A Short History of Bedford, Texas

Local historians regard W. W. Bobo as the founding father of Bedford. Arriving in Texas in 1870, Bobo established a store that he initially intended as a resting place and shopping place for travelers, but which he expanded as more families relocated nearby. The influx of new residents by 1877 prompted Bobo to petition the federal government to open a post office which he operated out of the front section of his residence. The official name given to the post office was Bedford, after Bobo's native Bedford County, Tennessee - also the home of several other area settlers. Besides operating a store and serving as postmaster, Bobo also established a grist mill and gin that catered to the needs of area farmers.

Another early and important landmark in the Bedford community was the cemetery, which was set on a hillside, near the New Hope Church of Christ. The oldest marked grave is that of W.W. Bobo's five-year-old daughter who died in 1871. The cemetery may have been in use even before that time, according to Michael Patterson, a local historian who has studied the historical development of Bedford and surrounding areas. Referring to a manuscript that was written by the son of Milton Moore, Patterson notes that twelve families arrived in the Bedford area before 1861, the year the Moore family's settlement, and that of those early pioneers possibly are buried in unmarked graves in Bedford Cemetery. Prominent Tarrant County settlers interred in the cemetery include Milton Moore and William L. Hurst, for whom the nearby city of Hurst is named.

Agriculture remained the foundation of the local economy during the 1860's and 1870's but limited acreage of tillable land and the poor transportation network impeded large-scale agricultural production, so most families were confined principally to subsistence farming. The presence of Bobo's gin revealed the growing of cotton in the area but other crops, such as corn, were also cultivated. Only when local roads were improved and rail service extended into the region did area farmers begin to cultivate cash crops on a profitable basis.

One of the most important events in Bedford's history occurred in 1882 when Bedford College was officially established. This private institution was created and funded by local residents and was organized to provide opportunities for more-advanced learning. Although the word "college" today denotes post-high school education a "college" at that time was roughly equivalent to high school-level studies. Geometry, Latin, Algebra and other subjects not taught in the public schools were offered at the college. Land for the college was provided by Milton Moore, an act showing further evidence of his extended commitment to education in the community. He conveyed a four-acre parcel of land on the southern boundary of the Moore Survey on which the Old Bedford School was subsequently built.

The construction of tracks for the St. Louis & Southwestern (Cotton Belt) Railroad in 1888 signaled the beginning of a new era in the local history. Though the railroad chose to bypass Bedford, choosing instead to extend its line through nearby Grapevine, the entire region's economy was boosted, since rail provided virtually unlimited new markets for farmers agricultural products. The 1903 decision of Burlington and Great Northern (Rock Island) Railroad to also bypass Bedford further relegated the community to a tertiary position within the county, and Arlington assumed greater importance in the area. Still another blow came in 1905 when a highway linking Dallas and Fort Worth was built through the area, extending through Arlington and Grand Prairie, but not Bedford. This succession of occurrences did little to stimulate growth in Bedford, and in 1909 the local post office was closed. Bedford's population dwindled to an estimated 50 residents. Despite such setbacks, residents maintained a strong sense of optimism and pride in the community and in 1914 taxpaying citizens of the Bedford Common School district voted overwhelmingly to issue bonds to finance the construction of a new school on the site of the old Bedford College. When completed the following year, the 2-story brick school was an imposing physical landmark in the community and remained so for over half a century.

In subsequent years, Bedford retained its dispersed rural character and most of its residents were truck farmers who grew a variety of fruits and vegetables. The Bedford School remained the focal point of the community.

The era of profound change in Bedford occurred during and immediately following World War II. Military bases and defense contractors which established themselves in Tarrant COunty during the mid-20th century triggered explosive growth in Bedford and the surrounding areas which cam to be called the "Mid-Cities." The town of Bedford was incorporated in 1953, at which time the population stood at 475. Seven years later, in 1960, the population skyrocketed to over 2,500. The 1980 census counted over 23,000 citizens in Bedford. (Note: The 2000 census counted over 47,000 citizens.)

New growth revived Bedford, but profoundly changed the community's physical appearance and rural character. Only a few examples survive of Bedford's historic architecture, and one of these is the Old Bedford School.