Page 15 - Town of Bedford FY 2018-2019 Budget.pdf

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HISTORY

In 1782 the area of Bedford County was partitioned to create Campbell County. As a direct result, the
village of Liberty was founded in that year for the purpose of relocating the then-existing Bedford
county seat from New London to a more central position. Liberty was incorporated as a Town in 1839,
whereupon it functioned primarily as an agrarian-based, service-oriented community. Rail service was
completed through Bedford County in 1852, which encouraged the development of industrial activity
within the Town. A devastating fire in the late 1880’s resulted in a large, citizen-driven revitalization
effort. The town was renamed “Bedford City” in 1890. Economic prosperity accompanied the name
change in the form of improved rail service, increased manufacturing activity, and electrification of the
City. Numerous new buildings and subdivisions were constructed and the Town created its own electric
utility.

Bedford City continued to gain prestige as the agricultural, commercial, industrial and administrative
center for the area, and it attracted several college preparatory schools during the late 1890's and early
1900's (including Belmont Seminary, Jeter Institute, Randolph Macon Academy, and Virginia Business
College). Although the expansion was short-lived, Bedford City continued to be an agricultural and
manufacturing center for many years to come, and evolved into a typical American small town.

A defining moment in the community’s history occurred during World War II. Bedford City was home to
some of the brave soldiers that fought in the first wave of the D-Day Invasion. Known as the "Bedford
Boys," these men served
with Company A, 116th
Infantry. The community
lost the most soldiers of
any town per capita during
the invasion. Their sacrifice
is immortalized in the
National D-Day Memorial
as well as the 2008 film
"The Town They Left
Behind."

With the adoption of the 1960 municipal code, the municipality became known simply as the Town of
Bedford. During the remainder of the twentieth century, the community expanded its industrial base
(with several major manufacturers of the time still active and currently based within the community).

In 1968 Bedford became an Independent City of the Second Class. Although it was a separate and
distinct political entity from Bedford County, it continued to function as the county seat. Furthermore,
many of the ministerial actions typically performed by an Independent City in Virginia (such as the
administration of schools, courts, and social services, for example) were administered by Bedford
County under contractual arrangements and the constitutional office of Sheriff served both the City and
the County concurrently.

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Activity within the City of Bedford continued somewhat apace for the remainder of the 20 century.
However, significant legislative action at the state level and economic realities in the beginning of the
st
21 century ultimately contributed to a change in constitutional status for the municipality. In 1987, the

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