Bedford County, Virginia
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density
was 80 people per square mile (31/km²). There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.18% White
, 6.24% Black
or African American
, 0.20% Native American
, 0.43% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 28.2% were of American
, 15.6% English
, 11.0% German
and 9.6% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 23,838 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.40% were married couples
living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,136, and the median income for a family was $49,303. Males had a median income of $35,117 versus $23,906 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $21,582. About 5.20% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
. Tourism and retail are also becoming more significant.
* Bedford voted for George Wallace
, an Independent for President in 1968.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 80 people per square mile (31/km²). There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.18% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.24% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.43% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 28.2% were of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 15.6% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 11.0% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
and 9.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 23,838 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.40% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.80% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 27.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,136, and the median income for a family was $49,303. Males had a median income of $35,117 versus $23,906 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $21,582. About 5.20% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Historically, Bedford County was an agricultural economy. While agriculture is still an important factor in the county's economy, Bedford County has significant residential development to serve Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Smith Mountain LakeSmith Mountain Lake
Smith Mountain Lake is a large reservoir in the Roanoke Region of Virginia, located southeast of the City of Roanoke and southwest of Lynchburg. The lake was created in 1963 by the Smith Mountain Dam impounding the Roanoke River. The majority of the south shore of the lake lies in Franklin County...
. Tourism and retail are also becoming more significant.
Politics
| Year | GOP Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
DEM Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 68.2% 24,420 | 30.7% 11,017 | 1.1% 393 |
| 2004 | 69.8% 21,925 | 29.0% 9,102 | 1.2% 377 |
| 2000 | 65.9% 17,224 | 31.2% 8,160 | 2.9% 765 |
| 1996 | 54.1% 11,955 | 35.2% 7,786 | 10.7% 2,368 |
| 1992 | 50.6% 10,496 | 32.7% 6,792 | 16.7% 3,468 |
| 1988 | 65.3% 10,702 | 33.0% 5,406 | 1.7% 274 |
| 1984 | 68.2% 10,371 | 31.2% 4,754 | 0.6% 92 |
| 1980 | 55.8% 6,608 | 39.9% 4,721 | 4.3% 511 |
| 1976 | 45.3% 4,189 | 51.5% 4,766 | 3.1% 291 |
| 1972 | 73.4% 5,286 | 20.9% 1,501 | 5.7% 412 |
| 1968* | 35.8% 2,807 | 20.1% 1,574 | 45.1% 3,459 |
| 1964 | 48.1% 3,806 | 51.5% 4,076 | 0.4% 32 |
| 1960 | 47.9% 2,911 | 51.8% 3,150 | 0.2% 20 |
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
, an Independent for President in 1968.
Communities
- Big IslandBig Island, VirginiaBig Island is a census-designated place in far northern Bedford County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 303. The small community is located by the James River north of Lynchburg; it is not on an island, but is named for an uninhabited island in the river upstream from it. It is...
- ChamblissburgChamblissburg, Virginia-References:...
- ForestForest, VirginiaForest is a census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Forest is located at ....
- GoodeGoode, VirginiaGoode is an unincorporated community between Bedford and Forest in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. Its ZIP Code is 24556. It is largely made up of rolling hills and farmland....
- HardyHardy, VirginiaHardy is an unincorporated community lying both in Bedford County and Franklin County, Virginia, United States, about twenty miles southeast of Roanoke. The Booker T. Washington National Monument commemorates where Booker T. Washington was born in 1856....
- Huddleston
- MonetaMoneta, VirginiaMoneta is an unincorporated community in Bedford County, Virginia, United States, along Route 122 between Bedford and Rocky Mount; Route 122 follows a bypass around the community....
- MontvaleMontvale, VirginiaMontvale is a census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 698....
- New LondonNew London, VirginiaNew London is an unincorporated community in Caroline County, in the U.S. state of Virginia. It lies within Fort A. P. Hill, 6 miles north-northeast of Bowling Green, Virginia....
- Stewartsville
- ThaxtonThaxton, VirginiaThaxton is an unincorporated community in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. There is a town of the same name in Mississippi ....