BEDFORD COUNTY
County Offices
122 East Main Street
Bedford 540-586-7601
www.co.bedford.va.us
Chamber of Commerce
305 E. Main Street
Bedford 540-586-9401
www.bedfordareachamber.com
One of Virginia’s fastest growing areas, Bedford County is strategically located between the metropolitan centers of Roanoke and Lynchburg. The area blends vital industries with bustling commercial centers and agricultural activity for a diverse and stable economy. Abundant natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities add to the attraction for newcomers. Nestled in the grandeur of the majestic mountains, rolling hills and pasture land, Bedford encourages the relaxed place of country living.
Bedford County is nestled in the west-central portion of Virginia’s central plateau, bordered by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains on the west, the James River on the northeast, and Smith Mountain Lake on the south. The region’s rolling terrain dips as low as 800 feet and rises to 4,200 feet in the higher elevations. The city of Bedford serves as the county seat, boasting a renovated historic downtown district that earned its recognition as one of Virginia’s first “Main Street Cities.” This area is home to the National D-Day Memorial, a tribute to the Allied Forces on D-Day that includes an education center.
Services
Commuters to employment centers outside of Bedford County are well served by a network of highways and interstate links. Three inter-regional highways traverse the Bedford area or are easily accessible: US 460 connects with I-81 near Roanoke, US 29 provides access to Lynchburg, and US 501 links the Shenandoah Valley with central North Carolina. Both the Lynchburg and Roanoke regional airports provide air service.
State-of-the-art healthcare is available locally through an affiliate of the Carilion Health System, Bedford Memorial Hospital. This full-service healthcare institution has been standing at the foot of the Peaks of Otter for more than half a century, consistently delivering quality care and upgrading and expanding services. Among the many specialized services available are 24-hour emergency, oncology, advanced imaging, cardiac care, rehabilitation, women’s services, and a 111-bed long-term care center. Emergency transport including helicopter service to a nearby major metropolitan facility is available in those instances where advanced treatment is required.
Quality schools from preschool through 12th grade combine with outstanding opportunities for higher education close to home, including the colleges and universities of the Roanoke Valley as well as Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) in Lynchburg. The Bedford Science and Technology Center works closely with CVCC to offer first-rate vocational programs from drafting and automotive technology to electronics. Averett University offers programs in Lynchburg that are specifically geared toward working adults and lead to associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Lifestyle
Life in Bedford County includes the opportunity for world-class recreation in some of the finest vacation destinations in the country. The Blue Ridge Parkway extends a full 470 miles along the crest of the southern Appalachian Mountains, attracting thousands to its historic Appalachian Trail, wooded campsites, and scenic picnic areas. Jefferson National Forest and the Peaks of Otter rising to 4,200 feet expand the opportunities for hunting, fishing, biking, horseback riding, and outdoor exploration.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park adds a public beach and boat ramps to panoramic areas for camping, hiking, and picnicking. Within the county itself, residents celebrate the region’s rich heritage. Bedford’s Centertown district features buildings from the late 17th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the finest attractions in the county is Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, a villa-style retreat home designed and built by Jefferson. The Bedford County villa-style home is open for tours April-November.
Bedford is home to the National D-Day Memorial, a tribute to the Allied Forces on D-Day that combines with an education center that preserves the lessons and legacy of D-Day for future generations. Other attractions in this area include Emerson Creek Pottery, a manufacturer of hand-made pottery; and Poplar Park, home of the National Champion Yellow Poplar Tree. The Little Town Players, which produces four plays a year and sponsors a summer children’s theater program, boasts the prestigious President’s Action Award for Volunteerism. From the friendliness of its residents to the beauty of its surroundings, Bedford County is a study in quality of life.
