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Bedford, MA

Frequently asked questions

Bedford, MA

Bedford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population of Bedford was 14,161 at the 2022 United States census. 

The land now within the boundaries of Bedford was first settled by Europeans around 1640. In 1729 it was incorporated from a portion of Concord (about 2/5 of Bedford) and a portion of Billerica (about 3/5 of Bedford).

In 1630, John Winthrop and Thomas Dudley of the Massachusetts Bay Company arrived aboard the Arabella from Yarmouth, England. After a difficult ten-week voyage, they landed on the shores of the New World, with Salem and Boston Harbor being the Arabella's earliest destinations. In 1637, the General Court of Massachusetts granted some 2,200 acres (9 km2) of land, including Huckins Farmland to the first governor, John Winthrop, and to Deputy Governor Thomas Dudley. The following year, the two men agreed to divide the land so that the parcel south of the two large boulders by the Concord River (Brothers Rocks) belonged to Governor Winthrop and north of the Rocks was to belong to Deputy Governor Dudley. Later, Dudley became governor. Dudley's son Rev. Samuel Dudley and Winthrop's daughter Mary were married; thus Brothers Rocks were so named because of this marriage of families.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.9 square miles (36 km2), of which, 13.7 square miles (35 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.94%, is water. Bedford is approximately 15 miles (24 km) from the coast. Bedford is a relatively circular town. Its neighbors, clockwise, starting from noon, are Billerica, Burlington, Lexington, Lincoln, Concord, and Carlisle.

In addition to the Concord River which forms part of the town's borders, the Shawsheen River flows through town. Vine Brook flows from Lexington, Massachusetts, through Burlington, Massachusetts, and into the Shawsheen in Bedford. In the 1840s, a large paper mill was built on Vine Brook, that supplied many of the jobs in town. 

Bedford places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Emerson Health Primary Care Bedford and New Bedford Community Health offer a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. For those interested in fitness classes and recreational programs, the Bedford Recreation Department provides a range of options. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy nature walks and hikes at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. The Roudenbush Community Center offers various health and wellness programs, including fitness classes and wellness workshops. Fitness enthusiasts can work out at Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness in Acton. Additionally, the Bedford Farmers Market promotes healthy eating with fresh, local produce. 
 

Top Sites in Bedford, MA are Chip-In Farm, Patriot Golf Course, and Edge Sports Center of Bedford.

ZIP Code: 01730. Area code: 339/781. Elevation: 135 ft (41 m). Area: 13.9 square miles (36 km2). Population: 14,383 (2020).
 

FAQs

What are the demographics of Bedford, MA?

There are 14,450 residents in Bedford, with a median age of 33. Of this, 47.87% are males and 52.13% are females. US-born citizens make up 76.03% of the resident pool in Bedford, while non-US-born citizens account for 15.7%. Additionally, 8.28% of the population is represented by non-citizens. The average annual household income in Bedford is $190,032, while the median household income sits at $123,278 per year.

What is a fun fact about Bedford, MA?

Bedford, MA, is adjacent to Lexington and Concord and shares an important place in Revolutionary War History and the events of April 19, 1775. Minutemen gathered at the historic Fitch Tavern in Bedford before proceeding to battle in Concord. The original Bedford flag, currently housed in the Bedford public library, is the oldest known flag in the United States and was carried in the famous battle at the North Bridge in Concord.

What is the crime rate in Bedford, MA?

With a crime rate for both violent and property crime combined of 5 per 1,000 residents, the crime rate in Bedford is one of the lower rates in America among communities of all sizes (lower than 72% of America's communities). One's chance of becoming a victim of crime in Bedford is one in 186. Compared to other communities of similar population size, Bedford has a crime rate that is noticeably lower than the average. This means that for comparably sized cities all across America, Bedford is safer than most according to NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis of FBI crime data.

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Bedford

Point 2 Homes

Merrimack Valley

Neighborhood Scout

Chip-In Farm 

Patriot Golf Course 

Edge Sports Center of Bedford

Emerson Health Primary Care Bedford

New Bedford Community Health

Bedford Recreation Department

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Roudenbush Community Center

Planet Fitness

Anytime Fitness

Bedford Farmers Market 

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