Bowie, Texas

Bowie
Downtown Bowie, Texas
Downtown Bowie, Texas
Map
Interactive map of Bowie
Coordinates: 33°33′32″N 97°50′55″W / 33.55889°N 97.84861°W / 33.55889; -97.84861
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyMontague
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
Area
 • Total
5.54 sq mi (14.36 km2)
 • Land5.52 sq mi (14.29 km2)
 • Water0.023 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation1,116 ft (340 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,448
 • Estimate 
(2021)
5,534
 • Density987.4/sq mi (381.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76230
Area code940
FIPS code48-09640
GNIS feature ID1352736[2]
Websitewww.cityofbowietx.com

Bowie (/ˈbi/ BOO-ee)[3] is a town in Montague County, Texas, United States. Its population was 5,448 at the 2020 census.[4]

History

On July 22, 1881, Bowie was incorporated as a town in Montague County, Texas, United States. (A separate Bowie County 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 5,000, 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 EF1 tornado hit the town of Bowie on May 22, 2020.[10] On March 21, 2022, two EF1 tornadoes hit the town.[11]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bowie has a total area of 5.54 square miles (14.3 km2), of which 0.02 sq mi (0.052 km2) is covered by water.[12]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Bowie has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.[13] Record extremes there have ranged from 115 °F (46.1 °C) in June 1980 to −11 °F (−23.9 °C) in December 1989, although an unofficial record low of −12 °F (−24.4 °C) occurred in February 1899.[14]

Climate data for Bowie, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1897–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 92
(33)
94
(34)
100
(38)
105
(41)
107
(42)
115
(46)
113
(45)
111
(44)
109
(43)
103
(39)
91
(33)
88
(31)
115
(46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 54.1
(12.3)
58.4
(14.7)
66.7
(19.3)
74.4
(23.6)
81.0
(27.2)
88.7
(31.5)
93.4
(34.1)
93.9
(34.4)
86.3
(30.2)
76.2
(24.6)
64.8
(18.2)
55.4
(13.0)
74.4
(23.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 42.0
(5.6)
46.1
(7.8)
54.2
(12.3)
62.0
(16.7)
70.2
(21.2)
78.3
(25.7)
82.6
(28.1)
82.6
(28.1)
75.0
(23.9)
64.3
(17.9)
52.7
(11.5)
43.8
(6.6)
62.8
(17.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 30.0
(−1.1)
33.8
(1.0)
41.7
(5.4)
49.6
(9.8)
59.4
(15.2)
68.0
(20.0)
71.9
(22.2)
71.4
(21.9)
63.6
(17.6)
52.4
(11.3)
40.5
(4.7)
32.2
(0.1)
51.2
(10.7)
Record low °F (°C) −2
(−19)
−7
(−22)
9
(−13)
22
(−6)
33
(1)
45
(7)
53
(12)
52
(11)
37
(3)
18
(−8)
13
(−11)
−11
(−24)
−11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.64
(42)
2.29
(58)
3.00
(76)
3.04
(77)
5.22
(133)
4.00
(102)
2.63
(67)
2.47
(63)
3.23
(82)
3.62
(92)
2.10
(53)
2.08
(53)
35.32
(897)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.4
(1.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.3
(0.76)
0.7
(1.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.5 4.8 5.4 5.4 7.8 6.3 4.1 4.5 5.1 5.6 4.4 4.2 62.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.6
Source: NOAA[15][16]

Roads

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18901,486
19002,60075.0%
19102,87410.5%
19203,17910.6%
19303,131−1.5%
19403,47010.8%
19504,54431.0%
19604,5660.5%
19705,18513.6%
19805,6108.2%
19904,990−11.1%
20005,2194.6%
20105,2180.0%
20205,4484.4%
2021 (est.)5,534[17]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

2020 census

Bowie racial composition[4]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 4,177 76.67%
Black or African American (NH) 33 0.61%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 44 0.81%
Asian (NH) 36 0.66%
Pacific Islander (NH) 2 0.04%
Some other race (NH) 7 0.13%
Multiracial (NH) 275 5.05%
Hispanic or Latino 874 16.04%
Total 5,448

As of the 2020 census, Bowie had a population of 5,448. The median age was 38.5 years; 25.9% of residents were under 18 and 20.2% of residents were 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 85.3 males 18 and over.[20]

About 98.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.7% lived in rural areas.[21]

Of the 2,127 households in Bowie, 33.1% had children under 18 living in them, 44.8% were married-couple households, 17.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.[20]

Of the 2,506 housing units, 15.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.3% were owner-occupied and 36.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%.[20]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[22]
Race Percent
White 81.6%
Black or African American 0.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.0%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander <0.1%
Some other race 4.2%
Two or more races 11.9%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 16.0%
  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[19]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 5,218 people and 2,090 households, with 2,489 housing units, were living in the town. The population density was 945.6 people per square mile. The average household size was 2.32 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, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos 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.[12]

Education

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

Airport

Bowie Municipal Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Bowie
ServesBowie, Texas
Location522 Private Road, Bowie, TX 76230[23]
Elevation AMSL1,101 ft / 336 m
Coordinates33°36′06″N 097°46′32″W / 33.60167°N 97.77556°W / 33.60167; -97.77556 (Bowie Municipal Airport)
Map
0F2 is located in Texas
0F2
0F2
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 3,603 1,098 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Aircraft operations (year ending 9/19/2022)7,350
Based aircraft29
Sources: Federal Aviation Administration[24]

Bowie Municipal Airport (FAA LID: 0F2) is a city-owned public airport of the town, located approximately 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) northeast of the central business district.[24][25] The airport has no IATA or ICAO designation.[26]

Bowie Municipal Airport covers 52 acres (21 ha) at an elevation of 1,101 feet (336 m) above mean sea level and has one runway: 17/35: 3,603 x 60 ft. (1,098 x 18 m), surface - asphalt[24]

For the 12-month period ending September 19, 2022, the airport had 7,350 aircraft operations, an average of 20 per day; 100% general aviation and <1% military. At that time, 29 aircraft were based at this airport, 28 single-engine, and 1 helicopter.[24]

Accidents and incidents

  • 15 August 2014: A Cessna 414, registration number N127BC, was on approach to land when it suddenly went into a spin and hit the ground in a nose-down attitude. The aircraft was consumed in an immediate postimpact fire and the pilot and single passenger were killed. An autopsy of the pilot revealed acute, premortem, nonocclusive thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and the medical examiner concluded, "[the pilot] died primarily to hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and that his multiple blunt force injuries likely contributed to his death." The accident was attributed to "The pilot's incapacitation in flight as the result of an acute cardiac event, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain."[27]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Bowie". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  3. ^ "Texas Almanac Pronunciation Guide" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015. Buchanan Dam — buhk hăn uhn DĂM
  4. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Minor 2012.
  6. ^ Jameson 1991.
  7. ^ Potter 1913, p. 182.
  8. ^ Roosevelt 1938.
  9. ^ Brown 2009.
  10. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  11. ^ By, daryl herzmann. "IEM :: PNS from NWS FWD". mesonet.agron.iastate.edu. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Census 2012.
  13. ^ Climate Summary for Bowie, Texas
  14. ^ US Department of Commerce NOA A, National Weather Service Fort Worth. "February 1899 Cold Wave". www.weather.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  15. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  17. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  18. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  21. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  22. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  23. ^ "City of Bowie Departments - Airport". City of Bowie. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  24. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for 0F2 PDF. Federal Aviation Administration, Effective December 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "Texas Airport Directory - Bowie, Bowie Municipal (0F2)" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 10, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  26. ^ "0F2 - Bowie [Muni], TX, US - Airport - Great Circle Mapper". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  27. ^ "NTSB Aviation Accident Final Report CEN14FA438". National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved May 9, 2018.


Further reading