Bowie, Texas

10 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1905 and the latest in 1991. It stands in the Bowie census division. It lies in ZIP code area 76230. It lies near Cougar Mountain. The Survey maps it on the Bowie quadrangle. 5,448 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,129 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Bowie within Montague County

Population over time

2 figures

Bowie grew from 5,218 to 5,448 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	5,218
2020	5,448	+230 (+4%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 10 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.

1905 USGS Montague quadrangle1:125000, 3 printings
1954 USGS Sherman quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
1958 USGS Sherman quadrangle1:250000
1961 USGS Bowie quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
1985 USGS Gainesville quadrangle1:100000
1991 USGS Gainesville quadrangle1:100000

Fires near this place

78 since 2005

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 78 fires within 5 miles of Bowie between 2005 and 2020, burning about 4,303 acres in total. 1 started naturally. None was 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
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	42
Debris and open burning	17
Equipment and vehicle use	8
Power generation/transmission/distribution	4
Railroad operations and maintenance	4
Smoking	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 2011	Power generation/transmission/distribution	under an acre	Texas A & M Forest Service	POLK POWERLINE
8 September 2011	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Texas A & M Forest Service	THREE DAUGHTERS GRASS
8 September 2011	Smoking	2.0 acres	Texas A & M Forest Service	WATKINS GRASS
7 September 2009	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	12 acres	Texas A & M Forest Service	ALLISON
30 September 2011	Power generation/transmission/distribution	200 acres	Texas A & M Forest Service	JACKSON RD
3 September 2011	Railroad operations and maintenance	under an acre	Texas A & M Forest Service	PINK WILSON RR GRASS
3 September 2011	Railroad operations and maintenance	under an acre	Texas A & M Forest Service	LIPSCOMBS RR GRASS
11 September 2011	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Texas A & M Forest Service	WILLIAMS BUSH FIRE

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Montague County

Mines and quarries near this place

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Bowie: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Sadler Sand and Gravel Co Pit-Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer

Every working recorded in Montague County

Storms near this place

60 of 125 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Bowie in 125 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 70 hail, 29 thunderstorm wind, 15 flash flood, 6 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
May 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	1 hurt, $50,000	A mobile home was blown over by thunderstorm winds near Bowie, trapping a woman. She was treated for minor injuries. Mills County Democrat,25,2100CST,,,0,0,0,0,Hail (1.00)
May 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$1,000,000	Damaging straight line winds affected most of the western, northern and central portions of the City of Bowie. Straight-line wind damage was also observed northeast of Bowie along Highway 59, extending almost to the City of Montague. Within Bowie proper, large tree trunks were snapped, and many trees were uprooted. Much of this tree debris fell onto residences, resulting in roof and structural damage to these homes. Additional light structural damage, including roof, fascia and signage damage, was observed to many commercial buildings within Bowie. All of this straight-line wind damage was consistent with wind speeds ranging from 65 to 80 mph, with isolated heavier damage consistent with 80 to 90 mph winds. Within the large field of wind damage, there were some subtle indications that a brief tornado also occurred in Bowie.
May 2020	Tornado (EF1)	Bowie	$500,000	Within a larger swath of damaging thunderstorms winds in Bowie, subtle evidence of a tornado was discovered. Beginning near the Best Western Hotel near Highway 59 and US 287, the orientation of damage suggested weak convergence. The intensity of the damage also suggested higher wind speeds on the order of 90 to 95 mph. Similar indicators were noted from this area northeast along a mile-long path into the central business district of Bowie, where substantial roof damage and wall damage occurred to single story and multi-story buildings. This damage was suggestive of estimated tornado wind speeds topping out around 95 mph.
April 2016	Hail	Bowie	$500,000	Emergency management reported 3 inch diameter hail in Bowie, TX near the Highway 287 exit.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Bowie	$100,000	Several roads were under water and closed across the county. In addition, four briges were washed out, and sinkholes developed on North Johnson Loop, Poss Dyer Road, Lake Valley Road, and Denver Road. The sinkhole on Denver Road was six feet deep and twenty-five feet wide.
September 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$80,000	Widespread trees and power lines blown down, roof damage to homes, and an 18 wheeler blown over in town. One house was destroyed, three with major damage, and sixty-eight with light to moderate damage. Two businesses were destroyed, fifteen with major damage, and thirty-five with light to moderate damage. There was also damage to six vehicles.
March 2007	Flash Flood	Bowie	$60,000	Significant flooding occurred in Bowie as heavy rain fell and storm drains backed up. Several houses had water inside, and a pick-up truck had to be parked on top of a manhole cover to keep it closed. One to two feet of water was reported over Highway 82 west of Nocona and Interstate 75 south of Nocona.
August 2023	Hail	Bowie	$50,000	Emergency management reported golf ball sized hail on Highway 81 approximately 2 miles north of Bowie, TX.
May 2020	Hail	Bowie	$50,000	Hen egg sized hail was reported in the city of Bowie on Pelham and Lee streets.
June 2016	Flash Flood	Bowie	$50,000	Hood County Emergency Management reported major flooding in the city of Bowie, TX with high water rescues on streets and highways and people trapped in homes.
June 2004	Lightning	Bowie	$30,000	Lightning strikes blew two big breakers and damaged two houses.
August 1997	Lightning	Bowie	$30,000	Lightning reportedly struck an oil tank and started a fire that engulfed two such tanks.
May 2015	Flash Flood	Bowie	$25,000	Emergency Management reported that the Bowie EMS was responding to a family which was evacuating their home due to flooding. The home was on Applegate Rd just off Hwy 81.
March 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$25,000	A silo was moved off it's foundation, a greenhouse was destroyed, several buildings were unroofed, and trees were damaged.
May 2015	Flash Flood	Bowie	$20,000	Emergency management reported that 2 vehicles were submerged on N Mills St at the railroad underpass in Bowie, TX.
June 2015	Flash Flood	Bowie	$20,000	Numerous roads in Bowie were covered with water and impassable. Some roads north of Bowie were also flooded.
September 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$20,000	A roof was blown of a house and a trailer was blown across Highway 81 at Polk Road. Just up the road near Highway 81 and Indian Hills Road, a large tree was uprooted and several large, healthy tree branches were snapped off a tree.
March 2007	Lightning	Bowie	$20,000	Two transformers were knocked out by lightning. An electrical worker burned his retinas as an arc came off the wires while he was repairing them.
May 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$17,000	Large trees and tree limbs were blown down in Bowie. Some of the tree limbs were nearly a foot in diameter. One large tree limb fell on a garage. Minor building damage was also reported and downed power lines resulted in power outages. The winds were estimated to be between 65 and 75 mph.
March 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$15,000	Roof damage to a building on Montague Street was reported.
August 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$15,000	Trees and power lines were blown down by high winds, causing widespread power outages. Some windows were broken in businesses and tin roofs were blown off outbuildings.
April 2011	Hail	Bowie	$10,000	Ping pong to golfball sized hail fell over Bowie.
June 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$10,000	A 46 diameter tree was knocked onto a storage building on Sanders Street in Bowie. The storage building was heavily damaged.
July 2007	Flash Flood	Bowie	$10,000	Tarrant, Patterson, Mill, Rock, and Nelson Streets were flooded by about a foot of water. More than two inches of rain fell in 45 minutes. Saturated limbs fell from trees and hit power lines, causing outages for about an hour.
May 2020	Hail	Bowie	$8,000	no account filed
May 2024	Hail	Bowie	$7,000	Emergency management reported tennis-ball sized hail at Leona Road west of Bowie, TX.
April 2013	Hail	Bowie	$5,000	Golf ball sized hail was covering the ground near Highway 59 and Frog Hollar Road.
May 2010	Flash Flood	Bowie	$5,000	A few roads were briefly closed in the city of Bowie due to high water. One car was stranded at the Mill Street underpass.
March 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$5,000	An old gas station was unroofed and a power pole was snapped off.
June 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$5,000	Strong winds blew windows out of a store.
May 2025	Hail	Bowie	$3,000	A few different sources reported several minutes of ping pong ball sized hail in and around Bowie.
May 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$3,000	Emergency management reported that two overhead doors were damaged by high winds at the volunteer Fire Department approximately 1 mile south of Bowie on Highway 59.
June 2009	Hail	Bowie	$3,000	Golfball size hail was reported 1 mile north of Bowie.
June 2005	Lightning	Bowie	$3,000	A power surge due to lightning caused a fire in a residential home.
April 2016	Hail	Bowie	$2,000	Ping pong ball sized hail was reported south of Bowie.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$2,000	A tree fell onto a patio cover.
July 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$2,000	Tree limbs were blown into power lines.
April 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$2,000	no account filed
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	$500	Bowie Police Department reported a power pole down across Highway 59 approximately 2 miles northeast of the city of Bowie, TX.
February 2009	Hail	Bowie	$500	Quarter size hail was covering the ground in Bowie.
April 2026	Hail	Bowie	-	Trained spotter reported quarter size hail 3 miles southwest of Bowie.
April 2026	Tornado (EF0)	Bowie	-	Video evidence confirms a brief tornado developed east of Highway 59 near the Montague/Clay County line. Tree damage can be seen in the video.
May 2025	Hail	Bowie	-	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
April 2025	Flash Flood	Bowie	-	The city of Bowie Police Department closed Nelson Street at Mill Street, Nelson Street at the railroad bridge, and Decatur Street due to flash flooding. Social media video also indicated several flooded roads throughout the city of Bowie.
April 2025	Flash Flood	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported several roads flooded across the city of Bowie.
May 2024	Hail	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported quarter to half dollar sized hail falling within the City of Bowie, with hail covering the ground just south of the city along Highway 287.
May 2024	Hail	Bowie	-	Quarter size hail reported via mping.
March 2023	Hail	Bowie	-	Dime sized hail was reported in Bowie.
August 2023	Hail	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported ping pong ball sized hail near the intersection of Theater Road and Highway 81 north of Bowie, TX.
August 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported significant tree damage near the community center in Bowie, TX.
March 2022	Tornado (EF1)	Bowie	-	The tornado began on the north side of Lake Amon G. Carter along Hanging Tree Rd. where damage was found to multiple small barns and farm outbuildings, roof damage to several single family homes in the area, and tree damage resulting in snapped tree trunks and large broken limbs. A partially full water tank was transported from Hanging Tree Rd to Farm to Market Road 2583 as the storm continued east-northeast. As the tornado moved northeast of the lake to Timber Oaks Ct. it caused heavy damage to a farm outbuilding where the roof was lifted and multiple walls collapsed. The tornado is believed to have lifted after crossing Elgin Road. Maximum estimated winds were 95 mph.
June 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	-	A 61 mph wind gust was measured on an anemometer.
October 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	-	A trained spotter reported reported a 60 MPH wind gust approximately 4 miles north-northwest of the city of Bowie, TX on Highway 81.
February 2019	Hail	Bowie	-	A social media report indicated nickel-sized hail in the northern part of the city of Bowie, TX.
March 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Bowie	-	The Bowie, TX Automated Weather Observation System measured a wind gust of 61 MPH.
April 2019	Hail	Bowie	-	A social media report indicated penny size hail immediately southeast of the city of Bowie, TX.
April 2019	Hail	Bowie	-	Fire and rescue reported quarter size hail approximately 2 miles southwest of the city of Bowie, TX along Hanging Tree Road.
April 2019	Hail	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported nickel size hail at the EOC in Bowie, TX.
April 2019	Hail	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported nickel size hail approximately 7 miles southwest of the city of Bowie along Scout Road.
March 2018	Hail	Bowie	-	Emergency management reported pea to dime-sized hail covering the ground with a few stones up to quarter-sized near the intersection of Cole Rd at Brushy Rd approximately 2 miles southeast of the city of Bowie, TX.

Every storm recorded in Montague 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
McDonald	1.8 miles	10
Fruitland	4.8 miles	10
Selma	5.4 miles	8
Salona	5.4 miles	10
Stoneburg	8.3 miles	10
Smyrna	8.3 miles	8
Dry Valley	8.4 miles	10
Sunset	8.6 miles	8

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 Bowie	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q973724	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 1352736. 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.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.