Pennsylvania

Bedford

47,577
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Bedford

Bedford, Pennsylvania, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 13,124. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 47,577.

Its recorded population peaked at 49,984 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 5 percent.

On the ground today, 30 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202047,577
201049,762
200049,984
199047,919
198046,784
197042,353
196042,451
195040,775
194040,809
193037,309
192038,277
191038,879
190039,468
189038,644
188034,929
187029,635
186026,736
185023,052
184029,335
183024,502
182020,248
181015,746
180012,039
179013,124
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Bedford

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Site 36BD90
Bedford
Schellsburg Historic District
Schellsburg Borough
Defibaugh Tavern
Bedford
Bridge in Snake Spring Township
Bedford
Bedford County Alms House
Bedford
Bonnet's Tavern
Bedford
Cuppett's Covered Bridge
New Paris
Chestnut Ridge and Schellsburg Union Church and Cemetery
Napier Township
Everett Historic District
Everett
Feltons Mill Covered Bridge
Bedford
Chalybeate Springs Hotel
Bedford Borough
Russell House
Bedford
Diehls Covered Bridge
New Buena Vista
Juniata Woolen Mill and Newry Manor
Everett
Bedford Historic District
Bedford
Coffee Pot, The
Bedford Township
Espy House
Bedford
Heirline Covered Bridge
Manns Choice
Ryot Covered Bridge
Fishertown
Jacksons Mill Covered Bridge
Bedford
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Other counties in Pennsylvania

Explore census history and historic records for more Pennsylvania counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Bedford County, Pennsylvania

This page charts the census history of Bedford County, Pennsylvania. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bedford

When does Bedford first appear in the US census?
Bedford, Pennsylvania first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 13,124.
What is the population of Bedford?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bedford had a recorded population of 47,577.
When did Bedford's population peak?
Bedford's recorded population peaked at 49,984 in 2000.
How many historic places are in Bedford?
30 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bedford, Pennsylvania.
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