Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford: City in Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States of America

About

Oxford is a city located in the county of Amite in the U.S. state of Mississippi. Its population at the 2010 census was 18,916 and a population density of 444 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 28,635 inhabitants.

The city was created 187 years ago in 1836.

Oxford is a city in Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. It has a population of about 25,000 people. Oxford is best known as the home of the University of Mississippi, commonly known as "Ole Miss".

History

Oxford was founded in 1837 and was named after the university city of Oxford in England. The area was originally covered by forests and was inhabited by the Chickasaw Indians. The town grew up around the University of Mississippi, which was established in 1848.

During the American Civil War, Oxford saw skirmishes between the Confederate and Union forces. The Lyceum, the oldest building at Ole Miss, still has bullet holes from these skirmishes. After the war, Oxford slowly recovered and continued to grow.

The University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi, or "Ole Miss", is the flagship university for the state. It has a long history and beautiful campus. Notable alumni include Nobel Prize winning author William Faulkner, NFL quarterback Eli Manning, and US Senator Thad Cochran.

The campus includes historic landmarks like the Lyceum, Rowan Oak (Faulkner's home), and the Grove. The Grove is the center of game day activities and tailgating before football games. On game days, the small town becomes a sea of red and blue as tens of thousands of fans flood the campus.

The Square

Downtown Oxford centers around the historic town square. The Square is lined with restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries. Local favorites include Bottletree Bakery, Square Books, and City Grocery Restaurant. The courthouse sits in the center of the Square.

There are many preserved examples of antebellum architecture around the Square, such as St. Peter's Church and Memory House. The historic Lafayette County Courthouse stands out with its distinctive clocktower.

Culture

Oxford has a thriving arts and music scene. The Oxford Film Festival attracts filmmakers from around the world each year. Oxford is close to Memphis and often attracts touring musicians and artists.

Literary greats like William Faulkner, Larry Brown, Barry Hannah, and Joanna Cassidy all called Oxford home at some point. Oxford takes pride in its literary history.

So in summary, Oxford is a historic college town with great food, culture, and SEC football. The beautiful campus and Square make it a popular weekend getaway destination and place to retire.

Oxford locator map
Location of Oxford on Mississippi map.

Quick Facts about Oxford

Population : 28,635 (2020)
Country : United States of America
State : Mississippi (United States)
County : Amite County
Postal code : 38655
Phone Area Codes : 662
Area : 42.6 km2
Altitude : 505 feet / 154 meters
Capital city : Oxford is capital of Lafayette County
Establishment : January 01, 1837 (187 years ago)
Time Zone : America/Chicago
Local time : 18:29:49 (9th November 2024)
Density : 672 Pop. per km² as of 2020
Population growth : 33.94% (2010-2020)
Olemisslyceum image
Olemisslyceum
Olemisslyceum image

Geography

Oxford is located at 31°16'5"N 90°53'53"W (31.2679500, -90.8981600).

Oxford map

Demographics

The population of Oxford increased by 33.94% in 10 years.

Year Population % Change Method
2010 18,916 - census
2011 22,735 16.8% estimation process
2012 23,310 2.47% estimation process
2013 23,922 2.56% estimation process
2014 24,762 3.39% estimation process
2015 25,532 3.02% estimation process
2016 26,371 3.18% estimation process
2017 27,058 2.54% estimation process
2018 27,685 2.26% estimation process
2019 28,122 1.55% estimation process
2020 28,635 1.79% estimation process

Oxford zip code is 38655. County name: Lafayette, County fips: 28071

People born in Oxford (37)

People born in Oxford, including model and writer Naomi Sims, trumpeter Phil Cohran, Arkansas politician Lewis P. Featherstone, .

List

  • Lorenzen Wright (American basketball player) he was born in 04/11/1975
  • R. L. Burnside (American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist) he was born in 23/11/1926
  • Larry Brown (Novelist, short story writer, essayist, memoirist) he was born in 09/07/1951
  • Arthur Guyton (American physiologist) he was born in 08/09/1919
  • Jason Parker (American basketball player) he was born in 18/12/1981
  • Angela McGlowan (American television personality) she was born in 03/03/1970
  • Armegis Spearman (American football player) he was born in 05/04/1978
  • Bill Hawks (American politician) he was born in 22/11/1944
  • Billy Clay (American football player) he was born in 26/04/1944
  • Charles Bowen Howry (American politician) he was born in 14/05/1844
  • Culley Rikard (Baseball player and coach) he was born in 09/05/1914
  • Daniel Isom Sultan (United States general) he was born in 09/12/1885
  • Henry Lamar (American football coach, boxing coach and executive) he was born in 26/01/1906
  • Hugh Freeze (American football coach, offensive coordinator of the University of Tennessee) he was born in 27/09/1969
  • Jack Latvala (American politician) he was born in 03/11/1951
  • Jim Urbanek (American football player (1945-2009)) he was born in 08/04/1945
  • Joseph Whitehead (American businessman) he was born in 01/01/1864
  • Kimberly Morgan (American model) she was born in 22/02/1983

Schools in Oxford

College & universities near Oxford, MS

Code Name City ZIP
176354 Southwest Mississippi Community College Summit (MS) 39666-0000

Stations (6)

Amtrak & bus stations near Oxford, MS

Code Name Address Type
MCB McComb 114 Northeast Railroad Ave. RAIL
BRH Brookhaven East Monticello St. and South Railroad Ave. RAIL
HAZ Hazlehurst station North Ragsdale Ave and East Conway St. RAIL
HMD Hammond 404 N.E. Railroad Ave. RAIL
BTR Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1253 Florida St. BUS

Post offices near Oxford

Post Office Name City ZIP
Gloster Post Office Gloster (MS) 39638

Other cities in Amite County

Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Amite County , MS.

City Name Population Title
Mount Olive 896 City in Covington County, Mississippi, United States of America
Gloster 852 City in Amite County, Mississippi, United States of America
Liberty 634 City in Mississippi, United States
Enterprise 454 Town in Clarke County, Mississippi, United States
Crosby 270 City in Mississippi, United States of America

Distance to Other Cities

Oxford distances to largest Mississippi cities