New Boston in Bowie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Bowie County

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, December 6, 2025

1. Bowie County Marker

Inscription.
Named for James Bowie (1799-1836), who fought for Texas freedom from 1819, when he joined the Long Expedition, to 1836 — when he died in defense of the Alamo.

Inhabited before 1800 by agricultural Indians, charted 1819 for Anglo-American settlement, this was Red River County land when Texas Republic was founded in 1836.

Bowie County was created Dec. 18, 1840; organized Feb. 1, 1841. County seats: DeKalb, Old Boston, Texarkana, and Boston.

Forceful citizens joined in beginning railroad construction in 1857. Economy is based on agriculture, lumber, manufacturing.

Erected 1971 by the State of Texas. (Marker Number 9469.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • War, Texas Independence. In addition, it is included in the Texas 1936 Centennial Markers and Monuments series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 1, 1841.

Location. 33° 28.401′ N, 94° 24.35′ W. Marker is in New Boston, Texas, in Bowie County. It is on James Bowie Drive 0.1 miles east of North McCoy Boulevard (Texas Highway 8), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 710 James Bowie Drive, New Boston TX 75570, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: James Bowie / Gold Star County (a few steps from this marker); Red Bayou Methodist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); New Boston (approx. 1.2 miles away); Jones-Tyson House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 4.6 miles away); Harvey C. Sanders, C.S.A. (approx. 5.9 miles away); Site of the Texas Home of Richard Ellis (approx. 5.9 miles away); Hooks (approx. 6.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Boston.

More about this marker. Replacement plaque: Original text (1936): In 1836 a part of Red River County. Created December 17, 1840; organized February 1, 1841. Named in honor of James Bowie, 1785-1836; member of Long's Expedition, defender of Texas liberty, a martyr of the Alamo. Old Boston, 1841, Texarkana and New Boston have served as county seat.

Also see . . . Texas Historical Association article on Bowie County. (Submitted on July 26, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

This 1936 Pink Granite Highway Marker has a 1971 plaque on it. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016

2. This 1936 Pink Granite Highway Marker has a 1971 plaque on it.

Pink Granite 1936 Bowie County Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016

3. Pink Granite 1936 Bowie County Marker

Bowie County Courthouse in background of marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, July 21, 2016

4. Bowie County Courthouse in background of marker.

James "Jim" Bowie image. Click for full size.

Public domain

5. James "Jim" Bowie

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,098 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 24, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 26, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.