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Bowie, MD

Frequently asked questions

Bowie, MD

Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 58,329. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2014, CNN Money ranked Bowie 28th in its Best Places to Live (in the United States) list.

The city of Bowie owes its existence to the railway. In 1853, Colonel William Duckett Bowie obtained 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, terminating in Pope's Creek. The area had already been dotted with small farms and large tobacco plantations in an economy based on agriculture and slavery. In 1870, Ben Plumb, a land speculator and developer, sold building lots around the railroad junction and named the settlement Huntington City. By 1872, the line was completed, together with a "spur" to Washington, D.C., and the entire line through Southern Maryland was completed in 1873. In 1880, Huntington City was rechartered as Bowie, named for Colonel Bowie's son and business partner Oden Bowie, the former Governor of Maryland and then-president of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad. 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, D.C. 

Bowie is located at 38°57′53″N 76°44′40″W (38.964727, −76.744531). 

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.51 square miles (47.94 km²), of which 18.43 square miles (47.73 km²) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km²) is water. 

The Bowie Senior Center Wellness Program offers health and fitness services focusing on education and training to help motivate and inspire participants. UM Bowie Health Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. For those seeking a community-oriented fitness environment, Gold's Gym Maryland provides comprehensive training programs. FLMD Fitness offers personalized training to help you achieve your fitness goals. For dance enthusiasts, Divas and Dolls Fitness combines fitness with fun dance routines. Planet Fitness provides a budget-friendly, no-judgmental gym environment. OpenBarre Studios specializes in barre workouts that blend ballet, Pilates, and yoga. Zenergy Pole and Yoga offers unique pole fitness and yoga classes. 

Top sites in Bowie, MD are Prince George's Stadium, Allen Pond Park, and Watkins Regional Park.

Population: 58,421 (2024). ZIP codes: 20715-20721. Area codes: 301, 240. Elevation: 154 ft (47m). Area: 18.51 square miles (47.94 km²)

FAQs

What is the history of Bowie, MD?

In the 1870s the site was chosen as a major rail junction, which spurred the town’s growth. It was renamed Bowie in 1880 for Oden Bowie, governor of Maryland (1867–72), and incorporated in 1916. Bowie’s population stayed small until the late 1950s when a developer bought the land of the Belair estate. Over the next two decades, several thousand homes were built on the tract, which was merged into Bowie in the early 1960s.

What is the crime rate in Bowie, MD?

The crime rate in Bowie is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 14 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Bowie is 1 in 71. Based on FBI crime data, Bowie is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Maryland, Bowie has a crime rate that is higher than 60% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

What is Bowie, MD famous for?

Bowie remains primarily residential. The area is associated with Thoroughbred horse breeding, the first horses having been brought in by Governor Ogle in the 1740s. The restored Belair Mansion (including its stables) is now a museum, and the Huntington Railroad Museum occupies the old rail buildings.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Bowie

Britannica

Neighborhood Scout

Prince George's Stadium

Allen Pond Park

Watkins Regional Park

Bowie Senior Center Wellness Program

UM Bowie Health Center

Gold's Gym Maryland

FLMD Fitness

Divas and Dolls

Planet Fitness

OpenBarre Studios

Zenergy Pole and Yoga

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