Bedford, Virginia
Bedford is a town of 7,724 people in Bedford County, Virginia, founded in 1782.
Why visit Bedford
Townapedia lists 13 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 29 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Wingfield Mountain, Bedford Historic District, Avenel and Greenwood Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 28°F.
Weather in Bedford
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Bedford
Bedford is an incorporated town and former independent city located within Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,657. It is part of the Lynchburg metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Bedford, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks13
Bedford Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bedford County, Virginia
Avenel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in Virginia, United States
Big Otter Mill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Place in Virginia listed on National Register of Historic Places
Burks-Guy-Hagen House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Elks National Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Historic district in Bedford, United States of America
Fancy Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Historic plantation house located at Kelso Mill, near Bedford, Virginia, United States
John D. Ballard House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Otterburn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Plantation house near Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia
Three Otters
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Building in Virginia, United States
_Wikivoyage_Banner.jpg){kind=link}
Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library
Museum · 0.6 mi
Museum in USA
201 East Main Street, Bedford
1 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes29
First XI Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 mi
201 South Street, Bedford
Mo 08:30-13:00; Tu-We 08:00-13:00; Th 08:00-15:00; Fr 08:00-14:00
Joe Bean's
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.8 mi
1706 Forest Road, Bedford
Mo-Sa 06:00-19:00; Su 09:00-19:00; PH closed
Beale's
Bar and pub · 0.4 mi
510 Grove Street, Bedford
We-Th 16:00-21:00; Fr 16:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-19:00
China Tastes
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.5 mi
1128 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Bedford
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Huddle House
Diner · American · 1.5 mi
1138 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Bedford
Mo-Th,Su 06:00-00:00, Fr-Sa 00:00-24:00
OIP
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.5 mi
1128 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Bedford
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Azul
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.5 mi
305 North Bridge Street, Bedford
Mo-Sa 11:30-20:00
Mi Patron
Restaurant · 1.5 mi
1128 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Bedford
Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 11:30-22:00; Su 11:30-21:00
Fishers Restaurant
Diner · American · 0.8 mi
503 4th Street, Bedford
New Yamazato Hibachi
Restaurant · 1.5 mi
1128 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, Bedford
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:30-21:30
17 more on the map.
History
Bedford was originally known as Liberty, "named after the Colonial victory over Cornwallis at Yorktown." Founded as a village in 1782, Liberty became Bedford County's seat of government, replacing New London which had become part of the newly formed Campbell County. Liberty became a town in 1839 and in 1890 changed its name to Bedford City. In 1912, Bedford reverted to town status, it resumed city status in 1968, and once more it reverted to a town in 2013.
In November 1923, the town was the site of an accidental mass poisoning in which nine men were killed after drinking apple cider served at the Elks National Home. A local farmer had produced the drink and stored in a barrel that had been used to hold a pesticide.
From the History section of Bedford, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship17
Bedford Historic Meetinghouse
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Bedford Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.7 mi
105 West Main Street, Bedford
Haven of Rest United Pentecostal Church
Church · Pentecostal · 0.7 mi
515 Otey Street, Bedford
Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 0.4 mi
1307 Oakwood Street, Bedford
Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 1.4 mi
1534 Link Road, Bedford
Lovely Zion Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.0 mi
1741 Longwood Avenue, Bedford
Washington Street Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 0.7 mi
218 East Washington Street, Bedford
Shopping5
Gas and EV charging11
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Bedford County Alternative Education Center
School · 1.1 mi
600 Edmund Street, Bedford
Susie G. Gibson Science And Technology Center
School · 1.1 mi
600 Edmund St, Bedford
Healthcare6
Bedford Family Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
1368 American Way Court, Bedford
Bedford Health Department
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
600 Bedford Avenue, Bedford
Map of Bedford
107 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 28°F | 3.6 in |
| Feb | 50°F | 28°F | 3.0 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 36°F | 3.5 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 75°F | 54°F | 4.6 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 4.7 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 67°F | 4.3 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 65°F | 3.8 in |
| Sep | 79°F | 59°F | 4.4 in |
| Oct | 69°F | 46°F | 3.6 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 3.3 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 31°F | 3.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Bedford (1 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
Bedford County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-04: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-10-01: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2021-05-10: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Forest 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Timberlake 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Buchanan 16 mi northwest, about 25 min by car
- Blue Ridge 17 mi west, about 28 min by car
- Lynchburg 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
- Westlake Corner 18 mi southwest, about 30 min by car
- North Shore 19 mi south, about 31 min by car
- Laymantown 19 mi west, about 31 min by car
- Altavista 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
- Roanoke 25 mi west, about 40 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 County Court House, Ben Schumin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bedford VA - city view, Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bedford VA - county courthouse, Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bedford (Virginia, USA) Wikivoyage Banner, From Wikimedia user Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, Virginia., CC BY 2.0
- Washington Street Baptist Church; Bedford VA, Taber Andrew Bain, CC BY 2.0
- Bedford Historic Meetinghouse 2, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bedford Historic Meetinghouse, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2017-06-25 13 26 48 View south along U.S. Route 221 Business and Virginia State Route 122 Business (Longwood Avenue) at U.S. Route 221 (Forest Road) and Virginia State Route 122 (Independence..., Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2017-06-25 13 35 13 View north along Virginia State Route 122 Business (Burks Hill Road) between Old Mill Road and King Street in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2017-06-25 13 17 26 View west along U.S. Route 460 Business (Main Street) at Virginia State Route 122 (Independence Boulevard) in Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Walmart Supercenter in Bedford, Virginia -02- (50961566206), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Walmart Supercenter in Bedford, Virginia -01- (50961667722), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Otterburn near Bedford, from the north, Nyttend, Public domain
- Big Otter Mill, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FANCY FARM, BEDFORD COUNTY, VA, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D., CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library-1, Truck writer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John D Ballard House, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Burks-Guy-Hagen House, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Avenel Side & Rear, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Avenel Front View, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Courthouse Drone, Sbasinger, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Elks National Home, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elks National Home 2, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National D-Day Memorial, Brigitte Luckett, CC BY-SA 4.0
- George C. Marshall Plaque, D-Day Memorial, General George Marshall, CC BY-SA 4.0
- D-Day Beachhead, Stephen Kellam from Roanoke, USA, CC BY 2.0
- D-Day National Memorial, Bamsb900, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National D-Day Memorial aerial view, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Three Otters, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Three Otters2, LeeG7144, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS055-E-80383 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-429034 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-429036 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-429035 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-411515 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-411514 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS055-E-80382 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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_at_Virginia_State_Route_122_(Independence_Boulevard)_in_Bedford,_Bedford_County,_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
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