Editing Bedford, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Bedford, Iowa
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Bedford, IA.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Taylor_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bedford_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Bedford, Iowa
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Iowa}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Taylor County, Iowa|Taylor]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Matt Churchill 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_19.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 4.18
|area_land_km2            = 4.16
|area_water_km2           = 0.02
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.61
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.60
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1508
|population_density_km2   = 362.70
|population_density_sq_mi = 939.56
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1171
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|40|16|N|94|43|26|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 50833
|area_code                = [[Area code 712|712]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 19-05365
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394105<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394105}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.bedfordia.org/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Bedford''' is a city in [[Taylor County, Iowa|Taylor County]], [[Iowa]], United States. The population was 1,508 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |website=census.gov |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Taylor County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |accessdate=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archivedate=2012-07-12 }}</ref> [[Lake of Three Fires State Park]] is located several miles northeast of Bedford.

==History==
The community is believed to have gotten its name from Thomas J. Bedford, who was the first west bound [[Pony Express]] rider to deliver the mail on its final leg from [[Benicia, California]] to [[Oakland, California]] on April 23, 1861. Bedford is believed to have operated Bedfords Store and Trading Post in 1848 within the city limits. He moved to [[California]] later that year, in the [[California Gold Rush]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.xphomestation.com/tbedford.html |title=- Thomas J. Bedford profile - xphomestation.com |access-date=2009-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309153606/http://www.xphomestation.com/tbedford.html |archive-date=2009-03-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The community was called "Grove" when a post office was established on June 30, 1855. On June 24, 1856 it was changed to Bedford. Other histories have noted possible other sources of the name:<ref>[http://iagenweb.org/taylor/bfdcent/bfdcent107.jpg How Bedford Got Its Name - Bedford Centennial - 1953]</ref>

* [[Bedford]] in England (possible original home of early settlers)
* [[Bedford, Indiana]] (reputed home of the surveyor)
* [[Bedford, Pennsylvania]] (reputed home of  a "government engineer")

The community was formally established as the county seat of Taylor County by a legislative act in 1853. The town was formally laid out on lots sold on July 4, 1853 (which at the time identified the community as "Bedforde"). According to town legend, a barrel of whiskey was placed on the grounds and lots sold for $10 to $20 - although none of the lots were paid for at the time.<ref>[http://iagenweb.org/taylor/bfdcent/bfdcent105.jpg A Century Ago - Bedford Centerial - 1953]</ref>

The present [[Taylor County Courthouse (Iowa)|Taylor County Courthouse]] was built in 1893.

Bedford was served by a branch of the Burlington Northern Railroad (formerly Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad or "CB&Q") that ran from Creston, Iowa to St. Joseph, Missouri  This line was removed along with almost all the branches in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri in the late 1970s to early 1980s<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Walker |first=James V. |date=2012 |title=Historical Atlas of the North American Railroad by Derek HayesHistorical Atlas of the American West by Derek Hayes |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ohq.2012.0068 |journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly |volume=113 |issue=2 |pages=257–258 |doi=10.1353/ohq.2012.0068 |issn=2329-3780}}</ref>

Bedford is also served by Iowa Highway 148 which runs north and south into Missouri, and Iowa Highway 2 runs east and west and connects most of the county seats in the southern tier of Iowa counties.  There is an excellent series of farm to market road system, mostly paved, as well.<ref>{{Cite book |last=RM Technologies, Inc. d/b/a/ Rand McNally; 2022 Road Atlas; p.28; 2021 |title=Rand McNally 2022 Road Atlas of the United States, Canada, Mexico |publisher=[[Rand McNally]] |year=2021 |pages=28 |language=English}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Bedford, Iowa City hall.jpg|thumb|right|Bedford City Hall]]
Bedford is located along the East Fork of the [[One Hundred and Two River]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.60|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

==Climate==

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Bedford has a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

{{Weather box
|location = Bedford, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1898–2018
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 68
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 108
|Sep record high F = 107
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 81
|Dec record high F = 70
|year record high =

|Jan avg record high F = 55.0
|Feb avg record high F = 60.2
|Mar avg record high F = 74.2
|Apr avg record high F = 83.3
|May avg record high F = 86.5
|Jun avg record high F = 91.7
|Jul avg record high F = 96.1
|Aug avg record high F = 95.0
|Sep avg record high F = 90.0
|Oct avg record high F = 82.3
|Nov avg record high F = 69.2
|Dec avg record high F = 56.1
|year avg record high F = 97.5

|Jan high F = 31.9
|Feb high F = 37.1
|Mar high F = 49.9
|Apr high F = 62.0
|May high F = 72.0
|Jun high F = 81.6
|Jul high F = 85.6
|Aug high F = 84.0
|Sep high F = 77.1
|Oct high F = 64.7
|Nov high F = 49.4
|Dec high F = 36.8
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 22.2
|Feb mean F = 26.7
|Mar mean F = 38.7
|Apr mean F = 50.1
|May mean F = 61.3
|Jun mean F = 71.3
|Jul mean F = 75.5
|Aug mean F = 73.6
|Sep mean F = 65.4
|Oct mean F = 52.8
|Nov mean F = 38.9
|Dec mean F = 27.6
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 12.4
|Feb low F = 16.3
|Mar low F = 27.6
|Apr low F = 38.2
|May low F = 50.5
|Jun low F = 61.1
|Jul low F = 65.4
|Aug low F = 63.1
|Sep low F = 53.7
|Oct low F = 40.9
|Nov low F = 28.5
|Dec low F = 18.4
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -9.0
|Feb avg record low F = -4.5
|Mar avg record low F = 7.7
|Apr avg record low F = 22.9
|May avg record low F = 36.6
|Jun avg record low F = 47.6
|Jul avg record low F = 54.5
|Aug avg record low F = 51.6
|Sep avg record low F = 36.8
|Oct avg record low F = 24.5
|Nov avg record low F = 11.8
|Dec avg record low F = -4.4
|year avg record low F = -15.2

|Jan record low F = -32
|Feb record low F = -34
|Mar record low F = -24
|Apr record low F = 1
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 10
|Nov record low F = -11
|Dec record low F = -30
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.08
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.49
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.42
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.60
|May precipitation inch = 5.27
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.54
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.64
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.32
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.38
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.97
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.13
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.59
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 7.6
|Feb snow inch = 7.2
|Mar snow inch = 3.3
|Apr snow inch = 1.3
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 0.7
|Dec snow inch = 7.9
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.5
|Feb precipitation days = 6.5
|Mar precipitation days = 8.0
|Apr precipitation days = 10.5
|May precipitation days = 11.6
|Jun precipitation days = 9.8
|Jul precipitation days = 9.2
|Aug precipitation days = 8.9
|Sep precipitation days = 7.2
|Oct precipitation days = 7.6
|Nov precipitation days = 6.0
|Dec precipitation days = 6.6

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.0
|Feb snow days = 3.3
|Mar snow days = 1.4
|Apr snow days = 0.5
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.5
|Dec snow days = 3.7

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&location=IA&station=USC00130576
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = July 23, 2022
}}
</ref>
|date = July 2022
|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima and minima 1981–2010)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=dmx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = July 23, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title= Historical populations
|type= USA
|align= left
|1870|720
|1880|1763
|1890|1643
|1900|1977
|1910|1883
|1920|2073
|1930|2100
|1940|2151
|1950|2000
|1960|1807
|1970|1733
|1980|1692
|1990|1528
|2000|1620
|2010|1440
|2020|1508
|source={{center|U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name=cen2020/>}}|footnote=Source:{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=U.S. Census website|access-date=2020-03-28}} and [http://data.iowadatacenter.org/datatables/PlacesAll/plpopulation18502000.pdf Iowa Data Center]
}}
[[File:BedfordIowaPopPlot.png|thumb|left|alt=The population of Bedford, Iowa from US census data|The population of Bedford, Iowa from US census data]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[United States census|census]] of 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 1,508 people, 620 households, and 376 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 939.4 inhabitants per square mile (362.7/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 701 housing units at an average density of 436.7 per square mile (168.6/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 94.2% [[White Americans|White]], 0.1% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from other races and 3.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.

Of the 620 households, 28.9% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.4% were cohabitating couples, 29.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 15.6% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 39.4% of all households were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 39.0 years. 28.2% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.2% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.0% were from 25 and 44; 20.2% were from 45 and 64; and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-05-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,440 people, 614 households, and 382 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|900.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 730 housing units at an average density of {{convert|456.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 614 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 43.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 23.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,620 people, 691 households, and 422 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,007.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 769 housing units at an average density of {{convert|478.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.06% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.74% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.68% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.67% of the population.

There were 691 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.95.

Age spread: 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 26.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,125, and the median income for a family was $34,943. Males had a median income of $27,788 versus $18,125 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,313. About 10.4% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
It is within the [[Bedford Community School District]].<ref>"[https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_BEDFORD.pdf Bedford] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427120820/https://www.educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/SDRP2017_BEDFORD.pdf |date=2018-04-27 }}." [[Iowa Department of Education]]. Retrieved on June 20, 2018.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Lenox Round Barn]], part of the Taylor County Historical Museum and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

==References==

<references />

{{Taylor County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bedford, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Cities in Taylor County, Iowa]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1855]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Iowa]]