Bedford, Iowa
Bedford is a city of 1,336 people in Taylor County, Iowa, founded in 1855.
Why visit Bedford
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails and 3 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Lenox Round Barn and Bedford Commercial Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 12°F.
Weather in Bedford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bedford
Bedford is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,508 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County. Lake of Three Fires State Park is located several miles northeast of Bedford.
From the Wikipedia article Bedford, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks7
Lenox Round Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Round barn in Iowa, United States of America
Bedford Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic district in Iowa, United States
Bedford House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic building located in Bedford, Iowa, United States
Bedford Oil Company Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Iowa, U.S
Taylor County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Courthouse in Iowa, United States
Taylor County Historical Museum
Museum · 0.5 mi
1001 Pollock Boulevard, Bedford
Apr 01-Dec 24 Tu-Sa 13:00-16:00, Su-Mo "by chance or appointment"
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes3
Frosty Trete
Fast food · 0.4 mi
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 13:00-20:00
Churches and places of worship9
History
The community is believed to have gotten its name from Thomas J. Bedford, who was the first west bound Pony Express rider to deliver the mail on its final leg from Benicia, California to Oakland, California on April 23, 1861. Bedford is believed to have operated Bedfords Store and Trading Post in 1848 within the city limits. He moved to California later that year, in the California Gold Rush.
The community was called "Grove" when a post office was established on June 30, 1855. On June 24, 1856 it was changed to Bedford. Other histories have noted possible other sources of the name:
Bedford in England (possible original home of early settlers)
Bedford, Pennsylvania (reputed home of a "government engineer")
The community was formally established as the county seat of Taylor County by a legislative act in 1853. The town was formally laid out on lots sold on July 4, 1853 (which at the time identified the community as "Bedforde"). According to town legend, a barrel of whiskey was placed on the grounds and lots sold for $10 to $20 - although none of the lots were paid for at the time.
From the History section of Bedford, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Map of Bedford
28 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 12°F | 1.1 in |
| Feb | 37°F | 16°F | 1.5 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 28°F | 2.4 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.6 in |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 5.3 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.5 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.6 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 4.3 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 3.4 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 41°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 28°F | 2.1 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 18°F | 1.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bedford (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Taylor County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-07-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2010-07-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2008-05-27: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-01-04: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Clarinda Municipal Airport (ICL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Hopkins 10 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- New Market 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Clearfield 15 mi northeast, about 25 min by car
- Clarinda 17 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Lenox 17 mi northeast, about 27 min by car
- Grant City 21 mi southeast, about 33 min by car
- Corning 22 mi north, about 36 min by car
- Villisca 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Ravenwood 22 mi south, about 36 min by car
- Maryville 24 mi south, about 39 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Bedford Public Library, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lenox Round Barn, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- TAYLOR COUNTY COURTHOUSE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bedford Oil Company Station, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- BEDFORD HOUSE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 407 Main Street, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
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