Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Bowie (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Bowie. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Bowie is located in Montague County.
To see how the shape of Texas' counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Montague County: Jefferson (OK), Love (OK), Clay, Cooke, Jack & Wise.
Below are the counties that are near Bowie. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bowie:
- Montague County (The home county of Bowie)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Fruitland
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Salona
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sunset
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Montague
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Dye
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dye. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Dye is located in Montague County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Dye
- From Bowie to Dye
- Forestburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Belcherville ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Belcherville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcherville
- Belcherville is located in Montague County
- Nocona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- New Harp
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the southeast)
- Hardy
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Ringgold
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Bonita
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Bonita. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
- Bonita is located in Montague County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Bonita
- From Bowie to Bonita
- Saint Jo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Jo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Jo
- Saint Jo is located in Montague County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,032 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Jo <1>
- Clay County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Bellevue
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Joy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
- Bluegrove
(23 miles [37 km] to the west)
- Shannon
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
- Henrietta
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
- Cooke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Rosston
(23 miles [37 km] to the east)
- Hood
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Muenster
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
- Jack County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Postoak
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Wizard Wells
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
- Jacksboro
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southwest)
- Wise County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Park Springs
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
- Alvord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Chico
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Bridgeport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Lake Bridgeport
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Lake Bridgeport have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake Bridgeport
- Lake Bridgeport is located in Wise County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 405 people
- Greenwood
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Runaway Bay
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Runaway Bay have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Runaway Bay
- Runaway Bay is located in Wise County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,627 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Runaway Bay <1>
- Decatur
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
- Paradise
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Paradise have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paradise
- Paradise is located in Wise County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 594 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Paradise <1>
- Slidell
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- Jefferson County (OK)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Fleetwood
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Fleetwood. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fleetwood
- Fleetwood is located in Jefferson County (OK)
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Fleetwood
- From Bowie to Fleetwood
- Terral
(23 miles [37 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Terral have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terral
- Terral is located in Jefferson County (OK)
- Population from the 2020 Census: 382 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Terral <1>
- Oscar
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bowie, see our County-by-County Page for Bowie.
Cemeteries Near Bowie ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowie.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bowie covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Elmwood Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the east)
- Brier Creek Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brier Creek Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brier Creek Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Brushy Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brushy Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brushy Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Lindale Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Lindale Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Lindale Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- McDonald Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the McDonald Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the McDonald Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- St. Peters Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)
- Queens Park Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Queens Park Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Queens Park Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Selma Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Selma Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Selma Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Prairie Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Prairie Branch Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Prairie Branch Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Tartar Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tartar Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tartar Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Tage Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Tage Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Tage Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Mitchell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Mitchell Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Mitchell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Continue List (109 more) ...
- Hopewell Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hopewell Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hopewell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Oak Hill Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the north)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Oak Hill Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Oak Hill Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Sunset Beasley Cemetery
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Sunset Beasley Cemetery
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Sunset Beasley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<6>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Bowie had a population of 1,486 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Bowie had a population of 5,140 people.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bowie, with the one closest to Bowie listed first.
- Salona
(5 miles [8 km] to the east)
- Sunset
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southeast)
- Montague
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
- Bellevue
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Newport
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southwest)
- Crafton
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Crafton have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crafton
- Crafton is located in Wise County
- Dye
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dye. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<2>
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dye
- Dye is located in Montague County
- Google driving directions:
- From your current location to Dye
- From Bowie to Dye
- Alvord
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the southeast)
- Forestburg
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
- Belcherville ‑ Historic
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the north)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Belcherville have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belcherville
- Belcherville is located in Montague County
- Nocona
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Postoak
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (14 more) ...
- Chico
(18 miles [29 km] to the south)
- Hardy
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Saint Jo
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Saint Jo have been provided by the GNIS.<3> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint Jo
- Saint Jo is located in Montague County
- Population from the 2020 Census: 1,032 people
- Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Saint Jo <1>
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bowie. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bowie.
Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Bowie ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 48 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowie.
We have organized these newspapers into two lists:
- A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Bowie. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Bowie and those printed in the larger area surrounding Bowie.
- An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<5> of Bowie.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Bowie:
- Websites specific to Texas
- Pages specific to Montague County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Clay County
- Cooke County
- Jack County
- Wise County
- Jefferson County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Texas
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Bowie. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for State of Texas: https://texas.gov/
Footnotes ...
<1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
<2> | An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace. |
<3> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
<4> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
<5> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bowie) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Bowie. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 33.5590, Longitude: -97.8486 |
<6> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Bowie, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |