Bedford, NH

more resources...

Bedford, NH

Community Contact	Town of Bedford Karen White, Planning Director 24 North Amherst Road Bedford, NH 03110
Telephone	472-5242
Fax	(603) 472-4573
E-mail	kewhite@ci.bedford.nh.us
Web Site	www.bedfordnh.org
Municipal Office Hours	Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
County	Hillsborough
Tourism Region	Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission	Southern NH
Regional Development	Capitol Region Economic Development Council
Election Districts
US Congress	District 1
Executive Council	District 4
State Senate	District 9
State Representative	District 57

Incorporated: 1750

Origin: 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, fourth Duke of Bedford, a close friend of Governor Benning Wentworth.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 898 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Bedford has grown very quickly over fifty years— the town ranked ninth in percent increase and eighth in numeric increase. The 2000 population of 18,274 was over eight times 1950's population of 2,176, a total increase of 16,098 residents. 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 2003 Census estimate for Bedford was 20,181 residents, which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 586.3 persons per square mile of land area. Bedford contains 32.8 square miles of land area and 0.3 square miles of inland water area.

Villages and Place Names: Souhegan East

Type of Government	Manager & Council
2003 Annual Budget	$25,877,587
Zoning Ordinance	1953/03
Master Plan	2000
Capitol Improvement Plan	Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By	Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:	Town Council
Appointed:	Planning Board; Zoning Board; Library Trustees; Conservation Commission; Historic District Commission

Public Library

Bedford Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department	Full-time
Fire Department	Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating	5/9
Emergency Medical Service	Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s):
Elliot or Catholic Medical Center, Manchester
Distance: 5 miles	Staffed Beds: 244; 225

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier	PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier	KeySpan
Water Supplier	Manchester Water Works, Pennichuck Water Works

Sanitation	Private septic & Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant	No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup	None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program	No
Mandatory Recycling Program	None

Telephone Company	Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access	Yes
Cable Television Access	Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service:
Business	Yes
Residential	Yes

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000)	$20.34
2003 Equalization Ratio	65.0
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000)	$13.18

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings	82.8%
Commercial Land and Buildings	16.4%
Other Property including Utilities	0.8%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units	6,903

2002 Single-Family Units	6,043
Building Permits Issued	186
2002 Multi-Family Units	859
Building Permits Issued	6
2002 Manufactured Housing Units	0

DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population	Community	County
2003	20,181	394,663
2000	18,274	380,841
1990	12,563	336,073
1980	9,481	276,608
1970	5,859	223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male	8,988	Female	9,286

Population by Age Group
Under age 5	1,329
Age 5 to 19	4,212
Age 20 to 34	2,190
Age 35 to 54	6,703
Age 55 to 64	1,737
Age 65 and over	2,103
Median Age	39.2 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher	92.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher	49.3%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income	$37,730
Median 4-person family income	$91,868
Median household income	$84,392

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male	$69,987
Female	$39,507

Families below the poverty level

1.6%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average	1993	2003
Civilian Labor Force	7,437	11,563
Employed	7,136	11,200
Unemployed	301	363
Unemployment Rate	4.0%	3.1%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES	1993	2003
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment	520	1,848
Average Weekly Wage	$578	$875

Service Providing Industries
Average Employment	8,584	11,079
Average Weekly Wage	$551	$902

Total Private Industry
Average Employment	9,105	12,927
Average Weekly Wage	$552	$899

Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment	490	758
Average Weekly Wage	$506	$730

Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment	9,594	13,685
Average Weekly Wage	$550	$889
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

Schools students attend:	Bedford operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Manchester West	District: SAU 25
Career Technology Center(s):	Manchester School of Technology	Region: 15

Educational Facilities	Elementary	Middle/Junior High	High School	Private/Parochial
Number of Schools	3	1		2
Grade Levels	P K 1-5	6-8		K-8
Total Enrollment	1,931	907

NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003:

Total Facilities: 14

Total Capacity: 976

Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester

Nearest Colleges or Universities: St. Anselm; Southern NH University; Hesser; UNH-Manchester

LARGEST EMPLOYERS	PRODUCT/SERVICE	EMPLOYEES	ESTABLISHED
Wal-Mart	Department store	283
Bedford School District	Education	245
Macy's	Retail	199
Car Components Technology	Manufacturing	196
Sheraton Tara Wayfarer Inn	Hotel, restaurant, convention center	185
Kelly Services	Temporary employment agency	150
Harvey Construction	Construction	100
Continental P.E.T.	Research, manufacturing	100
Managed OPS.COM	Computer Technology	180

TRANSPORTATION
Road Access	Federal Routes	3
	State Routes	101
Nearest Interstate, Exit		I-293, Exit 4
	Distance	Local access
Railroad	Boston & Maine
Public Transportation	Yes
Nearest Airport		Manchester
Runway			9,250 feet
Lighted?	Yes	Navigational Aids?	Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport			Manchester
Distance			5 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH	5 miles
Portland, ME	100 miles
Boston, MA	54 miles
New York City, NY	245 miles
Montreal, Quebec	265 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK	(US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van	86.0%
Carpooled, car/truck/van	5.4%
Public transportation	0.3%
Walked	0.5%
Other Means	1.5%
Worked at home	6.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work	27.2 minutes

Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence	26%
Commuting to another NH community	62%
Commuting out-of-state	12%

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X	Municipal Parks
	YMCA/YWCA
	Boys Club/Girls Club
X	Golf Courses
	Swimming: Indoor Facility
X	Swimming: Outdoor Facility
	Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X	Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
	Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
	Bowling Facilities
X	Museums
X	Cinemas
	Performing Arts Facilities
	Tourists Attractions
	Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X	Youth Sports: Baseball
X	Youth Sports: Soccer
X	Youth Sports: Football
X	Youth Sports: Basketball
	Youth Sports: Hockey
	Campgrounds
	Fishing/Hunting
	Boating/Marinas
	Snowmobile Trails
	Bicycle Trails
	Cross Country Skiing
	Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area

	Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre; Pat's Peak

	Other:

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/22/04

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

Penny for your thoughts?
How about a chance to win a new iPod!