Ask about limestone and Bedford, and you'll hear about the Empire State Building or the Pentagon before you hear about a job posting. That's a gap worth closing. The companies quarrying and cutting Indiana limestone around Bedford and Oolitic are still operating, and still hiring, right now.

Working in or near the limestone industry and thinking about Bedford? Call or text (812) 360-3863 and I will walk you through the local market.

Who's Still Quarrying Limestone Around Bedford?

Indiana Limestone Company, headquartered in Oolitic just north of Bedford, was formed in 1926 through the merger of 24 local quarrying companies. Canadian-based Polycor, the world's largest dimension stone quarrying operation, acquired it in 2018, and according to WBIW's April 2026 reporting, the company says nothing has changed operationally since the acquisition. It is still quarrying and finishing stone out of Lawrence County.

Bybee Stone Company in nearby Ellettsville is the other major name in the region, known for architectural and monumental stonework that goes well beyond raw block. Both companies are still active employers, not historical footnotes.

What Kind of Jobs Does the Limestone Industry Offer Today?

Current job postings give a real picture of what these companies are hiring for right now, not decades ago:

•Bybee Stone's current openings include draftsman, machine operator/toolmaker, and millworker roles, with full-time employees eligible for employer-paid medical coverage, disability and life insurance, paid time off, and a matching 401(k).

•Indiana Limestone Company's Bedford and Oolitic locations hire for roles including sawyers, loader operators, and production supervisors.

•These are skilled trade positions. Bybee describes its work as something employees build a career and a craft around, not just a paycheck.

Why This Still Matters for Bedford's Economy

Bedford's employment base runs on three long-standing anchors, not one: GM's Bedford Casting Operations, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, and the limestone industry. Two of those get talked about far more often than the third, even though limestone is the one that put Bedford on the map in the first place, supplying stone for the Empire State Building and hundreds of other landmark buildings nationally, plus the residential limestone homes still standing around Bedford today.

A regional economy with three separate, decades-old industries behind it is a different kind of stability than a town that depends on one employer. That's worth knowing whether you're relocating for a job in the industry or just trying to understand what makes Bedford tick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the limestone industry still active around Bedford, Indiana?

Yes. Indiana Limestone Company (owned by Polycor since 2018) and Bybee Stone Company are both still quarrying, cutting, and hiring in Lawrence County today.

What jobs does the limestone industry offer in Bedford?

Current postings include draftsman, machine operator/toolmaker, millworker, sawyer, loader operator, and production supervisor roles.

What are Bedford's main employers?

Three long-standing anchors: GM's Bedford Casting Operations, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, and the local limestone industry.

If work in Bedford's limestone industry, at GM, or at Crane has you looking at this market, let's talk about what fits your budget. Call or text (812) 360-3863, or visit LesaMillerRealEstate.com.

Lesa Miller, Broker | REALTOR®

Lesa Miller Real Estate | RE/MAX Acclaimed Properties

(812) 360-3863 | [email protected]

LesaMillerRealEstate.com