Community Profile
Bedford is an accessible, progressive community with quality infrastructure and utility services amidst a beautiful setting. We offer excellent educational facilities, a diverse business community, and a variety of opportunities for rest and relaxation. Our quality of life is hard to find anywhere else. We invite you to be a part of it all!
Located on U.S. Highways 460 and 221, 21 miles south of Interstate 81 and 9 miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Bedford retains a small-town feel in one of the fastest growing areas in the state. We are midway between two metropolitan areas: Roanoke, to the southwest, and Lynchburg, to the northeast – both within approximately 25 miles. Our great location and highway access are a major consideration for any business. We are just 200 miles from Washington, D.C., and 220 miles from the shipping port of Hampton Roads. We have access to the Norfolk Southern rail services, passenger rail, and both the Lynchburg and Roanoke Regional Airports are within a 1/2 hour drive.
The City of Bedford owns and operates its own municipal electric system, providing top-notch infrastructure and comprehensive services at the lowest possible rates. Single phase and three phase are available for commercial and manufacturing. Other municipal utilities and services include water, wastewater, refuse collection, recycling, and street maintenance. The City is a Mid-Atlantic Broadband node location, with local and backbone fiberoptic cable available at any site within the City. In addition to standard telephone, numerous broadband providers – cabled and wireless – provide service to businesses and residences within Bedford.
In addition to standard K-12 accredited Virginia schools in town, our community also boasts Bedford Science and Technology Center, which serves three counties. Students have an opportunity to attend the Center half-days and enroll in one of more than 15 programs. For those wanting to further their education or obtain a degree, we are home to Central Virginia Community College’s Bedford Center for Business. The Central Virginia Community College main campus, Lynchburg College, Randolph College, and Liberty University are available in Lynchburg, while Roanoke College and Hollins University as well as several technical and professional colleges can be found in Roanoke.
From anywhere in town, you can’t miss the views of the Peaks of Otter in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just 9 miles north of the City. Spectacular hiking, hunting, fishing, and outdoor facilities abound within a few miles of town, including the scenic James River – perfect for a lazy float or an exciting white water ride. A few miles to the south, Smith Mountain Lake boasts some of the finest boating, sailing, and fishing in the State, as well as a thriving vineyard and wine industry (five vineyards make up the Bedford Wine Trail). Within the City, our parks include athletic fields/courts, playgrounds, walking trails, fishing, and picnic areas. Centertown Park features cozy picnic tables and a free wireless hot spot; world-class skate park is just outside the town limits. The City of Bedford is home to several historic landmarks including the National D-Day Memorial, the Elks National Home, and the Avenel Plantation; just to the east, enjoy a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. The City is the center of a burgeoning arts and artisan community, featuring painters, sculptors, stained glass, pottery, and more. Our Bower Center for the Arts is the hub for workshops, concerts, retreats, and expositions from around the region.
The City of Bedford has a diverse business and industrial community. Current businesses include textile, specialty manufacturing, industrial graphics, antiques, and specialty opticals. Land and buildings are available, many with rail access. Give us a call to arrange a visit so we can discuss all that Bedford, Virginia, has to offer, and show you around the community. We welcome all industry and are excited about the opportunities green power and information technology may provide.