BEDFORD CO., Va. – Bedford County earned the No. 2 spot in the 2026 Digital Counties Survey, a national ranking issued by the Center for Digital Government. Officials credit the rise to departments working together and aligning technology decisions with broader community goals.
Not everyone was aware of the shift. Bedford resident Kayla Hill said the recognition caught her off guard.
“I did not know about that,” Hill said. “It’s interesting to see that it’s increasing. I figured this is a place that didn’t really use technology or have any kind of ground in it.”
Four upgrades fueled the climb
County staff point to four key changes that drove the ranking: aligning technology projects with the Board of Supervisors’ strategic priorities, strengthening cybersecurity, streamlining digital services, and investing in new systems…