County · code 51019
Bedford CountyVirginia
Bedford County is a county in Virginia with its seat in Bedford. It was formed on May 10, 1754, from Lunenburg County and named after John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
- Founded1754
- County seatBedford
- Named forJohn Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford
- Land area760 sq mi + 16 sq mi water
- Population79,462 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped55,812 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Bedford on the map of Virginia
Virginia has 133 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1754 from Lunenburg County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Bedford created from Lunenburg on May 10, 1754, and gained additional territory from Albemarle and Lunenburg the following year. Over the following centuries, the county lost territory to the creation of Campbell County in 1782 and Franklin County in 1786, and to the independent city of Lynchburg in multiple transfers between 1958 and 1975. In 1968, Bedford lost territory to the creation of Bedford as an independent city of the second class, and in 1993, lost additional area to the independent city of Bedford.
- 1754
- 1755Gained territory Bedford gained from Albemarle and Lunenburg. · Hening, 6:441-442
- 1782
- 1786
- 1958Lost territory Bedford lost to the independent city of Lynchburg. · Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989 and August 1992; Bain, Annexation, [246]
Show all 9 changes
- 1754
- 1755Gained territory Bedford gained from Albemarle and Lunenburg. · Hening, 6:441-442
- 1782
- 1786
- 1958Lost territory Bedford lost to the independent city of Lynchburg. · Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989 and August 1992; Bain, Annexation, [246]
- 1964Lost territory Bedford lost small area to the independent city of Lynchburg. · Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989; Bain, Annexation, [247]
- 1968Lost territory Bedford lost to creation of Bedford as an independent city, 2d class. · Bedford Planning Dept., correspondence, January 1990
- 1975Lost territory Bedford lost to the independent city of Lynchburg. · Lynchburg Planning Division, correspondence, December 1989; U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970-Present," http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html, 4 August 2003
- 1993Lost territory Bedford lost to the independent city of Bedford. · U.S. Census Bureau, "Geographic Change Notes: Virginia," http://eire.census.gov/popest/geonotes/51.php, 10 June 2003
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Bedford
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 55,812 parcels from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Official
One point per address, 43,779 in all from Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Dept of Emergency Management (VDEM; VGIN moved from VITA to VDEM).
checked 14 October 2026 -
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Bedford by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Bedford County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of Bedford County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Bedford County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Bedford County
- When was Bedford County founded?
- Bedford County was founded in 1754, formed from Lunenburg County, and named after John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.
- What is the county seat of Bedford County?
- The county seat of Bedford County is Bedford.
- Is there an online parcel map for Bedford County?
- Yes. Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), Virginia Department of Emergency Management publishes a parcel map of 55,812 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Bedford County's boundary or name changed?
- Bedford County was created in 1754 from Lunenburg County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 8 later changes, chiefly involving Albemarle County, Campbell County and Franklin County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Bedford County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby