Bedford, Texas
Encyclopedia
Bedford is a suburb
an city located in northeast Tarrant County
, Texas
, in the "Mid-Cities
" area between Dallas and Fort Worth
. It is a suburb
of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census. Bedford is part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 10 square miles (25.9 km²), of which 0.10% is water.
Neighboring cities include Hurst
and Euless
, with which Bedford forms the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.
Prominent highways include State Highway 121 and State Highway 183, also known as Airport Freeway (a reference to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, so called because this was the main thoroughfare to the airport in the early years of its history).
of 2000, there were 47,152 people, 20,251 households, and 12,515 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,713.6 people per square mile (1,820.5/km²). There were 21,113 housing units at an average density of 2,110.6 per square mile (815.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.63% White, 3.65% African American, 0.51% Native American, 3.62% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 2.44% from other races
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.22% of the population.
There were 20,251 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,436, and the median income for a family was $71,017. Males had a median income of $45,938 versus $33,012 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,466. About 2.4% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
The petitioners gathered enough signatures and the election was held in March 2005. The rollback provision passed by a mere 10 votes 'for', with the highest turnout ever in a city election. The vote resulted in the rate being rolled back to the original rate (the prior year's rate) plus 8%, the "rollback rate", forcing budget cuts and layoffs.
The city council was forced to revise the budget immediately due to the lack of funds, as they had already begun spending based on the higher tax rate. The council chose to close several city services, including both of the city's swimming pools (one permanently), their recreational center and the city library, although they did manage to implement a large employee pay increase. Municipal library closings in the United States are exceptionally rare, and the news made national headlines and was especially noted by library associations. This was the first library in Texas to close since records had been kept, and the first library in the United States to close since 1989. A few months later, an anonymous donation of $300,000 allowed the reopening of the library, one pool, the rec center, and senior center. Another $20,000 was raised through a resident fundraising drive to help reopen the library. For a period of time after the reopenings, the budget concerns limited open hours of these services (e.g. the library only opened 4 days a week, but later resumed its 6 days-a-week schedule; it is now open seven days a week.)
City records show they had budget surpluses in the following years.
In May 2005 a regular city council election resulted in the unseating of two incumbent councilpersons who had been supporters of the (higher) tax rate. In response, the mayor, Rick Hurt, who had opposed the rollback, chose to resign.
.
St. Vincent's Cathedral School
, a private Anglican school, is in Bedford.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an city located in northeast Tarrant County
Tarrant County, Texas
Tarrant County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,809,034. Its county seat is Fort Worth. Tarrant County is the sixteenth most populous county in the United States and the third most populous in Texas. The county is named in honor...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in the "Mid-Cities
Mid-Cities
The Mid-Cities is the suburban region filling the thirty-mile span between Dallas and Fort Worth. These communities include the cities of Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville, HEB , NRH , Haltom City, Watauga, and Keller, along with multiple other smaller towns such...
" area between Dallas and Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. It is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census. Bedford is part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District is a K-12 public school district based in Bedford, Texas .The district serves the city of Bedford, most of the cities of Euless and Hurst, and small parts of North Richland Hills, Colleyville, Fort Worth, and Arlington...
.
Geography
Bedford is located at 32°50′48"N 97°8′23"W (32.846790, -97.139630).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 10 square miles (25.9 km²), of which 0.10% is water.
Neighboring cities include Hurst
Hurst, Texas
Hurst is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. Hurst is one of the Mid-Cities between Fort Worth and Dallas, but is a suburb of Fort Worth. The city was founded by William Letchworth Hurst...
and Euless
Euless, Texas
Euless, known as "Tree City USA," is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. Euless is part of the Mid-Cities between Dallas and Fort Worth...
, with which Bedford forms the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.
Prominent highways include State Highway 121 and State Highway 183, also known as Airport Freeway (a reference to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, so called because this was the main thoroughfare to the airport in the early years of its history).
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 47,152 people, 20,251 households, and 12,515 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,713.6 people per square mile (1,820.5/km²). There were 21,113 housing units at an average density of 2,110.6 per square mile (815.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.63% White, 3.65% African American, 0.51% Native American, 3.62% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 2.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.22% of the population.
There were 20,251 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.2% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,436, and the median income for a family was $71,017. Males had a median income of $45,938 versus $33,012 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $29,466. About 2.4% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Tax rollback of 2005
In 2004 the Bedford city council http://www.ci.bedford.tx.us/council/council_minutes/CC050906.pdf determined that after years of cost cutting, a property tax increase would be necessary. The council adopted a tax rate a few cents higher (actually a 29% increase) than that recommended by the city manager who had suggested splitting the rate increase over two years. The manager recognized that a rate which was greater than eight percent above the prior level would allow residents to use a provision of state law calling for a tax rollback election by petition, but splitting the increase would not.The petitioners gathered enough signatures and the election was held in March 2005. The rollback provision passed by a mere 10 votes 'for', with the highest turnout ever in a city election. The vote resulted in the rate being rolled back to the original rate (the prior year's rate) plus 8%, the "rollback rate", forcing budget cuts and layoffs.
The city council was forced to revise the budget immediately due to the lack of funds, as they had already begun spending based on the higher tax rate. The council chose to close several city services, including both of the city's swimming pools (one permanently), their recreational center and the city library, although they did manage to implement a large employee pay increase. Municipal library closings in the United States are exceptionally rare, and the news made national headlines and was especially noted by library associations. This was the first library in Texas to close since records had been kept, and the first library in the United States to close since 1989. A few months later, an anonymous donation of $300,000 allowed the reopening of the library, one pool, the rec center, and senior center. Another $20,000 was raised through a resident fundraising drive to help reopen the library. For a period of time after the reopenings, the budget concerns limited open hours of these services (e.g. the library only opened 4 days a week, but later resumed its 6 days-a-week schedule; it is now open seven days a week.)
City records show they had budget surpluses in the following years.
In May 2005 a regular city council election resulted in the unseating of two incumbent councilpersons who had been supporters of the (higher) tax rate. In response, the mayor, Rick Hurt, who had opposed the rollback, chose to resign.
Education
Bedford is within the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School DistrictHurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District
Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District is a K-12 public school district based in Bedford, Texas .The district serves the city of Bedford, most of the cities of Euless and Hurst, and small parts of North Richland Hills, Colleyville, Fort Worth, and Arlington...
.
St. Vincent's Cathedral School
St. Vincent's Cathedral School
St. Vincent's School is a private Anglican elementary and middle school in Bedford, Texas, United States. It is in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth of the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone....
, a private Anglican school, is in Bedford.