Oxford, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oxford, Michigan
Village
Village of Oxford
Intersection of Washington and Burdick
Motto(s):  "Our past guides our vision for the future."
Location within Oakland County
Oxford, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Oxford, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Oakland
Township	Oxford
Settled	1823
Incorporated	1876
Government
• Type	Village council
Area
• Village	1.46 sq mi (3.78 km2)
• Land	1.26 sq mi (3.26 km2)
• Water	0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation	1,056 ft (322 m)
Population  (2010)
• Village	3,436
• Estimate  (2019)	3,556
• Density	2,824.46/sq mi (1,090.95/km2)
• Metro	4,296,250 (Metro Detroit)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48371
Area code(s)	248 and 810
FIPS code	26-62020
GNIS feature ID	0634267

Oxford is a village in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,436 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Oxford Township. Located about 30 miles (48 km) north of Detroit, it is a northern suburb of the Metro Detroit region.

Culture of Oxford

Centennial Park in Downtown Oxford

The Ox Bar and Grill next to Centennial Park

The village center consists of shops, restaurants, and taverns stretching for two blocks. Local happenings such as athletic events, downtown fairs, scarecrow competitions, school plays, the annual Steamback golf outing at Oxford Hills and concerts garner a large turnout throughout the year and are reported in the weekly newspaper of record since 1898, The Oxford Leader.

The area's public high school, Oxford High School, was newly expanded in 2003-2004 and now holds the title of the largest single-floor high school in the state of Michigan.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.47 square miles (3.81 km²), of which 1.25 square miles (3.24 km²) is land and 0.22 square miles (0.57 km²) is water.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,436 people, 1,335 households, and 889 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,748.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,061.3/km²). There were 1,468 housing units at an average density of 1,174.4 per square mile (453.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.1% White, 1.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.4% of the population.

There were 1,335 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the village was 38.5 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 10.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

History

During the early 19th century the northeast Oakland County area was largely avoided by the early settlers because it was believed to be nothing but impenetrable swamp land. The area was, at that time, nicknamed "The Barren Plains of Oxford." It was called this primarily because of a report made in 1812 by the U.S. Surveyor General that described the area as a poor, barren, sandy land, on which scarcely any vegetation could grow with the exception of some very small scrubby oaks. It was concluded in the surveyors' report that there was one acre out of one hundred that appeared to be eligible for cultivation. Any hope for crop production was thought to be preposterous. At this point, the area was deemed worthless, and discouragement of any hope for development by forthcoming settlers was inevitable.

West side of Washington Street

Purchase of public land in what is now called Oxford was in 1823 by a man named Elbridge G. Deming. Soon after, the first person to settle in Oxford was a wolf trapper named Avery Brown. He made use of the land and gave some credibility to its value. It wasn't long after that the first area post office was officially established in what was then known as Demingsburgh on May 2, 1834. Five years later, the name was officially changed to Oxford on January 15, 1839. Elbridge D. Deming was the first postmaster for Oxford, as the post office was located in his log home near the intersection of M-24 and Metamora Road. At that time, the mail was brought from Rochester once a week by a man named Mr. Hubbard who walked the distance to ensure, what was at that time, considered as prompt delivery of the mail. A few years later the delivery time was drastically cut by another man named Mr. Rose. The route was given to him as he would use his horse and cart instead of walking like his predecessor, thus expediting the delivery time tenfold.

Education

Entrance to Oxford High School

The village of Oxford is home to the school district of Oxford Community Schools. The district has nine schools which include:

• Two high schools (Oxford High School and Oxford Bridges High School, the latter an alternative school )
• One middle school (Oxford Middle School)
• Five elementary schools (Clear Lake, Daniel Axford, Lakeville, Leonard, and Oxford Elementary). All five elementary schools earned an A on their EducationYes! Report cards for the 2010–2011 school year.
• One adjudicated youth school (Crossroads for Youth)

The primary mascot for Oxford Schools is the Wildcat. Both the high school and the middle school have sports teams which are referred to as Oxford Wildcats. The Oxford Wildcat logo is visible around the town, prominently on one of the three water towers.

In 2009 and in 2010, Oxford Community Schools was featured as one of the "Best Schools In Michigan". Two of the elementary schools Leonard Elementary and Lakeville Elementary both won Michigan Blue Ribbon Awards, making all Oxford elementary schools Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools. In the 2010-2011 year, Oxford High School moved from the Flint Metro League to the Oakland Activities Association.

Notable people

• Brace Beemer, actor who played the Lone Ranger on radio from 1941 to 1953, retired and raised thoroughbred horses on his 300-acre ranch Paint Creek Acres, until his death in 1965
• George H. Durand, U.S. Representative, lived in Oxford
• Nathan Gerbe, NHL player was born in Oxford and currently plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League
• Eric Ghiaciuc, NFL player for the New England Patriots, was born in Oxford on May 28, 1981
• Mike Lantry, NFL player, (University of Michigan / Dallas Cowboys)
• Chris Gambol, NFL player, (University of Iowa / Indianapolis Colts)
• Dave Rayner NFL player, (Michigan State University / Indianapolis Colts)
• Jim Bates (1964), NFL coach, from University of Tennessee, longtime NFL defensive coach (Packers, Broncos, Dolphins and Bucs) as well as Miami's head coach for eight games in 2004
• Zach Line, NFL player, played for Southern Methodist University, retired from New Orleans Saints roster as a fullback, currently head coach of Oxford football varsity team
• William R. Reed, commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1961 to 1971, was born in Oxford
• Albert J. Campbell, United States Representative from Montana, lived in Oxford
• Ralph Gilles, an automotive designer currently serving as Head of Design for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
• Josh Norris, NHL player was born in Oxford and currently plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League

Images for kids

• 

  Washington Street, 1922

See also

In Spanish: Oxford (Míchigan) para niños