BEDFORD, a borough and the county seat of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., on the Raystown branch of the Juniata river, 38m. S. by W. of Altoona. It is on the Lincoln highway and the Pennsylvania railroad. The population in 193o was 2,953. It lies in a beautiful valley at an altitude of I,o6oft., and within a few miles are numerous mineral springs. Bedford Springs, Im. S., is a fashionable summer resort. Bedford has bottling works, and manufactures peanut products, garments, handles, telephone and telegraph pins, cabinets and other wooden products.
A settlement was made here about 175o by an Indian trader named Ray, and the place was originally known as Raystown. Ft. Bedford, an important frontier post for many years, was built in July, 1751. The town was laid out in 1766 and incorporated in Washington came here in 1794 to review the army sent to quell the Whiskey Insurrection. Some interesting i8th century houses are still standing.