Local Government

Bedford, Indiana

The City of Bedford is home to around 14,000 people. With our excellent schools, outstanding shopping, cultural amenities and small town atmosphere, Bedford truly is a great place to call home. Bedford is known as the "Limestone Capital of the World", and rightly so. Bedford Limestone is world renowned, favored by architects because of its beauty and durability. Bedford Limestone is found in many of the principal buildings of the world, including the Pentagon, the Empire State Building and the National Cathedral. Bedford is about 70 miles equidistant from Indianapolis and Louisville, and 18 miles south of Bloomington, the home of Indiana University.

Bedford features a broad-based economy. Major employers are GM Powertrain, Indiana Limestone, and Stone City Products. In addition, Bedford is a major regional health services center, with two hospitals providing comprehensive medical services. Bedford's cultural and educational offerings have also kept pace with our growing economy, making Bedford a great place to call home!

Bedford is governed by a seven-member city council and a mayor. The city council is known as the common council. Five of the seven council members are elected from individual districts while two are elected at-large. The mayor and clerk-treasurer are elected in a citywide vote. Find out more by visiting their website. 

Mitchell, Indiana

Mitchell was built as a railroad town in the mid-19th century. At this location in Lawrence County, the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad, better known by the shorter name of "the Monon", was built as a north-south line from New Albany to Chicago, passing through the area which became Mitchell in 1853. In 1857, the east-west Ohio and Mississippi Railway (later part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad) was completed, as part of a link between Cincinnati and St. Louis. Mitchell is governed by a five-member city council and a mayor. John "JD" England is the current Mayor of the city of Mitchell, Indiana. He was elected to the position in November 2015, and is currently serving his second term. Find more about Mitchell by visiting their website.

Lawrence County, Indiana

The Lawrence County Council is the fiscal branch of the county government. It controls the county's spending and revenue collection. Members are elected from county districts and serve four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, annual budgets, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local income, property, excise and service taxes subject to state approval.

The county's executive body is comprised of a board of commissioners elected county-wide, serving staggered four-year terms. One commissioner, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Lawrence County is part of Indiana's Fourth Congressional District, Indiana Senate district 44, and Indiana House of Representatives Districts 62 and 65.The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. Each of these elected officers serves a four-year term. Find out more about Lawrence County by visiting this government website.