BEDFORD HEIGHTS - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

BEDFORD HEIGHTS formed as a village in 1951, when it withdrew from Bedford Twp., and incorporated as a city on 4 January 1961. It is a 7-sq.-mi. residential-industrial community approx. 14 miles southeast of Cleveland and bounded by BEDFORD and MAPLE HEIGHTS on the west, SOLON on the east, OAKWOOD on the south, and WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS on the north. Its population was 12,131 in 1990 and 11,375 in 2000. The township was named after Bedford, CT. The early history of Bedford Hts. corresponds with that of Bedford, which had been a largely agricultural area with many dairy farms. The village grew industrially partly because of its proximity to the industrial area southeast of Cleveland and partly because of its location at the crossroads of interstate highways I-271 and I-480. In 1958 voters approved a municipal charter creating a mayor-council form of government. In 1966 Mrs. Lucille J. (Donald) Reed was elected one of the first women mayors in Cuyahoga County; a park and recreation area were named in her honor. The Bedford Reservation, part of the CLEVELAND METROPARKS, is located in part in Bedford Hts. The city's schools are part of the Bedford School System.

See also SUBURBS.

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