| Bedford, New Hampshire | |||
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| — Town — | |||
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| Location in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Hampshire | ||
| County | Hillsborough | ||
| Incorporated | 1750 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Manager | Russell Marcoux | ||
| • Council | Mike Izbicki, Chairman Bill Dermody Jim Scanlon Normand Longval Paul Roy Chris Bandazian Ken Peterson |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 33.1 sq mi (85.8 km2) | ||
| • Land | 32.8 sq mi (85.0 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) 0.85% | ||
| Elevation | 308 ft (94 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 21,203 | ||
| • Density | 640.6/sq mi (247.3/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 03110 | ||
| Area code(s) | 603 | ||
| FIPS code | 33-04500 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0873541 | ||
| Website | www.ci.bedford.nh.us | ||
Bedford, founded in 1750, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 21,203 at the 2010 census.[1] Bedford is a suburb of Manchester, the largest city in the state.
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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 Lord John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1748–1751), and a close friend of Governor Benning Wentworth, whose first wife, Diana Spencer, was cousin to the Duke of Marlborough. The first settlers in Bedford were Robert and James Walker III. A monument dated 1737 stands on what is now known as Hawthorne Drive, marking the first settlement. Bedford's first moderator was Mayor John Goffe, son of Colonel John Goffe, for whom Goffstown was named.
Like much of southeastern New Hampshire, Bedford has grown rapidly over the last fifty years. The 2000 population of 18,274 was over eight times the population in 1950 of 2,176. Every decade has had a substantial rate of growth, ranging from 33 percent between 1980-1990 to a 67 percent increase between 1950-1960. The 2005 population estimate by the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning was 20,738 residents,[2] which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.1 square miles (86 km2), of which 32.8 sq mi (85 km2) is land and 0.3 sq mi (0.78 km2) is water, comprising 0.85% of the town. 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. Bedford 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.
A 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, at 845 feet (258 m) above sea level, located in the extreme northwest corner of town. Bedford lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[3]
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 12,563 |
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| 2000 | 18,274 | 45.5% | |
| 2010 | 21,203 | 16.0% | |
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As of the Census[4] of 2000, there were 18,274 people, 6,251 households, and 5,125 families residing in the town. The population density was 556.6 people per square mile (214.9/km²). There were 6,401 housing units at an average density of 195.0 per square mile (75.3/km²). 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 (these figures had risen to $111,871 and $120,936 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[5]). 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. According to the United States Census Bureau, Bedford had the fourth highest average personal income in the state in 2000.[6]
Politically, Bedford votes solidly Republican, not having elected a Democrat to the state legislature since 1932.
There are six schools in Bedford: Memorial, Peter Woodbury and Riddle Brook are neighborhood schools and accommodate grades K through 4. McKelvie Intermediate School accommodates grades 5 and 6. In 2007, Lurgio Middle School (grades 7 and 8) and Bedford High School (grades 9 through 12) opened.
Lurgio Middle School and Bedford High School comprise one 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2) building. This was done to support economies of scale (shared kitchen, auditorium, security), but they operate as separate schools with different entrances, bus schedules, start times and end times. Additionally, key-controlled access is required to move between schools.
Some of the campus of Saint Anselm College is located in Bedford.
| New Boston | Goffstown | Manchester | ||
| New Boston | Manchester | |||
| Bedford | ||||
| Amherst | Merrimack | Manchester |
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