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  xxxxxxxxxxxxxHISTORY-Bowdon ... "The Little Town in the Heart of the Prairie  
 
xxxxxBowdon is located thirty miles west of Carrington, very near to the geographical
center of North Dakota. The "Little Town in the Heart of the Prairie" was established in
1899. An English officer of the Northern Pacific Railroad, named the settlement after his
hometown of Bowdon, England.
xxxxxIn 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. The
purchase, including over 800,000 square miles of land, stretched from the Mississippi
River to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. In .
1861, Dakota Territory, a part of this acquisition, was organized. In 1889, North Dakota
became an official state.
xxxxxDevelopment was slow, but significant changes came for North Dakota with the
building of the railroad. The Northern Pacific Railroad received large amounts of land
from the US Government. Along and near the NP rail line, new towns sprang up to serve
the settlers, the track-laying crews, and other "tame and tough" frontier citizens. Bowdon
was one such town, and for many years marked the "end" of the railroad line. The great
old locomotive engine was turned around on a "V" at the west edge of Bowdon. A
switch arrangement turned the engine around and hooked it to the other end of the
railroad cars, returning them to Carrington. The railroad's grand plan to settle the west
became a reality. Now, immigrants of ethnic variety came in large numbers, and eastern
merchants had a way to freight their goods to the western market.
xxxxxThe Homestead Act of 1862 also played a significant part in bringing settlers to the
Bowdon area. People came on the "immigrant trains" and made their start on a parcel of
land that was given free from the US government. To get their 160-acre farm, a
homesteader filled out an eighteen-dollar application fee. He (or she) had to be the head
of the household and at least 21 years of age. A dwelling had to be established and at
least 10 acres of cropland cultivated. Established tree plantings were required. The
homesteader had to stay on the land for 5 years before they could "prove up." Hopeful
settlers from all walks of life came to North Dakota and Bowdon to meet the challenge.
There were farmers from the east without land of their own, single women, and newly
arrived immigrants from Germany, Russia, and the Scandinavian countries. Determined
not to be defeated by harsh weather conditions and hard times, the settlers that stayed
worked extremely hard and sacrificed much. At the end of the five years, they had truly
earned their "free" land. Those strong, courageous farm men and their families became
the backbone of the Bowdon community.
xxxxxMerchants, businessmen and doctors came to settle in Bowdon. Over the years, the
little community boasted two blacksmith shops, a livery stable, a weekly newspaper (The
Rawdon Guardian) and two hotels. At "The Golden West Hotel," 1905 rates were a
bargain at $1.00 a day! Also in town were grocery and dry-goods stores, a drugstore, and
a harness and shoemaker shop. There were banks, a Post Office, hardware stores and
visiting "eye specialists." Homemaker clubs, Boy Scouts, 4-H groups and other civic
organizations emerged. At one time there were five elevators, a cream station and a meat
market. Later came three car dealerships, two gas stations and an electric plant.
xxxxxEstablished churches held well-attended services and schools were built. The large, 3-
story brick school building that still stands at the north edge of town, graduated scores of
well-educated students. Nearly every rural township in the Bowdon area also had a school with 10 to 15 students in attendance. Bowdon's population peaked in the 1920's with about 350 residents. Around 400 rural folk also claimed Bowdon as their hometown.
xxxxxAfter World War II came electricity and modem transportation. Tractors and up-to-
date farm equipment replaced horse-drawn plows and buggies. Bigger, better equipment
meant larger and fewer farms. Modern conveniences left once-necessary services no
longer needed. The population and economics began to shift. An out-migration was seen
as people sought jobs and services in other towns and other areas of the country.
Bowdon was among many small hometowns that watched with concern as its young
people left. What would happen to the little town in the heart of the prairie? .
xxxxxWe can tell you that roots remain deep and today, Bowdon is still very much alive,
with determined, hard-working folk still claiming it home. Essential services remain
along with Churches and community organizations. A dedicated ambulance and fire
crew are always on call. Area recreational activities abound and places of historic interest
are not far away. Area entrepreneurs are offering their products and services to a larger-
than-ever market. Bowdon's citizens are proud of its rich past and strong heritage.. .just
visit our volunteer-staffed Museum and Library. Bowdonites are striving to keep their
"little town in the heart of the prairie" a friendly place for you to stop and visit. Who
knows...you just might want to stay!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxJames Fortney 2004