◐ Shell
clean mode source ↗

Bedford County, Tennessee

Contributors to Wikimedia projects

Bedford County, Tennessee

Bedford County Courthouse in Shelbyville

Bedford County Courthouse in Shelbyville

Official seal of Bedford County, Tennessee

Seal

Map of Tennessee highlighting Bedford County

Location within the U.S. state of Tennessee

Coordinates: 35°31′N 86°28′W / 35.51°N 86.46°W
Country United States
State Tennessee
FoundedDecember 7, 1807[1]
Named afterThomas Bedford[2]
SeatShelbyville
Largest cityShelbyville
Area

 • Total

475 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Land474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Water1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2)  0.2%
Population

 (2020)

 • Total

50,237

 • Estimate 

(2025)

55,273 Increase
 • Density105.99/sq mi (40.92/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.bedfordcountytn.gov

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.

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]

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]

State protected areas

[edit]

  • Normandy Wildlife Management Area (part)
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18108,242—
182016,01294.3%
183030,39689.8%
184020,546−32.4%
185021,5114.7%
186021,5840.3%
187024,33312.7%
188026,0257.0%
189024,739−4.9%
190023,845−3.6%
191022,667−4.9%
192021,737−4.1%
193021,077−3.0%
194023,1519.8%
195023,6272.1%
196023,150−2.0%
197025,0398.2%
198027,91611.5%
199030,4118.9%
200037,58623.6%
201045,05819.9%
202050,23711.5%
2025 (est.)55,273[8] Increase10.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2014[3]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit]

Bedford County, Tennessee – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[13] Pop 1990[14] Pop 2000[15] Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 24,731 27,005 31,060 35,389 36,499 88.59% 88.80% 82.64% 78.54% 72.65%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,971 3,056 3,152 3,437 3,563 10.64% 10.05% 8.39% 7.63% 7.09%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 14 34 80 96 127 0.05% 0.11% 0.21% 0.21% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 18 141 160 339 337 0.06% 0.46% 0.43% 0.75% 0.67%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [18] x [19] 17 30 13 x x 0.05% 0.07% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 11 3 18 49 140 0.04% 0.01% 0.05% 0.11% 0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [20] x [21] 288 635 1,893 x x 0.77% 1.41% 3.77%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 171 172 2,811 5,083 7,665 0.61% 0.57% 7.48% 11.28% 15.26%
Total 27,916 30,411 37,586 45,058 50,237 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 50,237 people and 12,704 families residing in the county. The median age was 38.0 years, with 25.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 15.7% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.0 males age 18 and over.[22]

There were 18,350 households in the county, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 18.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 19,685 housing units, of which 6.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.2% were owner-occupied and 30.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%.[22]

The racial makeup of the county was 75.6% White, 7.2% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.0% from some other race, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 15.3% of the population.[23]

44.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 55.1% lived in rural areas.[24]

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.

Census-designated place

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Bedford County Schools . [26]

  1. ↑ Timothy Marsh and Helen C. March, "Bedford County," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved: March 31, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Origins of Tennessee County Names" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Bedford County, Tennessee". quickfacts.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Bedford County History". www.bedfordcountytn.org. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  6. ↑ Brochure "William Whitaker Reed House", 1850, Visitor Center, Salado, Texas
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  8. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Tennessee - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 AND Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-22. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  14. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Tennessee: Table 3,4,5,6 - Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 11-47. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bedford County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bedford County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bedford County, Tennessee". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  20. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  22. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  23. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  24. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  25. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Schools". Bedford County School District. Retrieved April 7, 2019.

35°31′N 86°28′W / 35.51°N 86.46°W