Bedford New Hampshire Homes For Sale

Bedford is a town located in Southern New Hampshire in the Merrimack Valley region of the state. It is situated in the Eastern part of Hillsborough County and encompasses a total area of 33.1 square miles, just .3 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Bedford was home to 21,203 people.

Bedford was originally established in 1730 and was then known as Narragansett Number 5. It was later regranted, taking on the name Souhegan East, then regranted again, incorporated and named Bedford in 1750. The town?s name comes from the fourth duke of Bedford, Lord John Russell, who was a friend of the state?s governor Benning Wentworth. Bedford's population has grown immensely since its incorporation, starting with just 2,176 people and now boasting more than 21,000 residents.

Less than 1 percent of Bedford's total area is made up of water. The town includes Merrimack River, Sebbins Pond and Sebbin Brook. Its highest point is located at Holbrook Hill, where elevation reaches 845 feet above sea level. Over the years, Bedford has been called home by many notable people, including MLB player Chris Carpenter, comedian Seth Meyers, comedienne Sarah Silverman and U.S. Senator John E. Sununu.

Bedford is governed by a town council and town manager. It boasts a full-time police department, a municipal fire department and municipal emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Wal-Mart, Bedford School District, Macy's, Lowe's, Kelly Services, Harvey Construction, Graham Packaging, Target, Kohl's and Freshmarket. Children in the area attend school in the Bedford School District, which includes three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

For recreation and entertainment, Bedford residents can take advantage of the town's municipal parks, golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, museums, youth organizations, sports leagues and cross country skiing. The town is also near several ski resorts, including McIntyre and Pat's Peak.