More historic than 7% of U.S. towns · #982 of 993 in Ohio. What drives it
Most of Bedford Heights was built recently: 4% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1968. Below: maps from 1903 on and the census since 1960.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Bedford Heights is more historic than 7% of U.S. towns, #982 of 993 in Ohio. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Bedford Heights’ overall grade.
Ohio towns list about as much on the Register as the country (a typical Ohio town has 2.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Bedford Heights’ 0.0 sits below most of its state (23% of Ohio towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikipedia alone; no second source gives 1951.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to C−. The pre-1940 share (±2.5 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Bedford Heights’ past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Bedford Heights. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1903Cleveland sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Bedford Heights.
Bedford Heights was founded on February 20, 1951. It was originally part of Bedford Township and the City of Bedford, Ohio. Robert E. Willeford and his wife, Georgina Willeford, worked diligently to help form the village of Bedford Heights. Robert E. Willeford went on to become the first mayor of Bedford Heights.
The Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust Memorial at Zion Memorial Park was dedicated on May 28, 1961. The monument was recognized as a US national memorial in 2022.
In 1951, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1960 counted 5,275 people here.
How does Bedford Heights rank for history?
Bedford Heights is more historic than 7% of U.S. towns, #982 of 993 in Ohio. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Bedford Heights?
4% of Bedford Heights’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.5 points), against a typical 15% for an Ohio town; the median home was built in 1968.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
