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Bedford, NH
Community Contact Town of Bedford
Karen White, Planning Director
24 North Amherst Road
Bedford, NH 03110
Telephone (603) 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
Labor Market Area Manchester NH Metro-NECTA
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 Hillsborough County District 18
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 2004 Census estimate for Bedford was 20,480 residents, which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns. Population Density, 2004: 625.3 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:
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Manager & Council
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2005 $19,973,623
Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $42,387,937
Zoning Ordinance 1953/03
Master Plan 2000
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected: Town Council; Library Trustees
Appointed: Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Historic District
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; 224
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
Recycling Program None
Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service: Business Yes
Residential Yes
PROPERTY TAXES
2004 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $15.74
2004 Equalization Ratio 96.6
2004 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $15.17
2004 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings 83.5%
Commercial Land and Buildings 15.9%
Other Property including Utilities 0.6%
HOUSING
2003 Total Housing Units 7,245
2003 Single-Family Units 6,017
Building Permits Issued 132
2003 Multi-Family Units 1,227
Building Permits Issued 0
2003 Manufactured Housing Units 0
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2004 20,480 398,574
2000 18,492 382,384
1990 12,513 336,549
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 1994 2004
Annual Average
Civilian labor force 7,696 10,984
Employed 7,450 10,674
Unemployed 246 310
Unemployment rate 3.2% 2.8%
EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1994 2004
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 607 1,811
Average Weekly Wage $571 $931
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 8,772 11,347
Average Weekly Wage $550 $899
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 9,379 13,158
Average Weekly Wage $552 $903
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 502 767
Average Weekly Wage $525 $738
Total, Private Industry plus Government
Average Employment 9,881 13,925
Average Weekly Wage $550 $894
EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE
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-12
Total Enrollment 1,931 932 n/a
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2004: Total Facilities: 15 Total Capacity: 1,001
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
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 select cities:
Manchester, NH 5 miles
Portland, Maine 100 miles
Boston, Mass. 54 miles
New York City, NY 245 miles
Montreal, Quebec 265 miles
COMMUTING TO WORK (Census 2000)
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%
COPYRIGHT 2005 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 05/25/05
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