The county was created in 1807 when citizens of Rutherford County were living south of both the Duck River and the Stones River. The county was later named after land owner and American Revolutionary War officer, Thomas Bedford. The couty was once the state’s largest and most populated county, that is until the formation of Coffee, Moore Lincoln and, Marshall counties. Therefore, the county today has a total area of 475 square miles with a population count of 49,713 residents.