Is Bowie, MD a City? Bowie and Prince George’s County Explained
Yes, Bowie is a city, and it’s in Prince George’s County. Here’s how the two governments split the work, why a Bowie address isn’t always in the City, and the numbers on Bowie itself. Checked October 2026.
Bowie by the numbers
| County | Prince George’s County |
| Population | 58,329 (2020 Census), about 58,383 (2025 estimate) |
| Land area | About 20.4 square miles |
| Homes | More than 19,000, per the City |
| Parks and open space | Nearly 2,000 acres, per the City |
| History | A town since 1916 and a city since 1963, according to the City. Named for Governor Oden Bowie. It was once called Huntington. |
| Distance | About 12 miles to Washington, 15 to Annapolis and 20 to Baltimore, per the City |
How Bowie is governed
Bowie uses a council-manager form of government. Voters elect a nonpartisan council of seven: the mayor and two at-large members citywide, and four members by district. All seats are on the ballot together for four-year terms. The council sets policy and the budget, and a professional city manager runs day-to-day operations.
What the City does and what the County does
| Service | Inside City of Bowie | Outside City limits |
|---|---|---|
| Property tax | City rate plus County and state | County and state only |
| Trash | City, twice a week | County |
| Police | Bowie Police, with County police | County police |
| Building permits | County plus City for many projects | County only |
| Schools | Prince George’s County Public Schools either way | |
See Bowie’s property tax rate, trash schedule and permits.
Why a Bowie address isn’t always in Bowie
The Bowie ZIP codes cover about 105,000 people, close to twice the City’s population. Places like Fairwood, Mitchellville and most of Woodmore have Bowie mailing addresses but are unincorporated County. Bowie ZIP codes explained and Bowie vs. Mitchellville.
Common questions
Is Bowie, MD a city?
Yes. Bowie is an incorporated city in Prince George’s County with its own mayor, council, police and property tax. It had 58,329 residents in the 2020 Census and is the largest municipality in the county.
Is Bowie in Prince George’s County?
Yes. The City of Bowie is in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Homes inside City limits get services from both the City and the County.
What county is Bowie, MD in?
Prince George’s County. Many nearby homes with Bowie mailing addresses are in unincorporated Prince George’s County rather than the City itself.
How big is Bowie, MD?
About 20.4 square miles of land, with 58,329 residents in the 2020 Census and more than 19,000 homes, according to the City.
Is my Bowie address inside the City of Bowie?
Check the City’s online address checker or look at the town field on your Maryland SDAT property record. A Bowie mailing address alone doesn’t tell you.
Want to know which side a house is on?
Send Bruno the address. He’ll tell you whether it’s inside the City and what that means for taxes and services. Call or text (240) 418-3809, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.