# Bowdon, Georgia

Bowdon is a city in Carroll County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,161.

## History

The community was incorporated on January 1, 1859, and was named after Alabama congressman Franklin Welsh Bowdon.
Bowdon College was established in Bowdon in 1857 but closed in 1936.
Bowdon was formerly served by the Bowdon Railway, in operation from 1910 to 1963.
On August 21, 1995, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 crashed between Bowdon and neighboring city Carrollton.

## Geography

Bowdon is located near the Georgia-Alabama state line at 33° 32′ 22″ N, 85° 15′ 21″ W (33.539444 N, -85.255833 W). The main highways through the city are Georgia State Routes 100 and 166. GA-100 runs through the city from north to south, leading north 16 mi (26 km) to Tallapoosa and south 11 mi (18 km) to Ephesus. GA-166 runs through the city from west to east, leading east 12 mi (19 km) to Carrollton, the county seat, and west 4 mi (6.4 km) to its end at the Alabama-Georgia state line.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bowdon has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

Bowdon has generally mild winters, with highs averaging in the low to mid 50s and lows around 32. Usually there are one or two days each winter when lows drop below 15. Snow is infrequent, averaging about 2" a winter. Some winters however, experience no snowfall. Ice is more common than snow. Rainfall is usually plentiful in the winter. Although severe weather is not very common, it does happen in the winter. The most recent severe weather event occurred on February 26, 2008, when an EF3 tornado hit an area about four miles north of Bowdon. The fall and spring months tend to bring the nicest weather, with numerous sunny days. Highs in the spring average in the 70s and lows average in the 40s and 50s. There is often severe weather in the spring, with occasionally a tornado. Fall tends to be the nicest season, with plentiful sunshine and highs in the 60s and 70s. Towards the end of fall, lows can drop below 30. Summer is often very humid and hot, although the heat is relieved by afternoon thunderstorms which occur almost daily. The summer of 2007 was one of the hottest on record with several days of highs above 100. Highs in the summer are generally around 90 with lows in the 60s. On May 11, 2008, Bowdon was hit by a series of tornadoes known as the "Mother's Day Storm" with a few reported injuries, but no deaths.

## Demographics

Bowdon racial composition as of 2020 :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White | 1,451 | 67.14% |
| Black or African American | 491 | 22.72% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.32% |
| Asian | 6 | 0.28% |
| Other/Mixed | 139 | 6.43% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 67 | 3.1% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,161 people, 1,028 households, and 638 families residing in the city.

## Media

Bowdon is the city of license for Top 40 radio station Power 105.3 WWPW.

## Notable people

* Bull Buchanan, current Rampage Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion.
* Nick Jones was twice signed by the Seattle Seahawks.
* Michael 'Mike' Huey, a recording studio and world touring drummer.
* Mike Dugan, Georgia State Senate Majority Leader.
* C. J. Brewer, #62 Defensive Tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.