Bowie County was 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. The area was inhabited before 1800 by agricultural Indians and was charted in 1819 for Anglo-American settlement. It was part of Red River County land when the Texas Republic was founded in 1836. Bowie County was created Dec. 18, 1840, and organized Feb. 1, 1841. Its county seats were DeKalb, Old Boston, Texarkana, and Boston. Forceful citizens joined in beginning railroad construction in 1857. The economy is based on agriculture, lumber, and manufacturing.