Bowbells, North Dakota

Bowbells, North Dakota
—  City  —
Location of Bowbells, North Dakota
Coordinates:
Country United States
State North Dakota
County Burke
Area
 • Total 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Land 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,962 ft (598 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 336
 • Density 511.2/sq mi (197.4/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 58721
Area code(s) 701
FIPS code 38-08500[2]
GNIS feature ID 1028092[3]
Website www.bowbellsnd.com

Bowbells is a city in Burke County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Burke County. The population was 336 at the 2010 census.[1]

The city of Bowbells was founded in 1898 along the main line of the Soo Line Railroad and incorporated in 1906. The city was named by railroad officials after the famed Bow bells at St Mary-le-Bow in London, England.[4]

Contents

History

Bowbells is about 20 km (12 mi) south of the Canadian border, just off a 90-degree bend in U.S. Highway 52 and along the Canadian Pacific Railway, a railway serving the SunPrairie Grain grain terminal there. It is located approximately 52 miles northwest of Minot, North Dakota, the nearest city with an international airport (MOT) and 30 miles north of Stanley, North Dakota, the nearest passenger train station.

Farmers in the area produce crops such as barley, canola, flax, oats, peas, sunflowers, durum and Hard Red Spring Wheat. There have been substantial oil wells in the area and thus oil-related businesses, including drilling, service and distribution businesses.

The town is home to a Lutheran, a Methodist, and a Roman Catholic church.

Some of the businesses in the town include an implement dealership, a gas station, a service station, a handful of crop and property insurance agencies, Dacotah Bank, SunPrairie Grain (a division of CHS Incorporated), Savage Industries, and government-related buildings and businesses. During a VOA reporter's visit, the town's main street included a boarded-up hotel, café, hardware store, bowling alley, and a grocery store. Since it is the county seat of Burke County, the county courthouse is located here. It's on the southwest side of town. The official county newspaper, The Burke County Tribune newspaper, is located in the city as well.[5]

A municipal golf course is located 4 miles east of the city, and a community swimming pool, park and campground are available as well for visitors and residents.

The city's centennial celebration was held in the third week in July, 2006. Several hundred people from all over the country registered and attended. Burke County celebrated its centennial in the summer of 2010.

Geography

Bowbells is located at (48.8038, -102.2462)[6], a few miles west of Upper Des Lacs Lake and the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. The Des Lacs valley was formed as meltwater flowed out of Glacial Lake Regina thousands of years ago.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) of it is land and 1.25% is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1910 651
1920 643 −1.2%
1930 695 8.1%
1940 787 13.2%
1950 806 2.4%
1960 687 −14.8%
1970 584 −15.0%
1980 587 0.5%
1990 498 −15.2%
2000 406 −18.5%
2010 336 −17.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 406 people, 174 households, and 116 families residing in the town. The population density was 511.2 people per square mile (198.4/km²). There were 214 housing units at an average density of 269.5 per square mile (104.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.77% White, 0.74% Native American, 0.25% Asian, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.

There were 174 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who are 65 years of age or older. About 100 K-12 students attend the town's local public school. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,455, and the median income for a family was $35,625. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $12,212 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,491. About 9.2% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

In popular culture

The town of Bowbells was referenced in an episode of the television series Royal Pains as the hometown of a married couple who wins a large sum of money in an undisclosed lottery and move to The Hamptons to renew their wedding vows.

References

  1. ^ a b "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table. Retrieved 2 May 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ Wick, Douglas A.. "Bowbells (Burke County)". North Dakota Place Names. http://www.webfamilytree.com/North_Dakota_Place_Names/B/bowbells_%28burke_county%29.htm. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  5. ^ NEWSPAPER: Website
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 

External links