Bedford

History

Bedford was laid out as a town and the county seat of Lawrence County, Indiana, United States in 1825. The original county seat was in Palestine, four miles to the south, but was moved, at the urging of the legislature, to a new location as the original location near the White River was deemed unhealthy because of malaria spread by mosquitoes. 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. It incorporated as a town in 1864 and received its city charter in 1889. Bedford was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Bedford has a total area of , all land. The city is known as the "Limestone Capital of the World" because of its large limestone quarries that are around the area. Some of the limestone was used to make the Empire State Building and The Pentagon. Bedford is situated about 70 miles south of Indianapolis and 18 miles south of Bloomington. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool to cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bedford has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. On May 25, 2011, an EF3 tornado touched down near Bedford, closing U.S. Route 50 temporarily.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Bedford-North Lawrence High School
  High · Bedford · 1,303 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• Bedford Middle School
  Middle · Bedford · 562 students · 19.4:1 ratio
• Parkview Elementary School
  Elementary · Bedford · 513 students · 10.5:1 ratio
• Shawswick Elementary School
  Elementary · Bedford · 480 students · 16:1 ratio
• Mitchell High School
  High · Mitchell · 436 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• Hatfield Elementary School
  Elementary · Mitchell · 366 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Mitchell Jr High School
  Middle · Mitchell · 359 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Burris Elementary School
  Elementary · Mitchell · 338 students · 14.7:1 ratio