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Bowman, South Carolina

18 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1920 and the latest in 1990. It stands in the Bowman census division. It lies in ZIP code area 29018. It stands on Buck Branch. The Survey maps it on the Bowman quadrangle. 788 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 141 feet above sea level.

Bowman within Orangeburg County

Population over time

3 figures

Bowman fell from 1,198 to 788 between 2000 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.

YearPeople Change
20001,198
2010968-230 (-19%)
2020788-180 (-19%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

12 surveys from 18 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.

Photographs

8 of 20 photographs shown, 1943

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, on leave at his home. He is tuning up his old Ford, preparing to go see his girlfriend
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, on leave at his home. He is tuning up his old Ford, preparing to go see his girlfriend
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, coming home on leave
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, coming home on leave
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, talking with friends while on leave at his home. Before enlisting in the Army, Sergeant Riley worked in his father's garage for many years
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, talking with friends while on leave at his home. Before enlisting in the Army, Sergeant Riley worked in his father's garage for many years
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, on leave at his home. With the help of a friend, he is cleaning his little Ford, preparing to go see his girlfriend in Charleston, South Carolina
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, on leave at his home. With the help of a friend, he is cleaning his little Ford, preparing to go see his girlfriend in Charleston, South Carolina
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, home on leave, learning about point rationing of food from his friend Windfred Judy, who runs the general store
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, home on leave, learning about point rationing of food from his friend Windfred Judy, who runs the general store
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, home on leave having dinner with his family and a friend
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, home on leave having dinner with his family and a friend
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, home on leave, being shown around the garage where he used to work by his father
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service Command, home on leave, being shown around the garage where he used to work by his father
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service command, home on leave talking things over with his brother Howard
Bowman, South Carolina. Sergeant John Riley, of the 25th service group, Air Service command, home on leave talking things over with his brother Howard
Delano, Jack, 1943. Library of Congress

Every photograph of Orangeburg County

Fires near this place

317 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 317 fires within 5 miles of Bowman between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,686 acres in total. 4 started naturally. 30 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 burning124
Missing data/not specified/undetermined109
Arson/incendiarism30
Equipment and vehicle use24
Smoking18
Natural4
Misuse of fire by a minor4
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Other causes1
Fireworks1

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
6 September 1997Debris and open burning9.0 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
29 September 2003Debris and open burningunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
26 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.5 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
25 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
22 September 2019Debris and open burningunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
20 September 1996Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
15 September 2015Debris and open burning2.5 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named
1 September 2005Equipment and vehicle use2.0 acresSouth Carolina Forestry Commissionnot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Orangeburg County

Storms near this place

47 since 1996

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bowman in 47 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 30 thunderstorm wind, 10 hail, 3 tornado, 3 flash flood. 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.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1996LightningBowman1 hurtno account filed
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBowman$380,000NWS storm survey found numerous trees down along and south of I-20 from mile marker 161 to I-95. I-20 was closed due to trees across the interstate. A chicken barn was destroyed near the intersection of Winter Creek and Funderburg roads and field irrigation systems were rolled over.
August 2023Flash FloodBowman$100,000Orangeburg County Emergency Manager reported several roads in and around Bowman impassable due to flooding, including Poplar Road, Canal Street and Bowman Avenue.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindBowman$25,000EM reported trees down in and around Bowman. One tree fell on his home and another on a barn causing minor to moderate damage.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindBowman$6,000A microburst moved a mobile home off its foundation and did light to moderate damage.
January 2006Tornado (F0)Bowman$5,000An F0 touched down along SC4108 and took out some trees. Neighbors said it hit around 9pm. The roof of a mobile home was peeled back with minor damage to the sides as well.
July 2015Thunderstorm WindBowman$3,000Dispatch reported trees down in Bowman.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindBowman$3,000Public reported several trees down on Ebenezer Road.
July 2013Flash FloodBowman$2,000Highway Patrol reported Charleston hwy at Big Buck Blvd closed due to flooding.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindBowman$2,000Highway Patrol reported trees down at One Oak Lane and Charleston Highway.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindBowman$2,000Emergency Manager reported trees down on hwy 210 near Bowman.
April 2007Tornado (EF0)Bowman$1,000An EF0 touched down SE of Rowesville and traveled NE to just N of Bowman. Trees and a couple of powerlines were taken down along the path on SR 38-80, Classic Rd, Turkeyend St, Candlewood Ct, Dibble st, and SR 36.
September 2020Flash FloodBowman$500SCHP reported roadway flooding at Elm St and Weathers St in Bowman. Times estimated.
July 1999HailBowman$500EOC reported golfball size hail damaged windshields of vehicles near hwys 301 and 176.
May 2023HailBowman$100Orangeburg Co EM reported dime size hail near Bowman.
August 2019HailBowman$10A trained spotter reported dime size hail, and also estimated wind gusts of 65-70 mph.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindBowman-SC Department of Public Safety reported trees and powerlines down at Vance Road and Easterlin Road.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindBowman-Orangeburg County EM Reported tree down along Vance Rd. Time estimated based on radar.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindBowman-Tree down on Oliver St in Bowman. Time estimated.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindBowman-Tree down on Interstate 26 eastbound around mile marker 161. Time estimated.
April 2022Tornado (EF0)Bowman-A National Weather Service storm survey confirmed an EF0 tornado|in Orangeburg County, SC near Bowman. The tornado had a path|length of about 0.75 miles with a maximum path width of 200 yards.|The peak wind associated with the tornado was 85 mph. The tornado touched down near Wayside Dr where it removed|portions of the tin exterior of a farm equipment storage barn and|shifted an unanchored helicopter more than 90 degrees. The|tornado then moved northeast across Dairy Ave where it caused|damage to approximately 6 acres of a solar farm. The tornado then|dissipated near Bowman Branch Hwy.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBowman-SC Highway Patrol reported a tree down along Ebenezer Road.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindBowman-SCHP reported tree down on Homestead Rd right outside the town of Bowman. Time estimated.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindBowman-SCHP reported trees down on Beacon Tree Rd at US Hwy 178 north of Bowman. Time estimated.
April 2019Thunderstorm WindBowman-County EM reported trees down on Arista Rd. Time estimated.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindBowman-A trained spotter reported a tree down at 7881 Charleston Hwy (US Hwy 178) south of Bowman. Time estimated.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindBowman-A trained spotter reported a tree down on Holstein Rd about one quarter mile west of Ebenzer Rd. Time estimated.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindBowman-A trained spotter reported a tree down on Ebenezer Rd at Cow Castle Creek. Time estimated.
March 2012HailBowman-Public reported 1 inch hail along I-26 near Bowman.
May 2012HailBowman-Sheriff reported hail large enough to dent cars in and around Bowman.
May 2012Thunderstorm WindBowman-Sheriff reported trees and limbs down in and around Bowman.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindBowman-Public reported medium to large limbs down and dime size hail near Bowman.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindBowman-Highway Patrol reported trees down across Hwy 178 near Bowman.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindBowman-Sheriff dispatch reported trees down in the Bowman community.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindBowman-Orangeburg Time-Democrat reported roof damage to a home, large limbs down and trees down in the Bowman area.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindBowman-Large limbs were down on Vance road.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindBowman-Large limbs were down along I-26 between mile markers 162 and 163.
April 2007HailBowman-Sheriff reported nickel size hail northwest of Bowman.
May 2006HailBowman-Public reported penny size hail at exit 165 on I-26.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindBowman-Sheriff repored a couple of trees down in Bowman.
November 2006Thunderstorm WindBowman-Sheriff reported trees down between Branchville and Bowman on hwy 210.
August 2003HailBowman-EOC reported 3/4 inch hail.
March 2002Thunderstorm WindBowman-Edisto Electric reported power outages from Bowman to Branchville. Some trees down on powerlines.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindBowman-Sheriff reported trees down.
April 1999HailBowman-Post Office reported dime size hail at I26/I95.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindBowman-no account filed
April 1996HailBowman-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Orangeburg 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.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Sandy Run2.5 miles18
Lambrick4.0 miles18
Whetsell5.0 miles18
Providence8.1 miles18
Sixty Six8.2 miles17
Oaks Crossroads8.2 miles18
Rowesville8.3 miles17
Fifty Eight (historical)8.7 miles18

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 BowmanAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1939098The 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 1246954. 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.