The electoral district was created in 1978 as Bedford-Musquodoboit Valley from the redistribution of Halifax Cobequid.

[2] The district is notable for the electoral loss of Liberal leader Francis MacKenzie, in the 2006 election.

MacKenzie attempted to win the seat in 2006 for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.

On September 30, 2008 the name of the Bedford district was officially changed to Bedford-Birch Cove.

With the 2012 electoral boundary changes, the area of Kearney Lake and Birch Cove moved to Clayton Park West and name of the district officially changed back to Bedford.