Initially incorporated in 1729, Bedford started as a small farming community of fifty households. Residents can explore the town’s history in the Bedford collection at the Bedford Public Library and in person at important local historic sites. One of the best well-loved pieces of this history is the Bedford Flag. Currently on display at the Library, this is oldest known flag in the United States and may have been carried at the Battle of Concord.

With an enrollment of 2,487 the Bedford Public Schools are recognized throughout Massachusetts for their high teaching standards and excellent extra-curricular activities. In addition to lower and upper elementary schools, a middle school, and high school, Bedford supports a regional technical high school for students interested in pursuing vocational education. The town is also the location of the Middlesex Community College, which offers local adults extensive continuing education opportunities.

The town celebrates its strong community and business connections on Bedford Day, the third Saturday in September. And there’s a lot to celebrate: there are some forty community groups in town and the Chamber of Commerce has 150 members.