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A WWII military complex in Bowie County is now one of the largest industrial parks in the Americas

Bowie County History & Culture

In 1941, the U.S. Army built two large installations in Bowie County side by side: the Red River Army Depot (RRAD) and the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant (LSAAP). The depot repaired and stored military vehicles. The ammunition plant made munitions. Together they covered nearly 40,000 acres and changed the county's economy for good.

Red River Army Depot is still an active military base. The Army describes it as a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for ground combat vehicle repair. Its work includes Bradley Fighting Vehicles, HMMWVs, and other systems. The Lone Star plant closed after the 2005 BRAC process.

After BRAC, some surplus land shifted to redevelopment. TexAmericas Center is the Texas special-purpose district tied to that work. Its public portal handles board records and public information. Chapter 3503 of Texas special-district law uses the TexAmericas Center name.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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More stories and useful context near Bowie County

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Stories & local character

Bowie County's legal county seat is Boston, but the courthouse is in New Boston

Bowie County, established in 1840 and named for Alamo defender James Bowie, has had its county seat moved more than once. The legal seat is still Boston, but county offices have operated in New Boston since a new courthouse was built there in 1986.

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Stories & local character

Texarkana's Federal Building straddles the Texas-Arkansas state line

The United States Post Office and Courthouse in downtown Texarkana was built in 1933 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only federal building in the country that sits in two states at once.

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Practical

Timber and farm land can be taxed on productivity value, not market value

Under Texas law, land actively used for farming, ranching, or timber production can qualify for special appraisal, meaning it is taxed based on what it produces, not what it would sell for.

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Stories & local character

Wright Patman Lake offers camping, fishing, and boating near Texarkana

Wright Patman Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Sulphur River in Bowie and Cass counties, about 10 miles southwest of Texarkana, with camping, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.

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Place pages in Bowie County

De KalbHooksLearyMaudNashNew Boston

Nearby county shelves

Cass (5) Morris (5) Titus (13) Red River (6) Marion (6) Camp (4)