The Forest area is one of the fastest growing areas in Bedford, in both the business and residential categories. Protected by the Peaks of Otter and Blue Ridge mountains which add a picturesque backdrop to the Forest area, it is an attractive place to both live and work. In the Forest and Goode areas, farms are always close by —old farms and new farms. The cultivated land rolls up and over hills, around thick groves, and down into shallow valleys. Here you will find new housing developments, new shopping centers, and new business parks. It ’s easy to see that the area is growing, without looking at statistics. You can’t help but notice the activity and vitality in Forest.

Forest’s population more than doubled from 1980 to 1990, and by the new millennium, 8,006 people were living there —a 43 percent growth rate in 10 years.

Although Forest is growing and has some of the advantages of urban living, the town still has a rural quality. As you might expect in a town called Forest, the landscape has plenty of trees.

There are pockets of protected land and lush golf courses. Many of Forest’s houses have acreage that make this a great place to raise a family or have outdoor hobbies. All of these characteristics help preserve the agrarian roots of Bedford County. Although it has several centuries of history, Forest looks new, and is a youthful community. The median age in Forest is 37 and half the residents are between the ages of 20 and 54. Families predominate, and about half have children under age 18. One quarter of the households have single individuals.

What may not be obvious without further exploration and a little research are the town ’s economic contributions to the area and the highly educated population. Most of the county ’s largest companies are in Forest. Ninety-four percent of the citizens are high school graduates, and nearly 40 percent have a bachelor ’s degree or a graduate school degree.

Eleven companies located in Forest employ 50 or more people. These companies offer such products or services as mobile radios, conveyor belts, direct mail marketing, or generic pharmaceuticals. Two business parks are attracting business/industries and employing people. All the Forest businesses help give the area a solid, diversified economic base.

Forest is about ten minutes from Lynchburg, one hour from Roanoke, and two hours from Richmond. Big-city activities are within easy reach, but as in smaller towns, Forest citizens are heavily involved in their community ’s activities —through service clubs, the library, Jefferson Forest High School, and the Forest Youth Athletic Association, which owns recreation fields in town. Outdoor recreation is an important component of life in Forest. For example, golfers have three in-town 18-hole courses to play; horse riders can participate in an annual point-to-point steeplechase race on a local farm. Smith Mountain Lake is around a 45 minute trip for fishing, boating, or other water sports.

As you become acquainted with Forest, you discover that one of its earliest inhabitants was Thomas Jefferson, whose summer retreat, Poplar Forest, is still standing and undergoing restoration. Jefferson no doubt would be amazed at the progress the town has made two centuries later. He ’d be proud that his summer retreat was being preserved as a historical landmark, and he would probably smile; content that this section of Virginia remains a beautiful community, and is now peopled by young, educated, ac tive citizens who are committed to blending heritage with tomorrow’s promise and blending nature with modern living.

A new shopping center in Forest, Forest Square, houses a pizza parlor, furniture store, Post Office, insurance agent, two banks, and the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Satellite office. Future plans are for a new grocery store and restaurants. It is located on Route 221 and is part of the recent growth spurt in the area.

The Development of Commerce in Forest and New London

Strong commercial expansion in Forest began in the late 1980’s with the development of the Graves Mill Shopping Center and was soon followed by the addition of the Lake Vista Corporate Centre and other private commercial businesses. Begun originally as a private industrial park, Lake Vista Corporate Centre was purchased by the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) in 1993. The corporate center proved to be a visionary investment for the IDA. The original development sold out in seven years to individual companies and developers. Some parcels were sold to large manufacturers or service businesses, while others were developed into lease space for smaller companies. Lake Vista Corporate Centre is home to a diverse mix of manufacturing and service businesses in a variety of sizes. The centre has proved to be one of Forest ’s economic engines with current combined employment exceeding 1000 people. The development not only contributes to area employment but also produces annual revenue for Bedford County of approximately $300,000.00. Strong business focus and commercial growth throughout the area cause Forest to continue to thrive creating an increased need for schools and infrastructure.

Plans are currently underway for a new type of planned development adjoining the Lake Vista Corporate Centre to be known as Thomas Jefferson ’s Crossing. This new planned development is one of the first of its kind allowing for mixed use, incorporating residential, commercial and multi-family growth while permitting the preservation of open space. It is anticipated that this type of growth will become increasingly prevalent throughout Bedford County.

The success of Lake Vista Corporate Centre and the great demand for property in the east have given rise to the development of the New London Business and Technology Center, located on US Route 460 near Route 811. This upscale 500 acre park offers complete infrastructure including high speed broadband (both underground and wireless), walking trails, wooded lots, street lights and attractive landscaping. In addition, Bedford County has created its first Technology Zone, which will allow for certain tax abatements for qualifying companies. Several business locations are in the planning and development phase and there are many others available on this large tract of land. For further information, contact the Bedford County Office of Economic Development at 540-587-5670.