Bedford County, VA

Bedford County is located in southwestern part of the state of Virginia, between the cities of Roanoke, to the West, and Lynchburg, to the East. It is bounded on the North by the Blue Ridge Mountains with the majestic Peaks of Otter, and on the South by Smith Mountain Lake, and on the East by the James River.

Long before the coming of European explorers, native American Indians lived here, at least as far back in time as several thousand years B.C. The initial explorers in the 1600's reported finding tribes of Saponi, Tutelo, and Monacan.

The English colony of Virginia was divided into eight shires in 1634. The shires were subsequently subdivided into large counties, and then smaller counties. Bedford County was formed from Lunenburg County by an act in November 1753, to take effect on 10 May 1754, with the seat of government to be the community of New London.

The County was named Bedford, in honor of John Russell, the fourth Duke of Bedford, who was Secretary of State of Great Britain at the time.

Bedford County Genealogical Society
c/o Bedford City/County Museum
201 East Main Street
Bedford, VA 24523
Tele: (540) 586-4520
Hours: 10-5 Mon-Sat, exc Holidays
Bedford County Genealogical Society Website

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