by Steve Farco
I fell in love with Bedford when my family moved here in 1978. My father had just opened his business,Mason-Dallas, and wanted to be midway between Fort Worth and Dallas. Bedford was the perfect fit.
When choosing a community, my parents prioritized the quality of the school system. HEB ISD — Hurst, Euless, Bedford (not the grocery store!) — was a top-performing district nearly 50 years ago, and that mattered deeply to them.
Moving from Huntington, Long Island, we experienced a dramatic cultural shift. With our Italian heritage, we felt right at home in New York. Our neighborhood there was friendly, but what we discovered in Bedford — and across the HEB area — was something different: a true sense of extended family.
As a child and later as a teenager, I loved riding my BMX bike with my friends Dale, Scott, Paul and Tim. We felt safe wherever we rode. Since then, I’ve watched Bedford grow from a town of 4,500 residents to a thriving community of more than 50,000.
One of the pivotal changes came in 1979 when American Airlines relocated its corporate headquarters to the area. That move spurred economic and population growth, ushering in planned developments, new businesses and expanded parks.
I’ve long admired how Bedford benefited from thoughtful planning. The open spaces I remember from 1978 gradually filled in — not haphazardly, but with quality developments and, importantly, more parks. Bedford Boys Ranch and the Bedford Trails Linear Park are shining examples.
In later years, my children rode their bikes with friends in the same kind of safe trails at Bedford Boys Ranch that I enjoyed growing up.
As job opportunities expanded at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines, and the many companies that support them, our circle of friends became increasingly diverse. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is truly a melting pot, and Bedford reflects that diversity beautifully.
People continue to move here for the same reasons my family once did: strong schools, lower tax rates, cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life.
I was a strong supporter of the recent bond issue, funding the construction of new high schools on the current sites of L.D. Bell High School in Hurst and Trinity High School in Euless. Investing in education has always been one of this community’s greatest strengths.
Growing up here broadened our worldview. Learning about different cultures and connecting with people from around the world whetted our appetite to travel — both across America and internationally.
After graduating from Texas A&M University (yes, I still attend Aggie games and host a tailgate at least once a season!), I lived elsewhere for a few years. Despite economic uncertainty at the time, we chose to return to Bedford and purchase our first home.
Working in the family business — Mason-Dallas, a manufacturer’s representative firm specializing in acoustic and vibration isolation products — we could have lived anywhere within a 30-minute radius. Without hesitation, we chose Bedford.
The strong sense of community, engaged parents, supportive neighborhoods and enthusiastic booster clubs — not just for athletics, but for academics and the performing arts — made the decision easy.
“Home town America in the middle of the metroplex.” That’s what I call Bedford. It offers the warmth of a small town with immediate access to metropolitan opportunities. It is a safe, welcoming bedroom community supported by outstanding police, fire and emergency services.
That hometown spirit is also reflected in the way Hurst, Euless and Bedford work together. Through the HEB Chamber of Commerce and the school district, the three cities collaborate to foster regional growth. They understand that a rising tide lifts all ships.
Bedford Estates
Total population: 3,592
Female: 41% | Male: 59%
Age
0-9: 16%
10-19: 5%
20-29: 13%
30-39: 13%
40-49: 10%
50-59: 12%
60-69: 16%
70-79: 12%
80 and older: 2%
Education
No degree: 3%
High school: 14%
Some college: 29%
Bachelor’s degree: 36%
Post-graduate: 17%
Race
White: 65% | Black: 2% | Hispanic: 18% | Asian: 11% | Two or more: 2%
Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:
Spring Garden Elementary School
Meadow Creek Elementary School
L.D. Bell High School
District Alternative Education Program
KEYS High School
Central Junior High School
Bedford Junior High School
Harwood Junior High School
Stonegate Elementary SchoolWilshire Elementary School
Bell Manor Elementary School
Shady Brook Elementary School
Bedford Heights Elementary School
My appreciation for accessible, engaged leadership led me to run for office, and 12 years ago, I was elected to the Bedford City Council. I also had the privilege of serving as chair of the HEB Chamber of Commerce.
Although most of our company’s customers are outside our immediate community, we actively support the chamber because we believe in helping our area thrive. It’s that “rising tide” again.
On a lighter note, I love popcorn — truly, a lot. I bought so much popcorn from the local shop, What’s Poppin’ Texas, that they named a flavor after me: the Farco Blend, a mix of cheesy ranch and spicy buffalo. Last fall, I took the next step and invested in opening a second location in Waxahachie.
I love this community’s feel, its welcoming personality, and the volunteer spirit of our residents and businesses. My bed is in Bedford, and I can’t imagine calling anywhere else home.
Steve Farco is president of Mason-Dallas, a member of the Bedford City Council and sits on the board of directors of the HEB Chamber of Commerce.
This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org/2026/03/14/where-i-live-midway-point-between-fort-worth-dallas-becomes-home/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://fortworthreport.org”>Fort Worth Report</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-favicon.png?resize=150%2C150&quality=80&ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>
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