The area that is now Bedford and northeastern Ohio was originally inhabited by Native Americans as early as 11,000 years ago. By 1662 the area was declared a part of the Connecticut Colony through royal charter. Much of the colony's land, which extended to the Pacific Ocean, was ceded to the early U.S. government, but a few million acres west of the border of Pennsylvania became what was known as the Western Reserve. Bedford began as part of the
Connecticut Western Reserve in 1797. A large portion of the Western Reserve was sold to the Connecticut Land Company in 1795. Surveying of the land began shortly after and was spearheaded by
Moses Cleaveland.
Seth Pease and
Amzi Atwater surveyed Lot 46, which eventually would become Bedford Township. It was surveyed as township 6, range 11. The first settlers to the area started to arrive in 1813. Early settlers to the region were drawn to Tinkers Creek and the hardwood forests. Waterfalls on
Tinkers Creek were ideal for mills, which would power local businesses. The first mill in Bedford Township was built by Adams and Starr in 1815. It was situated at the mouth of Tinkers Creek. The first official settler to the area was Elijah Nobles. He settled here in 1810 in the western part of the township on one of the 100 lots surveyed. Bedford Township was officially founded in 1823 and Township 6 was renamed Bedford Township by
Daniel Benedict, originally a native of
Bedford, New York. Bedford became an incorporated village on March 15, 1837. In 1837, the population of Bedford Township had grown to be 475 people and at that time, the residents petitioned to become the Village of Bedford, which sits at the geographic center of Bedford Township. At this time,
Hezekiah Dunham, who was a prominent and wealthy local business man, and his wife, Clarissa Dunham, donated three acres of land for the village to be able to build a public square as well as other public and religious buildings. The deed for the land stated the property was to be "used as a public square forever." In addition to the falls on
Tinkers Creek and the abundant forests, transportation helped Bedford to grow. Before the roads were even built, Bedford was situated along the main route between
Pittsburgh and
Cleveland and was an important stagecoach stop. Today this is
State Route 14, which runs through town from the northwest to southeast. In 1927, the Bedford Municipal Hospital was built. The original hospital still stands, though it has been heavily added onto since it was first constructed. It is now operated as a branch of
University Hospitals of Cleveland. The village of
Maple Heights left Bedford Township in 1915 and in 1932 Maple Heights achieved city status. In 1932, the Village of Bedford adopted a city manager government and charger and became the City of Bedford. • The
Marble & Shattuck Chair Company operated in Bedford from 1885 to 1894, when it moved to Cleveland. • The
B.L. Marble Chair Co. made wooden chairs from 1894. • Founded in 1903, the
Franklin Oil and Gas Company made engine oil and similar products. • The
Best Foundry Co., founded in 1905 manufactured metal castings, especially stoves. • The
McMyler-Interstate Company, established in 1910, was the largest manufacturer in Bedford. It made the largest crane in the world in 1919. • Founded in 1922, the
Walker China Company made marbles before manufacturing china. • The
Harper Aircraft Manufacturing Company built monoplanes beginning in 1930. • In 1938, the
Lewis Welding and Engineering Corporation opened and was an important supplier for the military during World War II. The first car dealerships opened on Broadway Avenue in the early 1950s and formed the Bedford Automile Dealers Association in 1956, formally creating the first
Bedford Automile. The Bedford Automile Dealers Association was created to not only give the car dealerships in the area a unified voice for working with the city but to also create a group who would actively help to improve the city. On February 20, 1951, the northeast corner of Bedford Township broke off from the City of Bedford and incorporated to become the village of
Bedford Heights, Ohio. Bedford Heights achieved city status in 1961. On February 20, 2023, an
explosion occurred at a I. Schumann & Co. copper alloy plant in Bedford, causing a large fire and catastrophic damage to the facility and numerous cars in a
lot across the street. According to authorities, 14 people were hospitalized for burn injuries, including a 46 year old factory worker, who later succumbed to them after being
admitted in
critical condition. ==Geography==