Bowbells is a city in Burke County, North Dakota in the United States. It is the county seat of Burke County. The population was 406 at the 2000 census (down from its 1990 population of 498). The Voice of America (VOA) noted that Burke County was the "fastest-shrinking county in the nation". The city of Bowbells was founded in 1898 and incorporated in 1906. Bowbells is about 20 km (12 miles) 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, Peterson's Department Store, and Winzy's Drive-In, 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.. 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 will celebrate its centennial in the summer of 2010.