Bedford is a city in Taylor County, Iowa, United States.

[4] Lake of Three Fires State Park is located several miles northeast of Bedford.

The community is believed to have gotten its name from Thomas J. Bedford, who was the first west bound Pony Express rider to deliver the mail on its final leg from Benicia, California to Oakland, California on April 23, 1861.

[5] The community was called "Grove" when a post office was established on June 30, 1855.

The town was formally laid out on lots sold on July 4, 1853 (which at the time identified the community as "Bedforde").

Bedford was served by a branch of the Burlington Northern Railroad (formerly Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad or "CB&Q") that ran from Creston, Iowa to St. Joseph, Missouri This line was removed along with almost all the branches in southwestern Iowa and northwestern Missouri in the late 1970s to early 1980s[8] Bedford is also served by Iowa Highway 148 which runs north and south into Missouri, and Iowa Highway 2 runs east and west and connects most of the county seats in the southern tier of Iowa counties.

There is an excellent series of farm to market road system, mostly paved, as well.

There were 701 housing units at an average density of 436.7 per square mile (168.6/km2).

There were 730 housing units at an average density of 456.3 per square mile (176.2/km2).

33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.