Bowie County, Texas
13 local notes for Bowie County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. East Texas / Piney Woods.
Money & Taxes
Property tax
Texas raised the school-district homestead exemption to $140,000
Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in November 2025 that raised the mandatory school-district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, retroactive to January 1, 2025.
Property tax
You can protest your property appraisal every year in Bowie County
Texas law gives every property owner the right to challenge their appraisal each year by filing a protest with the Appraisal Review Board before the deadline.
Agricultural valuation
Timber and farm land can be taxed on productivity value, not market value
Under Texas law, land actively used for farming, ranching, or timber production can qualify for special appraisal — meaning it is taxed based on what it produces, not what it would sell for.
Home & Property
Property tax
Two separate offices handle appraisal and tax collection in Bowie County
The Bowie Central Appraisal District sets property values, while a separate Tax Assessor-Collector handles billing — knowing which office to call saves confusion.
Septic / Water
Homes outside city limits in Bowie County likely need a septic permit
If your home has no public sewer, Texas law says you need a permitted septic system. Bowie County has a local office that issues those permits.
Flood
Look up your flood zone before buying property near the Red River or Sulphur River
Bowie County has significant river flood risk along the Red River and Sulphur River, and FEMA flood maps determine whether your lender will require flood insurance.
Cars & Driving
Outdoors
Rules & Licenses
Hunting / Licenses
Bowie County has an open spring turkey season and specific deer antler rules
Hunters in Bowie County must follow county-specific antler restrictions for white-tailed deer and a turkey season that only applies north of US 82.
Weather / Emergency
Bowie County is in tornado and severe thunderstorm country — the NWS office is in Shreveport
Bowie County sits in an active severe weather zone; tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail are documented hazards, and the National Weather Service office in Shreveport issues forecasts and warnings for the county.
History & Culture
History
Texarkana's Federal Building straddles the Texas–Arkansas state line
The United States Post Office and Courthouse in downtown Texarkana was built in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — it is the only federal building in the country that sits in two states at once.
History / Economy
A WWII military complex in Bowie County is now one of the largest industrial parks in the Americas
The Red River Army Depot and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant, built on nearly 40,000 acres in Bowie County starting in 1941, shaped the county's growth and now operate in part as TexAmericas Center, a large industrial redevelopment.
History / Local government
Bowie County's legal county seat is Boston, but the courthouse is in New Boston
Bowie County, established in 1840 and named for Alamo defender James Bowie, has had its county seat moved more than once — the legal seat is still Boston, but county offices have operated in New Boston since a new courthouse was built there in 1986.