Retail Trade Area Analysis Bowman North Dakota

This report is intended to provide an indepth trade area analysis of Bowman, North Dakota. Specific analyses included determining Bowman's main and greater trade areas, identifying the demographic profile of Bowman shoppers, examining important and less important services for patron shoppers of Bowman, identifying neighboring cities that area shoppers patronize, determining distances area shoppers traveled to Bowman, and listing popular newspapers and radio stations among area residents. Current trade area information for Bowman was obtained from a statewide trade area survey conducted by the Department of Agricultural Economics at North Dakota State University in 1989. Recent trends (1980 to 1989) in Bowman population, retail sales, per capita income, pull factors, and Bowman County population and employment were identified and discussed. Bowman's population, trade area population, retail sales, and pull factors along with Bowman County population and per capita income have all decreased throughout the 1980s. Although most demographic and economic measurements have decreased, Bowman has fared as well as other North Dakota cities with similar populations, and has fared favorably compared to smaller competing trade centers. The economic situation found in Bowman and Bowman County are typical of the economic and demographic problems found with southwestern North Dakota communities in the 1980s. Bowman's trade areas were broken down into main and greater trade areas. A main trade area (MTA) was defined as an area where the majority of township residents purchase a majority of selected goods and services in one city. A greater trade area (GTA) was defined as the area beyond the MTA where some township residents purchase some selected goods and services in one city. Bowman's MTA decreased in size by five townships, compared to MTA boundaries determined in 1971. The typical household for survey respondents appears to be a middle-aged married couple, who have completed high school, have few children at home, primarily are employed in agriculture and professional/technical professions, and have resided in the area a large portion of their lives. Main trade area residents traveled an average of 18.2 and 18.1 miles to Bowman to purchase selected convenience and specialty goods and services, respectively. Nearly half (44.8 percent) of the respondents who purchased 50 percent or more of convenience and specialty goods in Bowman traveled over 21 miles to purchase the item. Bowman appears to be an important provider for most goods and services for MTA residents purchasing items in Bowman; however, Bowman could capture more of the available market for clothing items and electronic goods. Dickinson, Scranton, Bismarck, Rhame, and Hettinger were the most popular cities for the purchase of nonagricultural goods and services by Bowman MTA residents who did not purchase a majority of the good or service in Bowman. Scranton and Rhame were popular for purchasing agricultural goods and services. Catalog sales also appeared as a popular alternative to shopping in Bowman. Outshopping analysis revealed no substantial demographic or socioeconomic differences between Bowman MTA residents purchasing 50 percent or more and those purchasing less than 50 percent of selected goods and services in Bowman. Slight differences between groups were evident only in miles traveled and average income. The Bismarck Tribune and The Dickinson Press were the most popular daily newspapers for both Bowman MTA and GTA residents. Bowman County Pioneer and Adams County Record were the most popular weekly newspapers for Bowman MTA and GTA residents, respectively. The most popular radio stations for Bowman MTA residents included KPOK of Bowman, KNDC of Hettinger, KFLN of Baker, Montana, and KFYR of Bismarck. Although economic times have been difficult, Bowman appears to be doing a good job of retaining most of its past trade area and should remain an important trade center in southwestern North Dakota.