Bedford, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bedford, Virginia
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Incorporated town
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Bedford County Courthouse
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| Nickname(s):
The World's Best Little Town
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| Motto(s):
Life. Liberty. Happiness.
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Location in Virginia
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Virginia | ||
| County | Bedford County | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Town Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.75 sq mi (22.67 km2) | ||
| • Land | 8.72 sq mi (22.59 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,004 ft (306 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,657 | ||
| • Density | 760.8/sq mi (293.65/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
24523
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| Area code(s) | 540 | ||
| FIPS code | 51-05544 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1498450 | ||
| Website | http://www.bedfordva.gov | ||
Bedford is a town in Virginia, United States. It is located within Bedford County and is the main town, also known as the county seat. In 2020, about 6,657 people lived here.
Bedford County surrounds the town. To the north, you can find the Blue Ridge Mountains. To the south is Smith Mountain Lake. The city of Lynchburg is to the east, and Roanoke is to the west.
Contents
History of Bedford
How Bedford Got Its Name
Bedford was first known as Liberty. It was named after a big victory in the American Revolutionary War at Yorktown. The town started as a village in 1782. It became the center of government for Bedford County.
Over the years, Bedford's official status changed several times. It became a town in 1839. In 1890, its name changed to Bedford City. Then, in 1912, it went back to being a town. It became a city again in 1968. Finally, in 2013, it returned to being a town within Bedford County.
The National D-Day Memorial
Bedford is home to the National D-Day Memorial. This memorial honors the brave soldiers who took part in the D-Day landings during World War II. The United States Congress officially recognized it as the nation's D-Day Memorial in 1996. President George W. Bush dedicated it on June 6, 2001.
Bedford suffered a great loss during D-Day. More people from Bedford died in the Normandy landings than from any other American community. Out of 34 soldiers from Bedford in the Virginia National Guard, 19 were killed on D-Day. Four more died later in the Normandy campaign. In 1944, Bedford had about 3,200 residents. This means the town had the highest number of losses compared to its population.
Geography of Bedford
Bedford covers about 8.75 square miles (22.67 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. The town is located at the base of the famous Peaks of Otter.
Population Changes in Bedford
The number of people living in Bedford has changed over many years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 722 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,208 | 67.3% | |
| 1880 | 2,191 | 81.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,897 | 32.2% | |
| 1900 | 2,416 | −16.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,508 | 3.8% | |
| 1920 | 3,243 | 29.3% | |
| 1930 | 3,713 | 14.5% | |
| 1940 | 3,973 | 7.0% | |
| 1950 | 4,061 | 2.2% | |
| 1960 | 5,921 | 45.8% | |
| 1970 | 6,011 | 1.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,991 | −0.3% | |
| 1990 | 6,073 | 1.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,299 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 6,222 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 6,657 | 7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2012 |
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Bedford's Population in 2020
According to the 2020 census, there were 6,657 people living in Bedford. Most residents were White (74.4%). About 16.8% were Black or African American. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population.
Economy and Jobs in Bedford
Major Employers in Town
Bedford has several important employers that provide many jobs. These include hospitals, schools, and large stores.
Here are some of the top employers in Bedford, based on a 2022 report:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital & Centra Medical Group | 364 |
| 2 | Bedford County Public Schools | 315 |
| 3 | Walmart | 301 |
| 4 | Sam Moore Furniture LLC | 237 |
| 5 | Smyth Companies Bedford | 132 |
| 6 | Cintas | 130 |
| 7 | Bedford Weaving Mills | 123 |
| 8 | Lowe's | 117 |
| 9 | English Meadows | 70 |
| 10 | Food Lion | 63 |
Education in Bedford
Students in Bedford attend schools run by Bedford County Public Schools. Younger students go to Bedford Elementary School. Middle schoolers attend Liberty Middle School. High school students go to Liberty High School.
Central Virginia Community College also has a campus in Bedford. This offers more learning opportunities for older students.
Bedford's Climate
Bedford has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild, humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool.
| Climate data for Bedford, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
79 (26) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
104 (40) |
101 (38) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
87 (31) |
73 (23) |
104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.9 (8.3) |
49.9 (9.9) |
58.1 (14.5) |
69.7 (20.9) |
74.7 (23.7) |
82.4 (28.0) |
86.4 (30.2) |
85.2 (29.6) |
78.9 (26.1) |
68.7 (20.4) |
58.8 (14.9) |
49.5 (9.7) |
67.4 (19.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37.3 (2.9) |
39.2 (4.0) |
47.1 (8.4) |
57.4 (14.1) |
64.3 (17.9) |
72.1 (22.3) |
76.5 (24.7) |
74.9 (23.8) |
68.7 (20.4) |
57.5 (14.2) |
48.1 (8.9) |
40.4 (4.7) |
57.0 (13.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.8 (−2.3) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
36.0 (2.2) |
45.1 (7.3) |
53.8 (12.1) |
61.8 (16.6) |
66.7 (19.3) |
64.7 (18.2) |
58.6 (14.8) |
46.2 (7.9) |
37.3 (2.9) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
46.5 (8.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −10 (−23) |
−6 (−21) |
4 (−16) |
20 (−7) |
28 (−2) |
36 (2) |
43 (6) |
42 (6) |
29 (−2) |
21 (−6) |
8 (−13) |
−6 (−21) |
−10 (−23) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.62 (92) |
3.01 (76) |
3.45 (88) |
3.85 (98) |
4.60 (117) |
4.71 (120) |
4.29 (109) |
3.81 (97) |
4.37 (111) |
3.59 (91) |
3.27 (83) |
3.74 (95) |
46.31 (1,176) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Transportation in Bedford
Major roads run through or around Bedford. U.S. Route 221 goes through the town. U.S. Route 460 goes around the main part of town. State routes 43 and 122 also meet in Bedford.
In the past, several trains used to stop at Bedford station. These included the Birmingham Special, the Pelican, and the Tennessean. Today, Amtrak trains pass through, and there are plans for a new station stop.
International Connections
Bedford has special connections with places around the world.
Friendship Treaty
Bedford has a Friendship Treaty with Ivybridge, Devon, England. This treaty was signed in 2004.
Sister City in France
Bedford also has relationships with 11 communities along the Normandy Coast of France. One of its sister cities is Trévières, France. Trévières sent Bedford a copy of its World War I memorial statue. The original statue was damaged during World War II. The copy in Bedford also shows these marks. It stands on the grounds of the National D-Day Memorial.
Notable People from Bedford
Many interesting people have come from Bedford.
- Roger Anderson - An NFL football player.
- Lawrence Chambers - The first African American to lead a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. He was also the first African American graduate of the Naval Academy to become a flag officer.
- John Goode Jr. - A Virginia Congressman and Solicitor General of the United States.
- The "Bedford Boys" - A group of 34 local men who served in the National Guard's 116th Infantry Regiment. They were part of the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach in World War II.
