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Bedford, founded in 1750, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 18,274.

A suburb of Manchester, Bedford has one of the highest average personal incomes in the state.

History

Established in 1730 as Narragansett Number 5 for the benefit of soldiers who fought against the Narragansett Indians in Rhode Island, it was regranted first as Souhegan East, then as Bedford in 1750. The town was named for John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1748–1751), and a close friend of colonial governor Benning Wentworth.

Like much of southeastern New Hampshire, Bedford has grown quickly since World War II: The 2000 population of 18,274 was more than eight times the 1950 population of 2,176. Every decade has seen a substantial rate of growth, ranging from 33 percent between 1980-1990 to a 67 percent increase between 1950-1960. The 2004 Census estimate for Bedford was 20,480 residents, which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Politically, Bedford votes solid Republican, not having elected a Democrat to the state legislature since 1932. While it is one of the more politically conservative towns in the state, it also votes overwhelmingly to support the school budget each year at the town election.

There are currently 4 schools in Bedford: Memorial, Peter Woodbury and Riddle Brook are neighborhood schools and accommodate grades K through 5. McKelvie Middle School accommodates grades 6 through 8. Bedford's high school students are tuitioned to Manchester West High School.

This school configuration and tuition agreement will change in the 2007-2008 school year because in 2005, Bedford voted 4,410-2,060 (a margin of 68%, compared to the 60% needed to pass) to build a middle school/high school campus. It will sit on a 40-acre lot and have an initial capacity of 1,900 students, with a core capacity of 2,300 students. Included will be an 800-seat auditorium and a gymnasium with a capacity of 3,000. It is expected to open August 2007.

When the campus is completed the school configuration will be: neighborhood schools Memorial, Riddle Brook, and Peter Woodbury), grades K-4; McKelvie, grades 5-6; the new Ross Lurgio Middle School, named for a Bedford School District administrator from 1975 to 2003, first director of special services and then assistant superintendent, grades 7-8; and the new Bedford High School, grades 9-12.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 85.8 km² (33.1 mi²). 85.0 km² (32.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (0.85%) is water. The largest body of water other than the Merrimack River is Sebbins Pond, which is connected to smaller, neighboring bodies of water by Sebbins Brook. It is bordered by the town of Goffstown and the city of Manchester to the north, by Manchester to the east across the Merrimack River, by the town of Merrimack to the south, and by the towns of Amherst and New Boston to the west.

An rock formation called Pulpit Rock (originally the Devil's Pulpit), is located in the northwest part of the town on New Boston Road and is the feature of the town-owned Pulpit Rock Conservation Area. The highest point in Bedford is Holbrook Hill (845 feet / 258 meters above sea level), located in the extreme northwest corner of town.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 18,274 people, 6,251 households, and 5,125 families residing in the town. The population density was 214.9/km² (556.6/mi²). There were 6,401 housing units at an average density of 75.3/km² (195.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.41% White, 0.32% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 6,251 households out of which 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.9% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $84,392, and the median income for a family was $91,868. Males had a median income of $69,987 versus $39,507 for females. The per capita income for the town was $37,730. About 1.6% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents, current or former

External links

Hillsborough County, New Hampshire | Towns in New Hampshire

Bedford, New Hampshire

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Bedford, New Hampshire".

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