Bedford County is a county in Virginia, United States, set in the Piedmont region at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Peaks of Otter. It had a population of 79,462 at the 2020 census and covers 769 square miles (1,990 km2) centred near 37°19′N 79°32′W.
The town of Bedford is the county seat, and its postal code is 24523. The county contains one incorporated town, five census-designated places, and several smaller unincorporated communities, and it observes the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Bedford County
Bedford County has one incorporated town — Bedford itself, which was an independent city from 1968 until it rejoined the county in 2013 — plus five census-designated places (CDPs) and dozens of smaller unincorporated communities and crossroads. The table below lists every named place carried over from county records; places with no confirmed 2020 census count or ZIP are marked with a dash rather than a guessed figure.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | Town · seat | — | 24523 |
| Forest | CDP | 11,709 | 24551 |
| Moneta | CDP | — | 24121 |
| Montvale | CDP | — | 24122 |
| Big Island | CDP | 300 | 24526 |
| Stewartsville | CDP | — | — |
| Chamblissburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coleman Falls | Unincorp. | — | 24536 |
| Goode | Unincorp. | — | 24556 |
| Goodview | Unincorp. | — | 24095 |
| Hardy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huddleston | Unincorp. | — | 24104 |
| Thaxton | Unincorp. | — | 24174 |
| Lowry | Unincorp. | — | 24570 |
| Villamont | Unincorp. | — | 24178 |
| Boonsboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunker Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Centerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Charlemont | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chestnut Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Diamond Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dundee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Five Forks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flint Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forest Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gross Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Isle of Pines | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Airy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Hills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Otter Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Otterville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peaksville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Perrowville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poplar Forest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Radford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sedalia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union | Unincorp. | — | — |
Forest, on the Amherst County line east of Bedford town, is by far the largest place in the county and is often confused with the CDP of the same name in nearby Amherst and Campbell counties — the townsvillages.com Forest page in this table is the Bedford County community. Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home southwest of Bedford town, is a landmark and museum site rather than a residential settlement, but it is kept in the list because it is a commonly searched place name.
ZIP Codes
- 24523 — Bedford (also serves the town centre and surrounding rural routes)
- 24551 — Forest
- 24121 — Moneta (also serves the Smith Mountain Lake shoreline)
- 24122 — Montvale
- 24526 — Big Island
- 24536 — Coleman Falls
- 24556 — Goode
- 24095 — Goodview
- 24104 — Huddleston
- 24174 — Thaxton
- 24570 — Lowry
- 24178 — Villamont (PO Box ZIP)
Smaller communities such as Stewartsville, Chamblissburg and Hardy do not have their own post office and are served by a neighbouring ZIP.
Geography
Bedford County sits astride the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the mountainous western third of the county — including the Peaks of Otter and a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway — giving way east to rolling Piedmont farmland. The Roanoke River forms Smith Mountain Lake along the county’s southern edge, and the James River marks its northeastern boundary. The county has 753 square miles of land and 16 square miles of water.
Bedford County borders Rockbridge County and Botetourt County to the north and northwest, Amherst County to the northeast, the independent city of Lynchburg to the east, Campbell County to the southeast, Pittsylvania County to the south, Franklin County to the southwest, and Roanoke County to the west.
Demographics
Bedford County had 79,462 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 106 people per square mile. Forest, with 11,709 residents, and the town of Bedford are the two largest communities. Census figures put the county’s median household income above the Virginia median of $89,931 in recent American Community Survey estimates, reflecting commuter households working in Lynchburg and Roanoke alongside the county’s own manufacturing and agricultural base.
Economy & Local Life
Bedford County’s economy mixes manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. The county is part of the Lynchburg metropolitan area, and many residents commute to Lynchburg or Roanoke for work. Smith Mountain Lake, shared with Franklin and Pittsylvania counties, anchors a significant lake-recreation and second-home economy around Moneta and Huddleston. The National D-Day Memorial, dedicated in 2001, sits on a hilltop in Bedford town and draws visitors from across the country; Bedford lost more of its sons per capita on D-Day than any other American community, a history the memorial commemorates directly.
History
Bedford County was formed on December 13, 1753, from part of Lunenburg County, with its boundaries adjusted several times before settling into their current form in 1786. It was named for John Russell, the fourth Duke of Bedford, a British statesman of the period. The town of Bedford was an independent city from 1968 until 2013, when it voted to revert to town status and rejoin the county — a rare reversal nationally, driven largely by the cost of maintaining separate city services. Thomas Jefferson built his retreat home, Poplar Forest, in the county in the early 1800s; it is now a museum open to the public.
Getting There
U.S. Route 460 and U.S. Route 221 cross the county, along with the Blue Ridge Parkway through its western mountains. Approximate distances from Bedford town:
- Lynchburg — 20 miles east
- Roanoke — 25 miles west
- Smith Mountain Lake (Moneta) — 15 miles south
- Lexington — 30 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Lynchburg Regional Airport, roughly 20 miles east of Bedford town; Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport, about 25 miles west, offers a wider range of connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bedford County, Virginia?
It is in south-central Virginia’s Piedmont region, between Lynchburg and Roanoke, with its western third rising into the Blue Ridge Mountains.
What is the population of Bedford County?
79,462 at the 2020 census.
How big is Bedford County?
769 square miles (1,990 km2), of which 753 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Bedford County?
Bedford is the county seat. It was an independent city from 1968 to 2013, when it rejoined the county as a town.
How many towns and communities are in Bedford County?
One incorporated town (Bedford), five census-designated places, and dozens of smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Bedford County?
Twelve ZIP codes serve the county, including 24523 (Bedford), 24551 (Forest), 24121 (Moneta) and 24526 (Big Island); see the ZIP Codes section above for the full list.
What is Bedford County known for?
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford town, Smith Mountain Lake recreation around Moneta and Huddleston, and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest retreat.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.