Bedford, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bedford, Indiana
City
Motto(s):  "United In Hometown Values And Committed To Growth For Future Generations"
Location of Bedford in Lawrence County, Indiana.
Bedford, Indiana Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Bedford, Indiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States Bedford, Indiana Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Lawrence
Township	Shawswick
Incorporated (Town)	1864
Incorporated (City)	1889
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	12.21 sq mi (31.62 km2)
• Land	12.21 sq mi (31.62 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	699 ft (213 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,792
• Density	1,129.57/sq mi (436.13/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	47421
Area codes	812 and 930
FIPS code	18-04114
GNIS feature ID	2394104

Bedford, Indiana postcard from 1909.

Bedford is a city in Indiana, United States. It is the main city of Lawrence County, Indiana. In 2020, about 13,792 people lived there. This was a small increase from 13,413 people in 2010. Bedford is also the center of its own small metropolitan area, which includes all of Lawrence County.

History of Bedford

Bedford was founded around 1825. It became the county seat for Lawrence County. The first county seat was in a place called Palestine. But this area was thought to be unhealthy because of mosquitoes. So, the county seat was moved to a new spot.

A local businessman, Joseph Rawlins, suggested the name "Bedford." He had moved from Bedford County, Tennessee. Bedford officially became a town in 1864 and a city in 1889. It was also a stop on the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped people escape to freedom.

Geography and Climate

Bedford covers about 12.16 square miles of land. It is known as the "Limestone Capital of the World." This is because of the many large limestone quarries nearby. Limestone from Bedford was used to build famous structures like the Empire State Building and The Pentagon.

Bedford is located about 70 miles south of Indianapolis. It is also 18 miles south of Bloomington.

Weather in Bedford

The weather in Bedford has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. The area has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a good amount of rain all year.

On May 25, 2011, a strong tornado touched down near Bedford. It caused U.S. Route 50 to close for a short time.

Population Information

In 2010, Bedford had 13,413 people living in 5,801 households. About 27.7% of these households had children under 18. Most people in Bedford are White (96.2%). Other groups include African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Bedford was 41.5 years old. About 22.3% of residents were under 18. And 20.1% were 65 or older.

Sports and School Teams

Bedford is home to the Bedford North Lawrence Stars high school teams. Before 1975, the teams were known as the Bedford Stonecutters.

The high school is famous for its basketball and golf teams. The boys' basketball team won a state championship in 1990. The girls' basketball team has won state titles in 1983, 1991, 2013, 2014, and 2023. The boys' golf team has won many championships too. They have sent many players to college and even to the PGA Tour, like Craig Bowden.

Limestone Industry

Bedford, Indiana Limestone Welcome Sign

The historic Indiana Limestone Company Building, in Bedford.

Bedford is known worldwide for its limestone. The light gray limestone from this area is often called "Bedford limestone."

Many famous buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C. were built with limestone from Bedford. The "Empire Quarry" near Bedford provided the stone for the Empire State Building in New York City.

In the past, there were plans to build large limestone replicas in Bedford. One idea was a ten-story copy of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Another was an 800-foot replica of the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall replica was built in 1981.

Getting Around Bedford

Bedford is not directly on an Interstate highway. The closest one is Interstate 69, about 20 miles away.

U.S. Highway 50 runs through the city. It connects Bedford to Seymour to the east and Vincennes to the west. State Road 37 links Bedford to Bloomington in the north and Mitchell in the south.

Bedford also has railroad connections. These lines help transport goods to other cities like Louisville, Kentucky and Terre Haute, Indiana.

Schools and Learning

The Bedford area has several elementary schools. These include Parkview Primary, Parkview Intermediate, Needmore, Lincoln, and Shawswick Elementary. There are two middle schools: Bedford Middle School and Oolitic Middle School. Students from these schools go on to Bedford North Lawrence High School.

Bedford also has two private schools: St. Vincent Catholic School and Stone City Christian Academy. The Lawrence County Independent School was started in 2021.

The town has a public library called the Bedford Public Library.

Community Recognition

Bedford, Indiana, was featured in a PBS special called Our Town: Bedford in 2006.

In 2013, the State of Indiana named Bedford a "Stellar Community." This award helps bring money for improvements to the city. Bedford was also named the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's "Community of the Year" in 2013.

Places to Visit Nearby

• Bluespring Caverns
• Nashville, Indiana
• Spring Mill State Park
• Avoca Park
• West Baden Springs Hotel

Several historic places in Bedford are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Bedford Courthouse Square Historic District and the Indiana Limestone Company Building.

Famous People from Bedford

See also

In Spanish: Bedford (Indiana) para niños