In the mid-1880s, as the population of (Old) Boston declined, citizens of Texarkana successfully moved the county seat to their city in the extreme east of the county.

The new community began in 1890 with the construction of the County Courthouse, one mile south of New Boston and three miles north of the original Boston.

After the first three proposed names, Center, Hood, and Glass were rejected as already in use, Boston's post office (including its name) was relocated to the new county seat, while the original was relabeled "Old Boston".

[2] The Bowie County jail in the community is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Boston is located off U.S. Highway 82 and the Missouri Pacific Railroad, 22 mi (35 km) west of Texarkana in central Bowie County.