Bedford County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the Duck River in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 50,237 at the 2020 census and covers 475 square miles (1,230 km2) centred near 35°31′N 86°28′W.
Shelbyville is the county seat, and its postal code is 37160. The county has one city, three towns, one census-designated place, and dozens of unincorporated communities. Bedford County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Bedford County
Bedford County has one city (Shelbyville, the county seat), three incorporated towns (Bell Buckle, Normandy, Wartrace), a census-designated place (Unionville), and roughly four dozen unincorporated communities scattered across the county’s farmland and hills. Most of the smaller places below are crossroads or historic mill sites with no formal population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville | City · seat | 23,557 | 37160 |
| Bell Buckle | Town | — | 37020 |
| Normandy | Town | — | 37360 |
| Wartrace | Town | — | 37183 |
| Unionville | CDP | — | 37180 |
| Anchor Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bedford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beechwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bottle Hollow | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Branchville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bugscuffle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Caldwell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carter Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cortner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cortners Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Creekwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Deason | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elbethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairlane Estates | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fall Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flat Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forest Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Haley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Halls Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hawthorne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hilltop | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Himesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kellertown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Longview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Herman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Palmetto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poplins Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raus | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Richmond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roseville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rover | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shelbyville Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shiloh | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sims Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Singleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Taylor Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vannatta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walnut Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Webbs Jungle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wheel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitaker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Willow Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 37160 — Shelbyville (also serves the surrounding unincorporated communities near the county seat)
- 37161 — Shelbyville (unique ZIP)
- 37162 — Shelbyville (PO Box ZIP)
- 37020 — Bell Buckle
- 37183 — Wartrace
- 37180 — Unionville
- 37360 — Normandy
Most of the county’s crossroads communities, including Fairfield, Palmetto, Wheel, and Rover, use a Shelbyville, Bell Buckle, or Wartrace mailing address rather than having their own ZIP code.
Geography
Bedford County sits on the Highland Rim, drained by the Duck River, which crosses the county and once powered the mills that gave several communities — Halls Mill, Cortners Mill, Shelbyville Mills — their names. The terrain is rolling farmland and pasture typical of Middle Tennessee, with no large natural lakes.
Bedford County borders Rutherford County to the north, Coffee County to the east, Moore County to the southeast, Lincoln County to the south, and Marshall County to the west.
Demographics
Bedford County had 50,237 residents at the 2020 census, up 11.5% from 2010. Shelbyville, with 23,557 people, is by far the largest community, followed at a distance by the towns of Bell Buckle and Wartrace. Bedford County’s median household income runs below the Tennessee median of $67,631, consistent with its rural, agricultural economic base. At 475 square miles, the county’s population density works out to roughly 106 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, including cattle and hay production, remains a fixture of the county’s economy alongside manufacturing and warehousing along the Interstate 24 corridor near Shelbyville. Shelbyville is the historic home of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, held there every August and one of the county’s largest annual draws. Bell Buckle, a few miles north, is known locally for its antique shops and its RC Cola & Moon Pie Festival.
History
Bedford County was established on December 7, 1807, when residents of Rutherford County living south of the Duck River and Stones River petitioned the governor to split off a new county. It was named for Thomas Bedford, a Revolutionary War officer and large local landowner. At its creation Bedford County was the largest and most populous county in Tennessee; since 1809 parts of it have been carved off to form Coffee, Moore, Lincoln, and Marshall counties.
Getting There
Interstate 24 crosses the northwestern part of the county, with U.S. Routes 41A and 231 and Tennessee State Routes 16, 64, 82, 130, 269, 270, 276, and 437 serving the rest.
- Murfreesboro — 20 miles north
- Tullahoma — 20 miles east
- Fayetteville — 25 miles south
- Nashville — 55 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport (BNA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bedford County, Tennessee?
It is in south-central Tennessee, on the Duck River, about 55 miles south of Nashville.
What is the population of Bedford County?
Bedford County had a population of 50,237 at the 2020 census.
How big is Bedford County?
The county covers 475 square miles (1,230 km2).
What is the county seat of Bedford County?
Shelbyville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Bedford County?
Bedford County has one city (Shelbyville), three towns (Bell Buckle, Normandy, Wartrace), a census-designated place (Unionville), and dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Bedford County?
Bedford County’s ZIP codes are 37160, 37161, and 37162 (Shelbyville), 37020 (Bell Buckle), 37183 (Wartrace), 37180 (Unionville), and 37360 (Normandy).
What is Bedford County known for?
Shelbyville is the birthplace of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, and nearby Bell Buckle hosts an annual RC Cola & Moon Pie Festival.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.