Bowdon, Georgia

16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1889 and the latest in 1981. It stands in the Bowdon census division. It lies in ZIP code area 30108. The Survey maps it on the Bowdon West quadrangle. 2,161 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,079 feet above sea level.

Bowdon within Carroll County

On record in Bowdon

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 3 records

Population over time

2 figures

Bowdon grew from 2,040 to 2,161 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
2010	2,040
2020	2,161	+121 (+6%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 16 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

1889 USGS Tallapoosa quadrangle1:125000
1892 USGS Tallapoosa quadrangle1:125000
1897 USGS Tallapoosa quadrangle1:125000, 4 printings
1953 USGS Atlanta quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
1957 USGS Atlanta quadrangle1:250000
1958 USGS Atlanta quadrangle1:250000
1966 USGS Bowdon West quadrangle1:24000, 3 printings
1975 USGS Bowdon West quadrangle1:24000
1981 USGS Anniston quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings

Fires near this place

152 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 152 fires within 5 miles of Bowdon between 1992 and 2020, burning about 542 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 34 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	78
Arson/incendiarism	34
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	14
Misuse of fire by a minor	9
Recreation and ceremony	7
Smoking	7
Equipment and vehicle use	2
Natural	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
9 September 2003	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
30 September 1993	Debris and open burning	1.3 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
30 September 1993	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
25 September 2003	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
23 September 2018	Debris and open burning	3.5 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	FY2019CARROLL003
21 September 1996	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
18 September 1999	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named
16 September 1999	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	4.3 acres	Georgia Forestry Commission	not named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Carroll County

Storms near this place

37 since 1998

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bowdon in 37 storm reports between 1998 and 2025: 20 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 2 lightning, 1 tornado. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
February 2008	Tornado (EF3)	Bowdon	1 hurt, $8,000,000	A ground and aerial damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia and the Carroll County Emergency Management Director concluded that an EF3 tornado touched down in extreme western Carroll county, just across the Alabama state line, about 13 miles west of Carrollton and continued to a point approximately five miles west of Carrollton. The tornado traveled a path length of seven to eight miles and had a maximum path width of 100 yards. Maximum wind speeds were estimated at 140 mph. Twelve structures, mostly single family homes, suffered extensive damage along the path of the tornado. Only four of the affected structures were manufactured or mobile homes. Two of the affected homes were destroyed, on Indian Creek Road. A woman was injured on Smithfield Road when she was blown from her home. Numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the area as well. Damages were estimated to be nearly $10 million. This plus the following tornado resulted in damage to 128 structures. Six single-family and one mobile home were destroyed, two mobile homes suffered major damage, 34 single-family homes sustained minor damage, and 84 single-family homes, along with one mobile home, suffered minor damage. Five businesses were damaged, two of which were destroyed, along with one suffering major and two others minor damage.
March 2013	Hail	Bowdon	$768,000	Ham radio operators and the public reported 1 to 2 inch hail across Carroll County in the second of two significant hailstorms that moved through.
February 2009	Hail	Bowdon	$500,000	Several reports of large hail were received from the southern half of the county. The public observed golf ball-sized hail in Clem. The Fire Department observed nickel-sized hail in Bowden. The county emergency manager observed penny-sized hail in Carrollton. Finally, a National Weather Service employee observed quarter-sized hail in Whitesburg in the far southeast corner of the county. The Target store at McIntosh Plaza suffered considerable roof damage from the hail, causing leaks and damaging merchandise. The public reported that windshields of vehicles in the area were damaged.
July 2002	Lightning	Bowdon	$300,000	The Times Georgian newspaper of Carrollton reported that lightning struck two homes. In both instances, the homes were completely destroyed and the families lost all of their possessions.
May 2010	Flash Flood	Bowdon	$100,000	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that several road drainage culverts were washed out across the county. Culverts were washed out on Hamp Chappell Road seven miles southeast of Carrollton, Horsley Mill Road near Little Snake Creek eight miles east of Carrollton, and at Dashboard Road 10 miles southwest of Carrollton. At the height of the flooding, 18 roads across the county were closed. Road repair cost the county $100,000.
August 1999	Lightning	Bowdon	$50,000	Fire caused by lightning destroyed a 102 year old church.
May 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$30,000	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that at least a dozen trees were down across the county. One home in Amindon Estates suffered structural damage when a tree fell through the structure.
May 1998	Hail	Bowdon	$25,000	From 3/4 inch to 21/2 inch hail was reported by the public and an off-duty Weather Service employee. The hail was reported as golf ball size in Bowdon and up to tennis ball size in Carrollton. Cars were dented and had windshields broken. Roofs of houses were damaged and leaves were shredded leaves off trees.
June 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$15,000	The Carroll county Emergency Management Director reported that numerous trees and power lines were down in Bowdon, Mt. Zion, and Whitesburg. In addition, an old barn was destroyed and the back porch on an old house was damaged.
August 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$10,000	Wooden trusses for a new church were blown down during a strong thunderstorm.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$7,000	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees and power lines were blown down in the southern part of the county, mostly southeast of Bowdon. A few trees and tree limbs were also down in and around Carrollton. A barn just southeast of Bowdon lost parts of its roof from strong thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$5,000	Emergency manager reported a tree down on a home on the 400 block of Mitchell Ave.
December 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$5,000	Public reports multiple trees down in the city of Bowden .
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$5,000	The Carroll County 911 Center reported that at least 10 trees were down across the county.
April 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$5,000	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees and some power lines were down across the northwest part of the county from Bowdon to north of Carrollton to near the Haralson county line.
June 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$4,000	An off-duty National Weather Service employee reported that at least 10 trees were down at the Sunset Hills Country Club southwest of Carrollton. WSB Television of Atlanta reported that a power line was down at a residence northeast of Carrollton. WSR-88D base velocity data suggested that strong winds, on the order of 50kts or greater, likely translated across the county from northwest of Bowdon to Whitesburg.
May 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$4,000	The public reported thunderstorm winds blew shingles from a house, knocked down power lines, and broke off 6 to 8 inch diamter tree limbs.
February 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$3,000	Several trees and powerlines down in the Bowden area of Carrol County.
May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$3,000	EM reports 3 trees down on roadways in the city limits of Bowdon.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$3,000	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported that several trees were down in the Bowdon area, two more trees down in Roopville, and two more down in Tyus.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$1,000	Tree and powerlines down along Wessmanor Cir.
June 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$1,000	Emergency manager reported a tree down at the 900 block of South Hwy 100 to the south of Bowdon.
July 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$1,000	The public reported that one large tree was blown down and a small shed was blown off its foundation.
June 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	$1,000	A HAM operator reported a few trees were blown down.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	-	Emergency Manager reported a tree fell on a home along Rome St in Bowdon.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	-	Emergency Manager reported a tree fell on a home along Grammar School Dr in Bowdon.
June 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowdon	-	Report of numerous trees down on Grammar School Dr and Eastwood Cir.
June 2011	Hail	Bowdon	-	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director relayed a report of penny-sized hail just south of Bowdon.
January 2010	Hail	Bowdon	-	The Carroll County Emergency Management Director reported penny-sized hail near Roopeville.
February 2009	Funnel Cloud	Bowdon	-	The Carroll County 911 Center relayed reports of funnel clouds and a possible tornado just north of Bowdon near Georgia Highway 100 and Indian Creek Road. Doppler radar indicated a strong circulation in this area and a tornado warning was in effect at the time. However, no damage was observed or reported in this area.
May 2008	Hail	Bowdon	-	A fire station south of Bowdon observed penny-sized hail in the southwest part of Carroll county.
May 2008	Hail	Bowdon	-	An amateur radio operator reported penny-sized hail in the Bowdon area. Radar data supported that hail of similar size, perhaps larger, fell across the far western and southern parts of the county, south of Bowdon and toward Tyrus and possibly even Roopville.
June 2004	Hail	Bowdon	-	The public reported that quarter-sized hail fell for up to 20 minutes.
May 2002	Hail	Bowdon	-	The Carroll county 911 center reported golf ball size hail. The public reported dime size hail.
May 2002	Hail	Bowdon	-	The public reported dime size hail.
May 2001	Hail	Bowdon	-	An amateur radio operator reported dime size hail.
August 1999	Hail	Bowdon	-	The public and a fire station reported 3/4 inch hail.

Every storm recorded in Carroll County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
Cedar Valley	1.0 miles	16
Jonesville	1.9 miles	15
Victory	2.9 miles	15
Fairview (historical)	3.1 miles	15
Farmers High	3.5 miles	15
Burwell	3.8 miles	15
Joel	4.4 miles	11
Bucktown	4.8 miles	13

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Bowdon	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q3241365	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 354818. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.