Bedford County Established

Bedford County established its first courthouse in 1810 in Middle Tennessee. Today, after building its fifth courthouse 1935 (due to various disasters causing the destruction of the past four courthouses), Bedford can be found amongst the farmlands and rolling hills after leaving I-24 and driving south on route 231. While driving down route 231 from I-24, the first town in Bedford is Bell Buckle.

 Historic Bell Buckle with a population of 391was settled in the early 1800s. A bustling town that grew up after the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad came through the area in 1852. A railroad depot was built in 1853 and the town was incorporated in 1856. Bell Buckle had its period of greatest prosperity after about 1870 when it became the major stockyard between Nashville and Chattanooga and growing to a population of more than 1,000. 

Bell Buckle has become an important center for artisans, crafters, quilters, antiques, fabulous food, and music such as blue grass, country, and jazz and is noted for many preserved and restored Victorian homes, shops, and churches located in and around downtown. The town hosts two yearly festivals: the RC Cola & Moon Pie festival and the Webb School Arts & Crafts Fair which brings in record-breaking crowds..

Bedford also boasts the small town of Wartrace, found on Highway 64 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places--A unique little town that seems to be a step back into yesteryear with intersting shops and restaurants to entertain and feed visitors.

The city of Shelbyville has the largest population in Bedford County. Shelbyville is the county seat of Bedford County with approximately 17,000 residents. It has a wonderful array of shops, restaurants, parks, hotels, and the airport is located in Shelbyville. It is the Tennessee Walking Horse Capital of the World hosting the celebration which takes place every August to crown the latest winner of the internationally famous horse. Shelbyville is also known as Pencil City when in recognition for its exceptional contribution in the field, Governor Buford Ellington, in the 1950s, named Shelbyville "The Pencil City" due in a large part to the leadership exhibited at Musgrave Pencil Company,Sanford, and National Pen who contribute to the Pencil City accolade.

Another town in Bedford is Normandy which was established in 1852 as a railroad town on the old Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad Line later the Nashville, Chattanooga, & St. Louis Railroad. As of the census of 2001, were 141 people living in Normandy.

The current Mayor of Bedford County is Eugene Ray. He was elected and took office on Sept. 1, 2006. He is considered the highest elected official of the county. The term is four years and his role is also as chief financial official and he serves as chairperson of the Law Enforcement Committee.

Mayor Ray believes that government should be run efficient and use cost saving ideas. The Bedford County website quotes the mayor, “I have watched the enormous grown in Bedford County over the past several years and realize that some of the issues that confront all of us are lack of a strong efficient fiscal government, continuous industrial, retail and commercial recruiting and to continue to support education for the citizens.”

One cannot help but be proud of Shelbyville with its friendly small-town atmosphere and seeing the growth that has taken place with the building of a new hospital Heritage Medical and Bedford County also can be thrilled with the three high schools, four middle schools and six elementary schools as well as the new magnet school to encourage students to reach for the stars. So even though Shelbyville has small town flavor and reminds us of a simpler time, it has all the conveniences of shops, restaurants, and events without the traffic and smog.