Oxford, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oxford, Maryland
Town
Stores on North Morris Street
Flag Seal
Location of Oxford, Maryland
Oxford, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Oxford, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Talbot
Founded	1683 (officially)
Area
• Total	0.84 sq mi (2.17 km2)
• Land	0.56 sq mi (1.45 km2)
• Water	0.28 sq mi (0.72 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	611
• Density	1,089.13/sq mi (420.29/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21654
Area code(s)	410
FIPS code	24-59450
GNIS feature ID	0590961

Oxford is a charming waterfront town located in Talbot County, Maryland, in the United States. It was once a very important port during the colonial period. In 2010, about 651 people lived in Oxford.

History of Oxford: A Journey Through Time

Oxford is one of the oldest towns in Maryland. While it officially began in 1683, the town's roots go back even further. Between 1666 and 1668, William Stephens Jr. set aside about 30 acres of land. He named this new settlement Oxford. By 1669, one of the first houses was built for an innkeeper named Francis Armstrong.

Early Days as a Major Port

Oxford first appeared on a map in 1670. In 1694, Oxford and a new town called Annapolis became the only official ports for all of Maryland. This made Oxford a very busy place! Before the American Revolution, Oxford was a big international shipping center. It was surrounded by large tobacco farms, which brought a lot of trade.

Arriving at Oxford by ferry crossing the Tred Avon River.

Famous People from Oxford's Past

Many important people lived in Oxford during its early years:

• Robert Morris Sr. was an agent for a shipping company. He helped the town grow a lot.
• His son, Robert Morris Jr., was known as "the financier of the Revolution." He helped manage money during the war.
• Jeremiah Banning was a brave sea captain and a statesman.
• The Reverend Thomas Bacon was a clergyman who wrote the first collection of Maryland's laws.
• Matthew Tilghman was called the "patriarch of Maryland." He was very important in the state's early history.
• Colonel Tench Tilghman was an aide to George Washington. He carried the news of General Cornwallis's surrender to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

You can find Tench Tilghman's grave in the Oxford cemetery. A tall stone monument, about 10 feet high, marks his resting place. This monument is the tallest in the cemetery. The cemetery was even used in the beginning of the 1988 movie, Clara's Heart.

Changes After the Revolution

The American Revolution brought an end to Oxford's busy trade. Shipping slowed down, and farmers started growing wheat instead of tobacco.

After the Civil War, Oxford saw a new beginning. A railroad was built in 1871, and new ways of canning and packing food helped. This allowed Oxford to send its oysters from the Chesapeake Bay to markets across the country. However, this boom did not last. In the early 1900s, the oyster beds ran out. Packing houses closed, and businesses struggled. The railway and steamships eventually disappeared. Oxford became a quiet town, mostly home to watermen who fished the Tred Avon River.

The Oxford–Bellevue Ferry: A Long Tradition

Oxford is home to the oldest privately run ferry service in the United States. The Oxford–Bellevue Ferry started in 1683 and is still running today! The ferry connects Oxford with Bellevue, Maryland. It crosses the Tred Avon River, a trip of about three-quarters of a mile, taking 7-10 minutes.

Oxford Today: A Charming Destination

Today, Oxford is still a town connected to the water. However, it's also becoming popular for tourism and fun activities. Part of the movie Failure to Launch was filmed here.

The town is protected by the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company. This team has fire engines, a truck, and even a boat. They help all of Talbot County and respond to over 100 calls each year.

Several historic places in Oxford are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include Barnaby House, the log canoes Billie P. Hall and S. C. Dobson, and the Oxford Historic District.

Geography of Oxford: Where is it Located?

Oxford is located at 38°41'12" North and 76°10'15" West. It sits on the south bank of the Tred Avon River. This river flows into the larger Choptank River.

Size and Waterways

The town covers about 0.83 square miles (2.17 square kilometers). About 0.54 square miles (1.45 square kilometers) is land, and 0.29 square miles (0.72 square kilometers) is water. This includes Town Creek, which almost divides the town in half. Town Creek offers a safe harbor for boats and local shipbuilders.

Oxford's Climate

Oxford has a climate with hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Transportation: Getting Around Oxford

MD 333 leaving Oxford

Most people travel to and from Oxford by road. The main road is Maryland Route 333, which connects Oxford to Easton. As mentioned, the Oxford–Bellevue Ferry also links the town to Bellevue.

Demographics: Who Lives in Oxford?

Most of the town of Oxford sits on a peninsula.

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 651 people living in Oxford. These people lived in 338 households, and 202 of these were families. The town had about 1205.6 people per square mile. There were 574 housing units in total.

Most of the people in Oxford were White (91.9%). About 5.4% were African American, and 0.6% were Asian. About 2.2% of residents were from two or more races. A small number, 0.5%, were Hispanic or Latino.

About 9.8% of households had children under 18. Most households (53.3%) were married couples. About 40.2% were non-family households. Many people (14.2%) lived alone and were 65 or older. The average household had 1.93 people, and the average family had 2.38 people.

The average age in Oxford was 61.1 years old. Only 8.1% of residents were under 18. About 39.2% of residents were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.8%) and females (50.2%).

Notable People from Oxford

• Waters Edward Turpin (1910–1968) was a novelist and professor who was born in Oxford.
• James Turrell (born 1943) is a visual artist who lives in Oxford part-time.

Images for kids

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  Stores on North Morris Street

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  Flag of Oxford, Maryland

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  Seal of Oxford, Maryland

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  Location of Oxford, Maryland

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  Arriving at Oxford by ferry crossing the Tred Avon River.

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  MD 333 leaving Oxford

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  Most of the town of Oxford sits on a peninsula.

See also

In Spanish: Oxford (Maryland) para niños