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Learn about Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George’s County, MD, and it uses the ZIP codes 20715, 20716, and 20720. Today, it is the largest municipality in the county, but it began as a small railroad town.
Early History and Railroads
In 1853, Colonel William Duckett Bowie received permission to build a railroad. By 1869, the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad began construction, eventually running from Baltimore Pope’s Creek in Charles County. During this time, the Bowie area was mostly farms and tobacco plantations, and the economy relied on agriculture and slavery.
Founding of the Town
In 1870, land around the railroad junction was sold for development, creating a settlement called Huntington City. The railroad was completed by 1872, including a spur line to Washington, DC. In 1880, Huntington City was renamed Bowie, after Oden Bowie, son of Colonel Bowie. Oden Bowie was a former Governor of Maryland and president of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad.
Growth and Development
Developers divided the land into over 500 residential lots, forming a large town centered around the railroad junction. In 1902, the railroad was purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad. A second rail line, the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway, began service in 1908.
Education, Sports, and Incorporation
In 1914, the Bowie Race Track was built, helping make the area famous for thoroughbred horse racing. Around the same time, a teacher-training college for African Americans opened nearby. This school later became Bowie State University. Bowie was officially incorporated as a town in 1916.
Modern Bowie
Bowie covers about 16 square miles, with nearly 2,000 acres of parks and open space. The city features 72 ball fields, 3 community centers, Allen Pond Park with an ice arena, Bowie Town Center, Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, and a theater, golf course, and three museums.
Culture and Attractions
Bowie’s railroad history is preserved at the Huntington Railroad Museum, located in restored station buildings. In 2006, the Bowie Building Association building (built around 1930) reopened as a Welcome Center.
Sports in Bowie
Bowie is home to the Bowie Baysox, a Double-A baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The team moved to Bowie in 1993 and began playing at Prince George’s Stadium in 1994. In 2015, the Baysox won their first Eastern League Championship.