Bedford County is located in the foothills of the pristine Southern Allegheny Mountains within a 500-mile radius of more than 40 percent of the nation's population, less than three hours from Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The county has an exceptional transportation network with more Interstate Highway miles than any other county in Central Pennsylvania.

County residents and businesses are served by the new $24 million Bedford County Airport, designed to handle all twin engine or tri-engine jets up to 100,000 lb. wheel load, on its 5,005 foot runway. http://www.bunair.biz
Commuter flights from the Pittsburgh International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport are available at the Altoona-Blair County Airport and the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, both an easy 30 minute drive from Bedford.

Population

Bedford County: 49,927
Population distribution: 49 per square mile

Labor Force

Bedford County: 23,100

Surrounding Counties: 220,000
Total Region: 245,000

Non-agricultural Percentage of Employment by Industry Group Construction 9% Manufacturing 16% Transportation and public utilities 10% Wholesale trade 3% Retail trade 16% Finance, insurance and real estate 2% Services 27% Government 17% Public School Districts Bedford Area Claysburg-Kimmel Chestnut Ridge Everett Area Northern Bedford Tussey Mountain Bedford County Technical Center Regional Colleges and Universities Allegany College, Bedford County Center -- Everett Penn State University, Altoona -- Altoona Penn State University -- State College California University of Pennsylvania -- California Juniata College -- Huntingdon Shippensburg University -- Shippensburg University of Pittsburgh -- Johnstown Indiana University of Pennsylvania --Indiana Frostburg University -- Frostburg, Md. Allegany College of Maryland -- Cumberland, Md.

Climate

During the summer, daytime highs generally reach into the lower 80s with nighttime lows in the pleasantly cool upper 50s. There are only an average of 16 warm humid days in the summer, when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher. During the winter season, daytime highs average in the upper 30s with nighttime lows near 20. The average growing season is 154 days.

Health Care Bedford County residents are served by a high quality hospital, receiving national recognition in various forums. Recently merged with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Bedford Memorial is a 59-bed acute care general hospital with units for medical, surgical, obstetrical, intensive care, coronary care, telemetry, and palliative care services and offers a variety of diagnostic capabilities. The emergency facilities include 24-hour, in house coverage by emergency medicine physicians, a licensed heliport for emergency transport, and trauma center affiliation. A number of other high-quality health care centers are located within 35 miles of Bedford, including Altoona General, Altoona Mercy, Conemaugh Valley and Lee Hospitals.