IN THE BEGINNING
Over half of Bedford County's land
area today is forest, much like the way it was in 1710, before the first
white traders came into the area. They disturbed what until then was the
province of the Indians. Artifacts have been found showing people have
been in Bedford County at least 2500 years ago. About 400 years ago the
Seneca, part of the Iroquois Federation, came to the area while game was
plentiful. The Shawnee came into the area around 1680, and it was they
who had most of the conflicts with the early European settlers. By 1730,
a few settlers began moving north into Southern
Bedford county from Virginia and Maryland. Most of these
settlers believed they were still in their home states.
In 1758, British General Edward
Forbes erected a fort to serve as the main base for the final
thrust west. The fort was named Fort Bedford, in honor
of one of England's most powerful families. From there, the British hacked
a trail through 100 miles of mountain and forest and used it as a military
highway for the capture of the French Fort Duquesne. Today, that trail
still remains widely used and is now called U. S. Route 30. The road follows
the historical trailal most exactly.
Links for history
Timeline
for Bedford County
TODAY'S GENERAL INFORMATION
-Average population
49,373
-The amount of land area in Bedford is 2.874 sq.
kilometers.
-The amount of surface water is 0 sq. kilometers:.
-Bedford is positioned 40.01 degrees north of the
equator and 78.50 degrees west of the prime meridian.
-Economic census
from 1992
-Population
census
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Bedford Speedway
Bedford is the home of world-famous Cannondale Bikes.
Geography
-Weather
in Everett, a town in inside Bedford County.
-The county was growing in population
Miscellaneous
-Bedford's Chamber
of Commerce.
-List Of Schools
in Bedford
More than 40 log structures have been collected to create a typical
village
of the area, with residences, schools, farms, a church and shops. The site
includes actual log cabins moved from other locations as well as
reconstructed buildings. Each building reflects a particular character
of its
own. Group rates are available. Open May-October from 9-5. Closed
Wednesdays.
Phone (800)238-4347 for more information.
Tucked
away in the "less traveled" area of Bedford County is a marvel. Often talked
about, but seldom found, Gravity Hill is a phenomenon. Cars roll uphill,
water
flows the wrong way ... it's a place where gravity has gone haywire. Here's
information about finding Gravity Hill with a minimum of wrong turns: