Bedford considering reverting to town

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City of Bedford and Bedford County officials are negotiating the possibility of changing the city’s status to town status.
If it happens, Bedford City would become the state’s third locality since 1988 to revert to a town, said Bill Hoy, the county’s public information officer.

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Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: April 8, 2008

City of Bedford and Bedford County officials are negotiating the possibility of changing the city’s status to town status.

If it happens, Bedford City would become the state’s third locality since 1988 to revert to a town, said Bill Hoy, the county’s public information officer.

40 years ago, Bedford City was a town, until town council voted to become “a city of the second class” with population less than 50,000.

The city, with just under 7,000 residents, has been an independent jurisdiction since and is one of several small cities in Virginia that share the services of the sheriff, judges, and court systems.

“I would hope that a transition would give us the opportunity to streamline operations on both sides,” said Bedford County Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Steve Arrington.

“If the transition is successful, it should allow us to concentrate on long-range planning for schools and economic development in the city and the surrounding area.”