Bedford is an incorporated

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

Westchester County Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population o ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. The population was 17,309 at the 2020 census.US Census Bureau, 2020 Census Results, Bedford town, Westchester County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Bedford%20town,%20Westchester%20County,%20New%20York Bedford is located in the northeastern part of Westchester County and contains the three hamlets of Bedford Hills,

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

, and

Katonah Katonah is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) within the town of Bedford, Westchester County, in the U.S. state of New York. The Katonah CDP had a population of 1,679 at the 2010 census. History Katonah is named for Chief Katonah, an ...

History

The town of Bedford was founded on December 23, 1680, when 22

Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Catholic Church, Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become m ...

s from

Stamford, Connecticut Stamford () is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut, outside of Manhattan. It is Connecticut's second-most populous city, behind Bridgeport. With a population of 135,470, Stamford passed Hartford and New Haven in population as of the 2020 ...

, purchased a tract of land three miles square known as the "Hopp Ground" from Chief Katonah and several other Native Americans for coats, blankets, wampum and cloth. Bedford was made a part of

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

in 1697 when a patent fixed the boundaries as a six-mile square. Only when King

William III of England William III (William Henry; ; 4 November 16508 March 1702), also widely known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of County of Holland, Holland, County of Zeeland, Zeeland, Lordship of Utrecht, Utrec ...

issued a royal decree in 1700 settling a boundary dispute did Bedford become part of

. The town served as the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

after the Battle of White Plains, until Bedford was burned by the British in July 1779. British forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton burned the town leaving only one structure standing in the town. After the Revolution, Bedford was made one of two seats of county government, alternating with White Plains, until 1870. Westchester County's oldest government building is the Court House in Bedford village, which was built in 1787 and renovated in the 1960s. Stepping Stones - Historic Home of Bill & Lois Wilson (respective cofounders of

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international mutual aid fellowship of alcoholics dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually-inclined Twelve Step program. Following its Twelve Traditions, AA is non-professi ...

and Al-Anon Family Groups), Bedford Village Historic District,

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is a former estate near Katonah, New York United States, approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. Today it serves as a live music venue for symphonic, opera, chamber, American roots, an ...

, Palmer-Lewis Estate and The Woodpile are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 5.70%, is water. The town is bordered to the west by

Mount Kisco Mount Kisco is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The town of Mount Kisco is coterminous with the village. The population was 10,959 at the 2020 United States census over 10,877 at the 2010 census. It serves as a ...

and the town of New Castle, to the south by

Armonk Armonk is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of North Castle, located in Westchester County, New York, United States. The corporate headquarters of IBM are located in Armonk. Geography and climate As of the 2010 census, Ar ...

in the town of

North Castle North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has three hamlets: Armonk, Banksville, and North White Plains. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the tow ...

, to the north by

Lewisboro Lewisboro is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 12,411 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John Lewis, an early settler. Lewisboro is a suburb of New York City. History After purchasing land from ...

and to the east by

Pound Ridge Pound Ridge is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 5,104 at the 2010 census. The town is located toward the eastern end of the county, bordered to the north and east by the town of Lewisboro, by Stamford, C ...

. The

Cross River Reservoir The Cross River Reservoir is a reservoir (water), reservoir in the New York City water supply system located directly east and north of the northern Westchester County, New York, Hamlet of Katonah, New York, Katonah. Part of the system's Croton Wa ...

is situated on the northern portion of the town. The town is part of the

Croton River watershed ''This page is about the Croton River watershed, a hydrological feature. For the component of the New York City water supply system with a similar name, see'' Croton Watershed The Croton River watershed is the drainage basin of the Croton River ...

. The northern portion of the Byram Lake Reservoir is situated on the southern limits of the town. The Mianus River runs throughout the town of Bedford. The northernmost point of the river is also located in the town. The river originates in a series of small ponds in

and flows north into the town of Bedford. The river flows north along Greenwich Road and begins to turn just south of the Bedford Village Town Park before crossing Greenwich Road. The river reaches its northernmost point at the entrance of Middle Patent Road. The river then runs south and enters the

Mianus River Gorge The Mianus River Gorge is a nature preserve in Bedford, New York jointly owned by The Nature Conservancy and Mianus River Gorge, Inc.. The first were purchased by the Preserve, with help from the Conservancy, their first land preservation deal ...

Preserve which is located in the town of Bedford. The river flows south through the entirety of the Mianus River Gorge Preserve and eventually leaves the town and enters

Landmarks

In the hamlet of Katonah are two national historic landmarks, which are "Stepping Stones - Historic Home of Bill & Lois Wilson" (home of the Alcoholics Anonymous co-founders; "Bill W.", who died in 1971 and "Lois W.", who died in 1988 and "John Jay Homestead", home of one of the United States Founding Fathers and first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Some minor landmarks are centered on Bedford Green in the Town of Bedford's Hamlet of "Bedford", a small patch of green space at the center of the Bedford Village Historic District (along Route 22), including the former court house, the oldest government building in Westchester County and now a museum. There is a small graveyard dating back to the founding of the town; the old one-room stone schoolhouse; and a few colonial-era houses, still lived in, which are kept painted white with black or green shutters. Bedford Oak, October 2022

The Bedford Free Library is located in Bedford on the village green. Along with the branches in Bedford Hills and Katonah, the Bedford Free Library is part of the

Westchester Library System Westchester Library System (WLS) is the library system for the residents of Westchester County, New York. It was established in 1958. The system has 38 public libraries across the county and its headquarters are located in the town of Greenburgh, ...

. Along Route 22, at Hook Road, there is a large 500-plus-year-old white oak known as the Bedford Oak. The

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women a women's prison in the town of Bedford, New York, is the largest women's prison in New York state. The prison previously opened under the name Westfield State Farm in 1901. It lies just outside t ...

is located in the town.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 18,133 people, 5,731 households and 4,395 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 6,020 housing units at an average density of . The racial/ethnic makeup of the town was 87.5%

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 7.12%

black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

, 1.98%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

and 1.36% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 7.57% of the population. 0.09% ethnic Native American. .08% ethnic Pacific Islander and 1.88% from other ethnicities. There were 5,731 households, out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.3% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64 and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $100,053 and the median income for a family was $118,820. Males had a median income of $88,561 versus $47,468 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $53,046. About 2.4% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those of age 65 or over.

Local media

The ''Record-Review'', a weekly newspaper, reports on local issues in Bedford and Pound Ridge. The newspaper began publishing in 1995.

Communities and locations in Bedford

* Bedford Corners – A neighborhood bordering the village of Mount Kisco in the southern part of town. * Bedford Hills – A hamlet in the western part of the town, just south of Katonah. The historic

Richard H. Mandel House The Richard H. Mandel House is a historic home located at Bedford Hills, Westchester County, New York. It was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone and built between 1933 and 1935 in the International style. It is a "Z"-shaped building site ...

was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. *

– A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town, commonly known as Bedford Village. The Bedford Village Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. *

– A hamlet at the northern town line.

Notable people who were born or resided in Bedford

* Joseph Abboud, fashion designer * Bea Arthur, actress, comedian and singer * Billy Baldwin, actor * Carter Bays, television producer, writer and showrunner * Roger Bennett, Men in Blazers *

Gertrude Berg Gertrude Berg (Born Tillie Edelstein; October 3, 1899 – September 14, 1966) was an American actress, screenwriter, and producer. A pioneer of classic radio, she was one of the first women to create, write, produce, and star in a long-running hi ...

, actress and writer * Chris Burdick, politician *

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

, singer *

Chevy Chase Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He became a key cast member in the first season of ''Saturday Night Live'', where his recurring ''Weekend Update'' segment became a staple of the ...

, comedian, writer, and television and film actor; owns a home in Bedford *

Glenn Close Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress. Throughout her career spanning over four decades, Close has garnered numerous accolades, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards ...

, actress *

Henry Davis (baseball) Henry Davis (born September 21, 1999) is an American professional baseball catcher and right fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the University of Louisville. Davis was the first over ...

, baseball player *

Michael Douglas Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and film producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AF ...

and Catherine Zeta-Jones, actor Captain William Dutcher, Revolutionary War Patriot and Intelligence Operative for the New York militia and Continental Army * Brendan Fraser, actor * Richard Gere, actor * J. B. Gunn, physicist, lived on Guard Hill Road in Bedford, but with a Mt. Kisco mailing address *

Lasse Hallström Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström (; born 2 June 1946) is a Swedish film director. He first became known for directing almost all the music videos by the pop group ABBA, and subsequently became a feature film director. He was nominated for an Acade ...

, director *

Florence Jaffray Harriman Florence Jaffray "Daisy" Harriman (July 21, 1870 – August 31, 1967) was an American socialite, suffragist, social reformer, organizer, and diplomat. "She led one of the suffrage parades down Fifth Avenue, worked on campaigns on child labor ...

, socialite, suffragist, and diplomat. The Harriman family estate in Bedford Corners has traditionally had a Mt. Kisco mailing address * Robert A. Harris, film preservationist and producer * Jim Henson, puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor, inventor, composer, and screenwriter *

Felicity Huffman Felicity Kendall Huffman (born December 9, 1962) is an American actress. Huffman began her acting career in theatre, and in the 1990s also had many supporting roles in film and television. She starred as Dana Whitaker in the comedy-drama '' Spor ...

, actress * Carl Icahn, American

business magnate A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...

Connor Ives Conner Ives (born 1996) is an American fashion designer. He was raised in Bedford, New York by a dentist mother and pastor and psychotherapist father. He is a graduate of Central St. Martin's. While still at CSM he dressed model Adwoa Aboah for ...

, fashion designer * John Jay, diplomat, Founding Father of the United States *

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. (born January 17, 1954) is an American environmental lawyer and author known for promoting anti-vaccine propaganda and conspiracy theories. Kennedy is a son of U.S. senator Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of President ...

, activist * Michael J. Knowles, political commentator, podcaster and author *

Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren, ( ; ; born October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, best known for the Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise. He has become well known for his co ...

, fashion designer * Blake Lively, actress * Joseph L. Mankiewicz, director, screenwriter, producer * Kate Mara, actress * Rooney Mara, actress * E. G. Marshall, actor * Collin McLoughlin, singer and music producer * Lena Olin, actress * Jennifer O'Neill, actress and author *

Chazz Palminteri Calogero Lorenzo "Chazz" Palminteri (born May 15, 1952)
Chazzpalminteri.net. Retrieved on November 19, 2013. is an American ...

, actor and writer * Nelson Peltz, billionaire financier * Nicola Peltz, actress * Lily Rabe, actress * Phil Ramone, music producer *

Claudio Reyna Claudio Reyna (born July 20, 1973) is an American former professional soccer player and current executive. He most recently served as sporting director of Austin FC. A former midfielder, he spent most of his professional career in Europe, play ...

, former professional soccer player *

Giovanni Reyna Giovanni Alejandro Reyna (born November 13, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for club Borussia Dortmund and the United States national team. He is considered one of the best young ...

, professional soccer player * Ryan Reynolds, actor * Paul Shaffer, musician * Alex Shoumatoff, writer who profiled Bedford in 1999 for Vanity Fair, and in his 1978 book, ''Westchester.'' *

Ted Sorel Theodore Eliopoulos (November 14, 1936 – November 30, 2010), known as Ted Sorel, was an American actor whose numerous credits included '' Guiding Light'', '' Law & Order'' and '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. He also appeared in film productio ...

, actor who resided in the hamlet of Katonah * George Soros, billionaire investor, philanthropist and hedge fund manager * Michael Steinhardt, billionaire investor, founder of Taglit Birthright * Martha Stewart, television show host * Rob Thomas, lead singer of Matchbox Twenty * Donald Trump, former President of the United States * Melania Trump, former First Lady of the United States * Loudon Wainwright III, singer, songwriter, actor * Bruce Willis, actor * Yasmeen Ghauri, former supermodel *

Trevor Zegras Trevor Zegras ( ; born March 20, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ducks, ninth overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Zegras played college ho ...

, professional hockey player

Notes

External links

Town of Bedford official websiteBedford Historical SocietyBedford Town: Census 2000 Profile
from Westchester County website
''All About Bedford''
(''Archived''): Connecting Our Community - ''the most local of news sites on the Town of Bedford, its people and its schools'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford (Town), New York 1680 establishments in the Province of New York Populated places established in 1680 Towns in the New York metropolitan area Towns in Westchester County, New York Towns in New York (state)