Bedford Magistrate is located in the twenty-Fourth judicial district of Virginia.

Around 1781, when Bedford County was split to make Campbell County; the village of Liberty became the county seat. Later becoming a town, Liberty was devastated in the late 1880's. As part of a revitalization the town was renamed Bedford City. With improved rail service, textile, furniture manufacturing and electrification many new buildings and subdivisions were built and the city created its own electric utility; all leading to a vast improvement in the economic prosperity of the city. The prosperity did not continue for very long, however Bedford continued as an agricultural and manufacturing center for many years and evolved into a typical American small town. The city of Bedford provides some fine recreational amenities such picnic tables, shelter with picnic areas, basketball courts, playgrounds, baseball fields, tennis and raquetball courts, a volleyball court, a nice sized lake, walking trails and a skateboard area at its Centertown, Greenwood, Liberty Lake, Orange Street and Reynolds parks.