Bowie is now a quiet community but pays homage to the past
The Montague County city of Bowie has a walkable downtown with shops, restaurants, and homes on gridded streets, but its origins were rough and tumble. Named after Alamo defender Jim Bowie, it was established in the 1880s as workers quarters on the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad. “(It’s a) small, easy-going, laid-back country town,” says Josh Swint, an associate with Sue Swint Realty and Bowie resident. “It's attracting mostly people wanting a slower pace of life and getting out of the metroplex. We're close enough to work out of DFW, but not having to live there, we’re commutable.”
Single-family homes with land available
The median home price is $270,000, less than the national and state medians. Homes include ranch styles, New Traditional and Victorians. Land is available. Properties closer to downtown are snug, with oaks and elms covering the front and back yards. Properties with larger lot sizes and farms are outside town, while some homes back onto Lake Amon G. Carter, allowing private fishing and boating docks.
Bowie Independent School District and college options
Students attend the Bowie Independent School District, rated B-minus on Niche. They start at C-graded Bowie Intermediate School and continue onto Bowie Junior High, which has a C-plus. Bowie High School, ranked B-minus, has a fine arts program and technical education courses. North Central Texas College has a branch campus focusing on industrial technology.
World’s Largest Bowie Knife, green spaces and multiple cultural events
Pelham Park features the World’s Largest Bowie Knife, a 20-footer erected in 2016. The Park also has a playground, soccer field, sports courts and a skate park. To the south of downtown, Selma Park on Lake Amon G. Carter has camping spots, a public beach and a boat launch. The lake also allows for fishing and swimming. On the eastern edge of the water, the public Top of the Lake Golf Club has a 9-hole layout and a driving range.
The Jim Bowie Days Rodeo, held during the last week of June, features a parade, sanctioned rodeo events, and sports tournaments. The Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival pays homage to the town’s origins, as chicken and bread sandwiches were handed out to rail passengers. The festival features multiple events, including a heritage market, a classic car show, and a fiddling championship.
Dining in downtown and one of the largest flea markets in North Texas
Restaurants on East Wise Street and North Mason Street include a mix of chain and local spots. Spicy Mexico serves tacos, fajitas and burritos. The Rack Pub and Eatery has a full bar and live music. The Longhorn Cafe features an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Bowie holds a flea market on the second Monday of each month, and is one of the largest flea markets in North Texas. Multiple antique and boutique stores are also downtown. Walmart is on the edge of Bowie by U.S. Highway 287, while Brookshires and other big box stores are on Texas Highway 59. Nocona General Hospital is 19 miles north.
Weather and flood risk in Bowie
Tornadoes can be a factor, with some activity present in 2025. Flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency show a very low risk of flooding downtown, with some flooding possibly near the lake.
U.S. Highway 287 and access to Dallas-Fort Worth
U.S. Highway 287 runs along the southern edge of Bowie and connects to I-35W north of Fort Worth. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is 73 miles southeast.
