Bedford County, Virginia

Quick answer: Bedford County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Bedford. Its estimated population in 2025 was 83,059, up 4.5% since 2020. It covers about 760 square miles of land.

Overview

Bedford County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of 95 in the state.[1] The county seat is Bedford.[2] The county was established in 1753.[2] The name comes from John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.[2]

Population of Bedford County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Bedford County at 83,059 in July 2025, up 4.5% from the April 2020 base of 79,496.[1] That made it 26th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 37th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 3,593 births and 4,964 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 1,371.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 4,618. Moves from abroad added 337.[1]

Geography

Bedford County covers 760.1 square miles of land and 16.2 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 5th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 109 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 37.31° N, 79.53° W.[3]

The county borders Amherst County, Botetourt County, Campbell County, Franklin County, the City of Lynchburg, Pittsylvania County, Roanoke County and Rockbridge County.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 118 named streams, 63 named summits, 16 lakes and reservoirs, 10 gaps and 1 spring in the county.[5]

Towns

Bedford County has one incorporated town: Bedford (7,911), with its estimated 2025 population in brackets.[6] In Virginia, towns remain part of the county around them, unlike independent cities.

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of Bedford County?
Bedford.

What is the population of Bedford County?
About 83,059 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Bedford County?
About 760 square miles of land, plus 16.2 square miles of water.

References

• [1] U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025) – last checked 11/08/2026
• [2] Wikidata, Bedford County, Virginia (open data, CC0) – last checked 11/08/2026
• [3] U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files: Counties – last checked 11/08/2026
• [4] U.S. Census Bureau, County Adjacency File (2024) – last checked 11/08/2026
• [5] U.S. Geological Survey, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Domestic Names – last checked 11/08/2026
• [6] U.S. Census Bureau, City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 – last checked 11/08/2026

Official website: www.bedfordcountyva.gov

Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.