Bedford, Indiana

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Bedford, Indiana
—  City  —
Motto: "United In Hometown Values And Committed To Growth For Future Generations"
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 38°51′46″N 86°29′32″W / 38.86278°N 86.49222°W / 38.86278; -86.49222Coordinates: 38°51′46″N 86°29′32″W / 38.86278°N 86.49222°W / 38.86278; -86.49222
Country United States
State Indiana
County Lawrence
Township Shawswick
Government
 • Mayor Shawna Michelle Girgis (I)
Area[1]
 • Total 12.16 sq mi (31.49 km2)
 • Land 12.16 sq mi (31.49 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 686 ft (209 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 13,413
 • Estimate (2011[3]) 13,424
 • Density 1,103.0/sq mi (425.9/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
ZIP code 47421
Area code(s) 812
FIPS code 18-04114[4]
GNIS feature ID 0450667[5]
Website http://www.bedford.in.us/index.html

Bedford is a city in Shawswick Township, Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,413 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Lawrence County.[6]

Contents

Early history [edit]

Founded as a town and the county seat of Lawrence County, Indiana, United States around 1825. The original county seat was in Palestine, 4 miles to the south, but was moved, at the instigation of the legislature, to a new location as the original location near the White River was deemed unhealthy because of malaria spread by mosquitoes.[7] The new site was named Bedford at the suggestion of a prominent local businessman, Joseph Rawlins, who had relocated to the area from Bedford County, Tennessee.[8]

The city received a charter in 1889.[9]

Geography [edit]

According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 12.16 square miles (31.5 km2), all land.[10]

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1880 2,198
—
1890 3,351 52.5%
1900 6,115 82.5%
1910 8,716 42.5%
1920 9,076 4.1%
1930 13,208 45.5%
1940 12,514 −5.3%
1950 12,562 0.4%
1960 13,024 3.7%
1970 13,087 0.5%
1980 14,410 10.1%
1990 13,817 −4.1%
2000 13,768 −0.4%
2010 13,413 −2.6%
Source: US Census Bureau

2010 census [edit]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 13,413 people, 5,801 households, and 3,426 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,103.0 inhabitants per square mile (425.9 /km2). There were 6,553 housing units at an average density of 538.9 per square mile (208.1 /km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, .2% African American, .3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 5,801 households out of which 69% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 10% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 41.5 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census [edit]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 13,768 people, 6,054 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.1 people per square mile (446.7/km2). There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 556.2 per square mile (214.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.87% White, 0.79% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.

There were 6,054 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,022, and the median income for a family was $39,462. Males had a median income of $31,956 versus $22,578 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,649. About 7.4% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government [edit]

Bedford is governed by a city council and a mayor. The city council is known as the Common Council, which consists of seven members. Five of the members are elected from individual districts while two are elected at-large. The Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer are elected in a citywide vote.

Sports teams and history [edit]

The Bedford North Lawrence High School is known for its basketball and golf programs. The boys' basketball team, captained by Damon Bailey, won a state title in 1990, Also Indiana All Star Cole Sinclair 2001, is the only other Indiana All Star from Bedford . The girls won state titles in 1983, 1991, and 2013. The boys' golf ranks third in Indiana in sectional championships with 20, and second in regionals with 7, having produced dozens of college players including PGA Tour Pro Craig Bowden. They have appeared in state finals many times and have numerous top five finishes. The BNL Boys Golf team holds the IHSAA record in all sports for most Finals trips without a championship with 27.

Notable residents [edit]

Economy [edit]

A small block of limestone presented by the city to Bedford, England

Bedford is known as the limestone capital of the world, and is surrounded by limestone quarries, many of which are dangerously used by the residents for swimming. A common name for the light gray Indiana limestone quarried in south central Indiana is "Bedford limestone", or "Bedford Oolitic limestone". Much of the limestone used in the construction of various Washington, D.C., monuments was quarried in the Bedford area, and Bedford received $500,000 in grants from the federal government to build a ten-story replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza out of local limestone; however, the work was never completed,[11] despite a further $125,000 being allocated to finish it.[12] An 800-foot limestone replica of the Great Wall of China was also built. Construction took place in 1981 and cost $200,000. Limestone from a nearby quarry, called the "Empire Quarry", was used to build the Empire State Building in New York City.

Bedford is also home to an automotive plant run by General Motors.

Transportation [edit]

Religion [edit]

View of St. Vincent de Paul Church
  • St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (1893), National Register of Historic Places
  • Central Church of Christ
  • First Baptist Church
  • First Christian Church
  • First Assembly of God
  • Midtown Church of Christ
  • Southland Church of Christ
  • The Missionary Church of Kopimism
  • The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
  • Faith Mission Church

Education [edit]

Bedford was also originally offered to have Indiana University, instead of Bloomington. However, the city declined this offer to further the limestone industry.[citation needed] The Bedford area has ten elementary schools: Parkview Primary, Parkview Intermediate, Springville Elementary, Fayetteville Elementary, Needmore Elementary, Heltonville Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Dollens Elementary, Stalker Elementary, and Shawswick Elementary. There are three middle schools that feed into Bedford North Lawrence HS: Bedford Middle School (BMS), Shawswick Middle School, Oolitic Middle School (OMS),and Stone City Christian Acadamy.

Statistics [edit]

According to research there were 26 registered sex offenders living in Bedford, Indiana in July 2011 The ratio of number of residents in Bedford to the number of sex offenders is 516 to 1. Bedford has a relatively low murder rate with only 6 murders between 1999 and 2010. Bedford has a slightly higher rate of rape with 37 rapes occurring between 1999 and 2010.

Profiles of Bedford [edit]

Bedford, Indiana was featured as the subject of an hour-long PBS special entitled Our Town: Bedford, first aired in May 2006. It was produced by PBS affiliate WTIU in Bloomington, Indiana.

Nearby points of interest [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11. 
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11. 
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-02. 
  4. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  7. ^ Images of America: Bedford
  8. ^ Extract from ""HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, ORANGE & WASHINGTON COUNTIES INDIANA" GOODSPEED BROS. 1884"
  9. ^ Google Books EB1911 pg. 620
  10. ^ "2010 Census U.S. Gazetteer Files for Places - Indiana". United States Census. Retrieved 2012-04-21. 
  11. ^ Abandoned Pyramid Project
  12. ^ Wallace, Amy (1988). The Book of Lists #3. Bantam. p. 401. ISBN 0-553-27868-1. 

External links [edit]

Wikisource has the text of The New Student's Reference Work article Bedford, Indiana.
Municipalities and communities of Lawrence County, Indiana, United States
County seat: Bedford
Cities
Town
Townships
CDPs
Other
unincorporated
communities
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