Bedford County, Tennessee

Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,237.^[3] Its county seat is Shelbyville.^[4] Bedford County comprises the Shelbyville, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro, TN Combined Statistical Area.

Bedford County
County
Bedford County Courthouse in Shelbyville
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee
Tennessee's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 35°31′N 86°28′W
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Founded	December 7, 1807[1]
Named after	Thomas Bedford[2]
Seat	Shelbyville
Largest city	Shelbyville
Area
• Total	475 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Land	474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Water	1.2 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	50,237
• Density	105.99/sq mi (40.92/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th
Website	www.bedfordcountytn.org

History

The county was created in 1807 when the citizens of Rutherford County living south of the Duck River and the Stones River successfully petitioned the governor to split Rutherford County in two. The new county was named after American Revolutionary War officer and large landowner in the area, Thomas Bedford.

Once the state's largest and most populous county, Bedford County's size (in terms of area) has been steadily reduced since 1809 to form Coffee County, Moore County, Lincoln County, and Marshall County.^[5]

The county was pro-Confederate during the Civil War, but Shelbyville was mostly loyal to the Union.

Texas pioneer William Whitaker Reed was born in Bedford County in 1816.^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 475 square miles (1,230 km²), of which 474 square miles (1,230 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) (0.2%) is water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Rutherford County (north)
• Coffee County (east)
• Moore County (southeast)
• Lincoln County (south)
• Marshall County (west)

State protected areas

• Normandy Wildlife Management Area (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	8,242		—
1820	16,012		94.3%
1830	30,396		89.8%
1840	20,546		−32.4%
1850	21,511		4.7%
1860	21,584		0.3%
1870	24,333		12.7%
1880	26,025		7.0%
1890	24,739		−4.9%
1900	23,845		−3.6%
1910	22,667		−4.9%
1920	21,737		−4.1%
1930	21,077		−3.0%
1940	23,151		9.8%
1950	23,627		2.1%
1960	23,150		−2.0%
1970	25,039		8.2%
1980	27,916		11.5%
1990	30,411		8.9%
2000	37,586		23.6%
2010	45,058		19.9%
2020	50,237		11.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2014[3]

Age pyramid, Bedford County^[12]

2020 census

Bedford County racial composition^[13]

Race	Number	Percentage
White (non-Hispanic)	36,499	72.65%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	3,563	7.09%
Native American	127	0.25%
Asian	337	0.67%
Pacific Islander	13	0.03%
Other/Mixed	2,033	4.05%
Hispanic or Latino	7,665	15.26%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 50,237 people, 17,029 households, and 12,704 families residing in the county.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,586 people, 13,905 households, and 10,345 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile (31 people/km²). There were 14,990 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.84% White, 11.48% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.73% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 7.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,905 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.80% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,729, and the median income for a family was $33,691. Males had a median income of $25,485 versus $15,673 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,698. About 12.70% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Shelbyville (county seat)

Towns

• Bell Buckle
• Normandy
• Wartrace

Census-designated place

• Unionville

Unincorporated communities

• Branchville
• Bugscuffe
• Center Grove
• Corner's Station
• Fairfield
• Fall Creek
• Flat Creek
• Haley's Station
• Hawthorne
• Mount Hermon
• Palmetto
• Pleasant Grove
• Poplin's Crossroads
• Raus
• Richmond
• Roseville
• Rover
• Wheel
• Royal

Major highways

• Interstate 24
• U.S. Route 41A
• U.S. Route 231
• State Route 16
• State Route 64
• State Route 82
• State Route 130
• State Route 269
• State Route 270
• State Route 276
• State Route 437

Politics

United States presidential election results for Bedford County, Tennessee^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	15,772	78.51%	4,122	20.52%	196	0.98%
2020	14,354	75.20%	4,453	23.33%	281	1.47%
2016	11,486	74.80%	3,395	22.11%	474	3.09%
2012	10,034	69.46%	4,211	29.15%	200	1.38%
2008	10,217	65.89%	5,027	32.42%	263	1.70%
2004	8,351	60.93%	5,268	38.44%	87	0.63%
2000	5,911	48.42%	6,136	50.27%	160	1.31%
1996	4,634	41.07%	5,735	50.82%	915	8.11%
1992	3,836	33.59%	5,978	52.34%	1,607	14.07%
1988	4,856	54.32%	4,046	45.26%	37	0.41%
1984	4,699	50.55%	4,499	48.40%	98	1.05%
1980	3,377	35.24%	5,987	62.48%	219	2.29%
1976	3,023	29.19%	7,228	69.79%	106	1.02%
1972	4,262	59.73%	2,565	35.95%	308	4.32%
1968	1,870	22.30%	2,416	28.81%	4,099	48.88%
1964	2,272	28.83%	5,610	71.17%	0	0.00%
1960	2,633	36.81%	4,457	62.32%	62	0.87%
1956	2,258	33.08%	4,517	66.18%	50	0.73%
1952	2,611	37.44%	4,362	62.56%	0	0.00%
1948	771	17.93%	2,393	55.64%	1,137	26.44%
1944	733	21.51%	2,651	77.81%	23	0.68%
1940	555	18.05%	2,499	81.29%	20	0.65%
1936	514	17.36%	2,428	82.00%	19	0.64%
1932	630	21.74%	2,264	78.12%	4	0.14%
1928	1,405	47.84%	1,532	52.16%	0	0.00%
1924	925	33.23%	1,799	64.62%	60	2.16%
1920	2,056	48.51%	2,182	51.49%	0	0.00%
1916	1,324	33.92%	2,578	66.05%	1	0.03%
1912	1,474	37.98%	2,305	59.39%	102	2.63%

Education

Bedford County School District . ^[15]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford County, Tennessee
• List of counties in Tennessee