Bowie is a city located in Prince George's County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 50,269, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Prince George's County.
Bowie is located at 38°57'53" North, 76°44'40" West (38.964727, -76.744531).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.8 km2 (16.1 mi2). 41.7 km2 (16.1 mi2) of it is land and 0.1 km2 (0.04 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.12% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 50,269 people, 18,188 households, and 13,568 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,205.5/km2 (3,121.9/mi2). There are 18,718 housing units at an average density of 448.9/km2 (1,162.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 62.65% White, 30.83% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.95% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 18,188 households out of which 37.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% are married couples living together, 11.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% are non-families. 19.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.74 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the city the population is spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $76,778, and the median income for a family is $82,403. Males have a median income of $52,284 versus $40,471 for females. The per capita income for the city is $30,703. 1.6% of the population and 0.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The Town of Bowie owes its existence to the railway. In 1853, Col. William D. Bowie succeeded in obtaining a charter from the Maryland legislature to construct a rail line into Southern Maryland. In 1869 the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Company began the construction of a railroad from Baltimore to Southern Maryland. By 1872, it was completed together with a spur to Washington DC. The remainder of the railroad through Southern Maryland and Pope's Creek was completed in 1873.
Earlier, the area was dotted with small farms and large tobacco plantations in an economy based on agriculture and slavery. However, in 1870 Mr. Ben M. Plumb, a land speculator and developer, sold building lots around the railroad junction and named the settlement "Huntington City." This has been declared as the Founding of Huntington City in 1870, Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fourth most populous city and third largest city by area in the State of Maryland. The town was first called Huntington City, though its train station was named in honor of local resident, who was President of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad at the time, and later Governor Oden Bowie. The town was subsequently rechartered as Bowie in 1880. In the early days the land was subdivided by developers into more than 500 residential building lots, to create a large town site at a junction of the Baltimore and Potomac's main line to southern Maryland, and the branch line to Washington, DC. By 1902, the Baltimore & Potomac was purchased by the powerful Pennsylvania Railroad A second railroad entered the community when the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad electric trolley line commenced service in 1908. the large interurban cars brought rapid transit to the area, with trains running hourly. Bowie area stations included High Bridge and Hillmeade, and the Race Track. This convergence of the two rail systems induced the Southern Maryland Agricultural Society to build the Bowie Race Track in 1914. This track enabled the Belair Stud to be noted as one of Maryland's premier areas for Thoroughbreds.
In 1916, Bowie incorporated as the Town of Bowie.
In 1957, the firm of Levitt and Sons acquired the nearby Belair Estate, the original colonial plantation of Governor Samuel Ogle, where it developed the residential community of "Belair at Bowie." Two years later the Town of Bowie annexed the Levitt properties, and then it re-incorporated as a city in 1963.
Bowie enjoys a rich and diverse historic and cultural heritage. The original Belair Estate contains the Belair Mansion (circa 1745), the beautiful five-part Georgian plantation house of Governor Samuel Ogle, and his son Governor Benjamin Ogle. It was purchased in 1898 by the wealthy banker James T. Woodward who, on his passing in 1910, left it to his nephew, William Woodward, Sr. who became a famous horseman. Restored to reflect its 250-year-old legacy, the Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Belair Stable, on the Estate, was part of the famous "Belair Stud", one of the premier racing stables in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. Owned and operated by William Woodward, Sr. (1876-1953) it closed in 1957 following the untimely death of his son, Billy Woodward. Belair was the oldest continually operated thoroughbred horse farm in the country. It is said that the blood of Belair horses flows through the veins of every American race horse of distinction.
In addition to its thoroughbred horse-breeding heritage, Bowie is also historically associated with railroading. The town grew up around the Bowie Station, and emerged as an important rail town.
Honoring the tradition of a rail town, the City of Bowie has preserved this piece of its history in the Huntington Railroad Museum which includes historic materials displayed in the Station's restored railroad buildings. In 2006, the City reopened the Bowie Building Association building as a Welcome Center for all to enjoy and learn about the history of Bowie. This Building is a small brick and block structure constructed circa 1930. It originally housed the Bowie Building Association, which helped finance much of the development in the early days of the community.
While the City is proud of its heritage, it is also focused on the future. It has grown from a small agricultural and railroad town to one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Maryland. Bowie is a city of 16 square miles and approximately 50,000 residents. It has nearly 2,000 acres (8 km2) set aside as parks or open space. It has 72 ball fields, three community centers, an ice arena, a theatrical playhouse, a golf course, and three museums. The City has recently added a state-of-the-art senior citizens center and a gymnasium for community programs. The City of Bowie is a dynamic, family-oriented community whose residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life. The City's motto of "Growth, Unity and Progress" provides a fitting description of this municipality at the start of a new century.
Bowie is home to the Bowie Baysox, a Class AA Eastern League professional baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. For a time, actress Kathie Lee Gifford called Bowie home as well.
On October 7, 2002, a 13-year old boy named Iran Brown was critically wounded by a sniper soon after he was dropped off at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie. His name was at first withheld, since he survived the incident, which was one in a string of murders and attempted murders that was called the Beltway sniper attacks. His name has since been revealed.
Source:
BowieMaryland.com
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