Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Bedford County, VA

Welcome to Bedford County.

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Bedford County has a population of 79.8 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 776.3 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 21%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $2.4 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Bedford County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Bedford County comprises Lynchburg, VA metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Forest.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Amherst County, Botetourt County, Campbell County, Franklin County, Pittsylvania County, Roanoke County, Rockbridge County, and Lynchburg city.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
31.21%65.87%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
28.98%69.82%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
30.75%68.16%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
27.28%71.29%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
22.97%72.1%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
25.03%73.14%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%21%
Government
Enterprises
11%17%
Private Industries89%22%
Agriculture1%-52%
Mining<1%0%
Utilities<1%50%
Construction5%2%
Manufacturing13%19%
– Durable6%-7%
– Nondurable7%51%
Trade16%16%
– Wholesale8%-6%
– Retail8%45%
Transportation2%22%
Information1%-42%
Finance & Insurance5%2%
Real Estate23%40%
Professional &
Business Services
9%31%
Educational Services<1%-47%
Healthcare &
Social Services
7%12%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
1%80%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%38%
Other Services24%28%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers1455
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
522
📺 Electronics & Appliance312
🛒 Grocery Stores2568
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores529
⚕️ Health & Personal Care938
⛽ Gasoline Stations2253
👕 Clothing Stores939
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry421
🏸 Sporting Goods845
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores1553
💐 Florists
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops316
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns
🍽️ Full-service restaurants4466
🍔 Limited-service restaurants3859
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers7477
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation521
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%121%$305,400 N/A
Top 20%51%$188,600 More than $250,000
Next highest 20%23%$87,100 $113,800
Middle 20%14%$53,900 $68,300
Second lowest 20%8%$31,100 $39,100
Bottom 20%3%$11,200 $20,500
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries59%$72,500
Self-Employment9%$16,600
Investment Income124%$19,400
Social Security47%$20,400
Supplemental Security3%$15,400
Public AssistanceLess than 1%Below $10,000
Retirement33%$36,400
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%2%6%5%
$25K
– $49K
1%3%6%9%
$50K
– $99K
1%8%13%11%
$100K
– $199K
<1%9%12%6%
$200K
& more
<1%2%4%2%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$39,100 $37,500
African-AmericanBelow $10,000Below $10,000
Hispanic
Asian
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$24,200
Highschool & GED$35,300 $38,400
Some College to
Associate’s
$58,500 $36,900
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$80,700
Graduate Degree$67,400 $74,000
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$63,800 $59,000
STEM2
Gray-Collar3
Pink-Collar4$22,900
Sales5$43,700 $23,700
Blue-Collar6$55,500
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves
Drought+$
Earthquake+$
Hail+$
Heat Waves
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm+
Landslide++$
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding+$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+$
Winter Weather+$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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