 0.2% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.6% of the population. The median income for a household in the town was $33,846. The per capita income for the town was $19,063.[4]

The town is served by the Bowie Independent School District as well as a branch campus of North Central Texas College.

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  "Nostalgia" is the name of a restaurant and assorted antique store in downtown Bowie.
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  Children at Jim Bowie Days Rodeo
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  Jim Bowie Days Rodeo
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  A look at downtown Bowie (2013)
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  Bowie Public Library
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  U.S. Post Office in Bowie
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  First Baptist Church, senior pastor Mike Henson (2013)
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  Bible Baptist Church off Texas State Highway 59, established 1952; Steve Summers, pastor (2013)
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  St. Peter Lutheran Church at 906 Highway 59 North in Bowie; pastor Larry Knobloch (2013)
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  Bowie City Hall
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  Free Will Baptist Church - Photo by Michael Eichler

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bowie has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[11]

• "Bowie (city), Texas". United States Census Bureau. 2013-06-27. Archived from the original on 2013-11-11. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
• Brown, Max (2009). "The History of the Old Jail at Montague". Montague County History. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
• Jameson, W. C. (1991). "Bowie Bank Robbery Loot on the Red River". Buried Treasures of Texas. August House. pp. 97–100. ISBN 9780874831788. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
• Minor, David (2012). "Bowie, TX". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
• Potter, W.R. (1913). History of Montague County. Austin, Texas: E. L. Steck. OCLC 2654305. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
• Roosevelt, Franklin (1938-07-11). Informal Remarks of the President in Bowie, Texas (Speech). From the Platform of his special train. Bowie, Texas. Retrieved 2012-04-08.

• The town of Bowie, Texas Chamber of Commerce
• Bowie Independent School District Website