Tennessee

Bedford

50,237
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Bedford

Bedford, Tennessee, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 8,242. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 50,237.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 7 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Guy's Gap, Shelbyville Tullahoma, Skirmish at Shelbyville (Tullahoma approach), and 33 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202050,237
201045,058
200037,586
199030,411
198027,916
197025,039
196023,150
195023,627
194023,151
193021,077
192021,737
191022,667
190023,845
189024,739
188026,025
187024,333
186021,584
185021,511
184020,546
183030,396
182016,012
18108,242
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Bedford

Military engagements that took place in Bedford, Tennessee.

Guy's Gap
1863
Shelbyville Tullahoma
1863
Skirmish at Shelbyville (Tullahoma approach)
1863
Battle of Liberty Gap
1863
Fall of Shelbyville (Tullahoma Campaign)
1863
Wartrace Tennessee
1863
Battle of Shelbyville (Tennessee 1863)
1863

Historic places in Bedford

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bedford, Tennessee.

Bedford County Jail (Additional Documentation)
Shelbyville
Landis, Absalom Lowe, House
Normandy
Wartrace Historic District
Wartrace
Eakin, Spencer, Farm
Shelbyville
Valley Home
Wartrace
Grassland Farm
Shelbyville
Brame-Reed House
Shelbyville
Maple Dean Farm
Shelbyville
Shofners' Lutheran Church and Cemetery (Additional Documentation)
Shelbyville
Jenkins Lutheran Chapel and Cemetery
Shelbyville
River Side Farmhouse (Additional Documentation)
Shelbyville
Fly Manufacturing Company Building
Shelbyville
Farrar Homeplace
Shelbyville
Shelbyville Courthouse Square Historic District
Shelbyville
Frierson-Coble House
Shelbyville
Palmetto Farm
Palmetto
Martin House
Wartrace
Walking Horse Hotel
Wartrace
Sims, John Green, House
Wartrace
Cooper, Gov. Prentice, House (Additional Documentation)
Shelbyville
Browse all Tennesseehistoric sites ›

Other counties in Tennessee

Explore census history and historic records for more Tennessee counties.

GilesGraingerGreeneGrundyHamblenHamiltonHancockHardemanHardinHawkinsHaywoodHendersonHenryHickmanHoustonHumphreysJacksonJamesJeffersonJohnson
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Everything a full report reveals about Bedford County, Tennessee

This page charts the census history of Bedford County, Tennessee. 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, Tennessee first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 8,242.
What is the population of Bedford?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bedford had a recorded population of 50,237.
Were any battles fought in Bedford?
7 documented military engagements took place in Bedford, including Guy's Gap, Shelbyville Tullahoma, Skirmish at Shelbyville (Tullahoma approach).
How many historic places are in Bedford?
33 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bedford, Tennessee.
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