Bowie

Bowie County

Updated on: November 15, 2021
Coordinates
33° 27' 0" N, 94° 25' 12" W (33.45, -94.42)
State
Texas
Region
Northeast
County Seat:
New Boston
Year Organized:
1840
Total Square Miles:
922.968
885 square miles (2,290 km2) land
38 square miles (98 km2) water
Population:
94012 (2017)
Population: 92,565 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
102
Bowie County Website
http://www.co.bowie.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Cass (S)
Morris (SW)
Red River (W)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
94012
25 to 64 Years of Age:
51.28%
65 Years of Age and Older:
16.54%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$3.7 B
Labor Force:
39,495
Unemployment Rate:
4.90%

County Contact

PO BOX 248
County Courthouse
New Boston, TX, 75570-0248

http://www.co.bowie.tx.us

Bowie County is in Texas, United States. It is named after a legendary knife fighter, James Bowie. It has a population of 93,245 as of 2019. The county is strategically located at the crossroads of Texas Highway 59, US-81, and US-287.  

The Bowie County seat is Boston. 

Demographic Information  

Bowie County has a population of about 93,245 people. 97.5% of this population is United States citizens, which is more than the US median of 93.4%. 11.6% of the residents were born in other countries. 

In terms of diversity, most of the residents in Bowie County are white non-Hispanic. They are 59600 in total. Black and African American people (Non-Hispanic) are about 22,800. There are about 5,020 white Hispanic residents. 

Cost of Living in Bowie County 

Bowie County’s cost of living is 81.8. This is lower compared to the 100 rate comparison standard in the US. 

The median annual income for residents in Bowie County is $50 164. It is less than the national median ($65,712). Considering Bowie’s cost of living conditions are lower in Bowie County than in Texas on average. 

To determine the cost of living, consumers are expected to spend less than 28% of their gross income on house expenses and less than 36% on debts. To this end, households in Bowie County have an average income of $57,864. 

Housing expenses in Bowie County are 45% less than the United States median. The income tax rate in Bowie County is 0.0%. 

The average household income in Bowie is $50,164. 

On average, males in Bowie County have a higher median average (1.4 times more) than females ($49,245). The income inequality in Texas is 0.48, which is more than the United States median. 

The homeownership rate was 63.5, while the median property value was $119,400 in 2019. The majority of the residents drive to their jobs; the median commute time was 18.4 minutes. Each household on average owns two cars which is also the national average. 

Geographical Information on Bowie County 

Bowie County covers 923 square miles. Out of this, 888 square miles is land, while the rest, 35 square miles, is covered with water. 

The northeast parts of the county are forested and hilly. The land is covered by alluvial, sandy, and clay soils. Two major rivers in the county, i.e., Sulphur River and Red River, drain into Wright Patman Lake. 

  • Neighboring Counties that border Bowie County is: 
  • Red River County (west) 
  • Morris County (southwest) 
  • Cass County (south) 
  • Miller County, Arkansas (southeast) 
  • Little River County, Arkansas (northeast) 
  • McCurtain County, Oklahoma (north) 

Education Information in Bowie County 

Some of the largest Universities in Bowie County are: 

Cosmetology Academy of Texarkana (29 degrees) 

Texas A&M University-Texarkana (524 degrees) 

Texarkana College (836 degrees awarded in 2019) 

Some of the independent school districts that serve Bowie County are: 

  • Texarkana  
  • Redwater  
  • Pleasant Grove 
  • Maud 
  • Liberty-Eylau 
  • Hubbard De Kalb  

The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1 on average. On average, 72.5% have completed high school, while 73.2% of students have completed 8th grade. 9.7% of people in Bowie have completed a bachelor’s degree 

Bowie County Jail 

Opened in 2007, Bowie County Jail is the biggest jail in Bowie County. It has a staff of about 200 employees. It is a modern-built facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a comprehensive design with a central housing unit. 

Inmates held in the facility perform all maintenance duties in the facility. The jail has a capacity of about 920 inmates and admits about sixty inmates daily. The county sheriff’s office coordinates services in the facility, including housing, medical care, transport, and counseling. 

How Safe is Bowie County? 

The crime rate in Bowie County is 36% higher than the national average. The southern parts of the county are considered safer than the rest. The probability of being a victim of crime is 1 in every four people in the county’s western region compared to 1 in every 48 people in the south. Mainly, the violent crime rate is 46% higher than the US average. Violent crimes include physical assault, murder, sexual assault, and robbery. The probability of being a victim of property crime is 1 in every 30 people. Property crimes include auto theft, theft, and burglary. The rate of crime has been rising year after year. 

Bowie County Tax Office 

The Bowie County Tax Office offers several services regarding tax, including personal and business tax services. The county tax office will aid you in all tax matters of most vehicles like: 

  • Temporary registration 
  • Placards for Disabled Parking 
  • Copies of Registration Receipts 
  • Non-fee license Plate Disabled Veterans license 
  • Change of Address on Motor Vehicle Records 
  • Vehicle Title Transfers Registration 
  • Renewal of plates and stickers 

Cities and Towns in Bowie 

Boston 

Most residents of Boston have grown and lived around Boston from school days. It is a closed-off environment. Boston is made up of three towns: Boston, New Boston, and Old Boston. Every year residents of Boston join in the Pioneer Days Festival. It is a three-day event full of entertainment like dances, comedy shows, live music, and carnival rides. 

Texarkana 

Texarkana is one of the significant towns in Bowie County. It is a commerce and industry center. Additionally, Texarkana provides education, health care, and employment opportunities to residents in Texas in its sixty-mile radius. Development in the city has been made possible by the extensive transport system. The Kansas City Southern railroads and Union Pacific contribute to the development by accessing the Texarkana Regional Airport.   

Other towns and cities in the county include: 

  • Red Bank 
  • Red Water 
  • Nash 
  • Leary 
  • Hooks 
  • Maud 

Bowie County Offices 

Bowie County has several county offices. The county offices include the offices of Sheriff, County Judge, County Clerk, Commissioners Court, County tax, County treasurer, and Peace Justice. 

 The Bowie County Clerk is Tina Perry. You may reach her through Phone: 903-628-6752 and Fax: 903-628-6761. In the commissioner’s court, you have the precinct commissioners. 

  • Precinct number one –Sammy Stone 
  • Precinct number two- Tom whitten 
  • Precinct number three- James Strain 
  • Precinct number four- Mike Carter 

The Bowie courthouse is in New Boston.