Bedford, Texas
City of Bedford, Texas | |
---|---|
City | |
Location of Bedford in Tarrant County, Texas | |
Coordinates: 32°50′48″N 97°8′23″W / 32.84667°N 97.13972°WCoordinates: 32°50′48″N 97°8′23″W / 32.84667°N 97.13972°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Tarrant |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager |
• City Council |
Mayor Jim Griffin Rusty Sartor Dave Gebhart Ray Champney Steve Farco Roy Turner Roger Fisher |
• City manager | Roger Gibson |
• Assistant City manager | Kelli Agan |
Area | |
• Total | 10.0 sq mi (25.9 km2) |
• Land | 10.0 sq mi (25.9 km2) |
• Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0.10% |
Elevation | 597 ft (182 m) |
Population (2010)[1] | |
• Total | 46,979 |
• Estimate (2013)[1] | 48,592 |
• Density | 4,700/sq mi (1,800/km2) |
Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
• Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
ZIP codes | 76021, 76022, 76095 |
Area code(s) | 682, 817 |
FIPS code | 48-07132[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 1372463[3] |
Website | www.bedfordtx.gov |
Bedford is a suburban city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, in the "Mid-Cities" area between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census.[4] Bedford is part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.
Geography
Bedford is located at 32°50′48″N 97°8′23″W / 32.84667°N 97.13972°W (32.846790, -97.139630).[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (26 km2), of which 0.10% is water.
Neighboring cities include Hurst and Euless, with which Bedford forms the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.
Prominent highways include State Highway 121 and State Highway 183, also known as Airport Freeway (a reference to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, so called because this was the main thoroughfare to the airport in the early years of its history).
Surrounding municipalities
Colleyville Hurst |
Colleyville (3 miles) |
Colleyville (6 miles) |
||
Hurst (3 miles) | Euless (4 miles) | |||
| ||||
Hurst | Euless | Euless |
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1960 | 2,706 | — | |
1970 | 10,049 | 271.4% | |
1980 | 20,821 | 107.2% | |
1990 | 43,762 | 110.2% | |
2000 | 47,152 | 7.7% | |
2010 | 46,979 | −0.4% | |
Est. 2014 | 48,908 | [6] | 4.1% |
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 47,152 people, 20,251 households, and 12,515 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,713.6 people per square mile (1,820.5/km²). There were 21,113 housing units at an average density of 2,110.6 per square mile (815.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.63% White, 3.65% African American, 0.51% Native American, 3.62% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 2.44% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.22% of the population.
There were 20,251 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,436, and the median income for a family was $71,017. Males had a median income of $45,938 versus $33,012 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,466. About 2.4% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
The City of Bedford, Texas Home Rule Charter was adopted September 24, 1966. The city operates under a Council-Manager form of government and provides the following services by its charter: public safety, public works, health, culture, recreation, community development, water and sewer utilities.
According to the city’s 2013-2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $62.5 million in revenues, $56.9 million in expenditures, $127.4 million in total assets, $67.2 million in total liabilities, and $22.4 million in cash and investments.[8]
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:[9]
City Department | Director |
---|---|
City Manager | Roger Gibson |
Assistant City Manager | Kelli Agan |
City Secretary | Michael Wells |
Director of Finance | Clifford W. Blackwell, III |
Fire Chief | James Tindell |
Police Chief | Jeff Gibson |
Director of Human Resources | Jill McAdams |
Director of Development | Bill Syblon |
Tax rollback of 2005
In 2004 the Bedford city council determined that after years of cost cutting, a property tax increase would be necessary. The council adopted a tax rate a few cents higher (actually a 29% increase) than that recommended by the city manager who had suggested splitting the rate increase over two years. The manager recognized that a rate which was greater than eight percent above the prior level would allow residents to use a provision of state law calling for a tax rollback election by petition, but splitting the increase would not.
The petitioners gathered enough signatures and the election was held in March 2005. The rollback provision passed by a mere 10 votes 'for', with the highest turnout ever in a city election. The vote resulted in the rate being rolled back to the original rate (the prior year's rate) plus 8%, the "rollback rate", forcing budget cuts and layoffs.
The city council was forced to revise the budget immediately due to the lack of funds, as they had already begun spending based on the higher tax rate. The council chose to close several city services, including both of the city's swimming pools (one permanently), their recreational center and the city library, although they did manage to implement a large employee pay increase. Municipal library closings in the United States are exceptionally rare, and the news made national headlines and was especially noted by library associations. This was the first library in Texas to close since records had been kept, and the first library in the United States to close since 1989. A few months later, an anonymous donation of $300,000 allowed the reopening of the library, one pool, the rec center, and senior center. Another $20,000 was raised through a resident fundraising drive to help reopen the library. For a period of time after the reopenings, the budget concerns limited open hours of these services (e.g. the library only opened 4 days a week, but later resumed its 6 days-a-week schedule; it is now open seven days a week.[10])
City records show they had budget surpluses in the following years.
In May 2005 a regular city council election resulted in the unseating of two incumbent councilpersons who had been supporters of the (higher) tax rate. In response, the mayor, Rick Hurt, who had opposed the rollback, chose to resign.
Economy
Top employers
According to Bedford's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[11] the top employers in the city are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Texas Health Resources Hurst-Euless-Bedford | 1,600 |
2 | Carter BloodCare | 1,100 |
3 | Walmart | 435 |
4 | Warrantech | 415 |
5 | The Beryl Companies | 400 |
6 | State National Insurance | 400 |
7 | City of Bedford | 370 |
8 | Transamerica | 300 |
9 | Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District | 250 |
10 | Daystar | 200 |
Education
Bedford is within the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.
St. Vincent's Cathedral School, a private Anglican school, is in Bedford.[12]
Brown Mackie College, a system of for-profit colleges, has a Bedford campus that offers courses in healthcare and wellness, business and technology, and legal studies.[13]
Notable people
- Clint Ford, American actor and writer
- Myles Turner, NBA basketball player for the Indiana Pacers
- Scott Chandler, football player
- Colt David, football player
- Betty Pariso, IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Jonathan Stickland, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 92, including Bedford, his city of residence[14]
- Mystique Summers Madison, drag queen, participant in the second season of the TV series RuPaul's Drag Race.
- Daniel Woolard, professional soccer player
- Blake Swihart, baseball player
- Jonathan Cleveland, Youtuber and Anti-Bullying Advocate, Viral #StopBullyingNow Video on YouTube.com[15]
References
- 1 2 "State and County Quick Facts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Bedford city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ City of Bedford 2013-14 CAFR Retrieved 2015-06-30
- ↑ City of Bedford FY2014-15 Budget Retrieved 2015-06-30
- ↑ "Bedford Public Library, Hours and Location". Archived from the original on 31 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
- ↑ City of Bedford CAFR
- ↑ "About Us." St. Vincent's Cathedral School. Retrieved on November 19, 2010.
- ↑ "Brown Mackie College Expands Presence in Texas With New School Location in Dallas". 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ "Jonathan Stickland's Biography". votesmart.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ↑ New, Brian. "Teen's Anti-Bullying Video Goes Viral". Retrieved 2015-10-19.
External links
- City of Bedford official website
- HEB Chamber of Commerce
- Bedford Public Library
- Historic photos of Bedford hosted by the Portal to Texas History
- Voters elect Mayor Jim Story to a full three-year term
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