Oxford, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oxford, Connecticut
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| Town of Oxford | ||
New Haven Rowing Club house in Oxford
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| Motto(s):
"A Place to live, a town to love"
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 New Haven County and Connecticut Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | New Haven | |
| Region | Naugatuck Valley | |
| Incorporated | 1798 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 33.3 sq mi (86.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 32.7 sq mi (84.8 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2) | |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,706 | |
| • Density | 381.33/sq mi (147.23/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
06478
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| Area code(s) | 203/475 | |
| FIPS code | 09-58300 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213486 | |
Oxford is a town in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. It's part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. In 2020, about 12,706 people lived here.
Oxford is known as one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut. It has distinct areas like Oxford Center, Quaker Farms, and Riverside. The town is also part of the larger New York metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Oxford
In the 1700s, farmers used to guide their animals through Oxford. They were on their way to the port of New Haven. In the 1800s, many people left Oxford. They moved to cities to work in factories, where jobs paid better.
Oxford officially became a town in October 1798. It was named after the famous city of Oxford, in England.
Major Events in Oxford's History
Record Rainfall and Flooding in 2024
On August 18, 2024, Oxford experienced a huge storm. It brought the most rainfall ever recorded in Connecticut's history. Some areas of the town received over 16 inches of rain. This was more than the previous record set by Hurricane Diane in 1955. The heavy floods caused a lot of damage. Many homes, roads, and other buildings were destroyed. The Governor of Connecticut asked for federal help for the affected areas.
A National News Event in 2001
In November 2001, Oxford was in the news around the world. One of its residents, Ottilie Lundgren, was affected by the 2001 anthrax attacks. These attacks happened shortly after the September 11 attacks. Investigators believed her case was likely due to accidental cross-contamination of mail.
Geography of Oxford
Oxford covers about 86.3 square kilometers (33.3 square miles). Most of this area is land, with about 1.5 square kilometers (0.6 square miles) being water.
Oxford shares its borders with several other towns. These include Monroe, Newtown, Southbury, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, and Shelton.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,683 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,564 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,269 | −18.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,338 | 5.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,120 | −16.3% | |
| 1890 | 902 | −19.5% | |
| 1900 | 952 | 5.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,020 | 7.1% | |
| 1920 | 998 | −2.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,141 | 14.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,375 | 20.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,037 | 48.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,292 | 61.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,480 | 36.1% | |
| 1980 | 6,634 | 48.1% | |
| 1990 | 8,685 | 30.9% | |
| 2000 | 9,821 | 13.1% | |
| 2010 | 12,683 | 29.1% | |
| 2020 | 12,706 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Oxford had 12,683 people living in 4,504 households. The town's population grew by 29.1% between 2000 and 2010. This made Oxford the fastest-growing town in Connecticut during that time.
Most of the people in Oxford are White (95.5%). Other groups include African American (1.1%), Asian (1.5%), and Native American (0.1%). About 3.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (34.9%) have children under 18. The average household size is 2.81 people. The median age in Oxford is 43.4 years old.
Economy and Growth
A study by the University of Connecticut looked at development from 1985 to 2006. It showed that Oxford had the biggest increase in development by percentage, growing by 62%. The average household income in Oxford also grew by 20%. This makes Oxford the 26th wealthiest town in Connecticut.
Arts and Culture
The Oxford Public Library was first started in 1883. It has moved several times over the years. In 2018, it moved to a new building.
From 1966 to 1973, Oxford was home to Harmony Ranch. This was where a group called Pulsa worked. They were artists from Yale's School of Art and Architecture. Pulsa created cool sound and light art installations. Their art was meant to be experienced in the moment.
Places to Visit in Oxford
- Quaker Farms Historic District: A place with old buildings and history.
- Wooster Sawmill and Gristmill Site: An old mill site.
- Twitchell-Rowland Homestead Center and Museum: A historic home that is now a museum. The people of Oxford helped preserve this important site.
Parks and Recreation
Oxford has several great places for outdoor fun.
- Southford Falls State Park: Located in the northern part of town, it's popular for hiking and photography.
- Jackson Cove Beach: A nice spot to relax by the water.
- Kirks Pond: Found in the center of town.
The Larkin State Park Trail is 10.4 miles long. It was made in the 1940s from an old train track. This trail is an early example of turning old railways into paths for people to enjoy.
The Golf Club at Oxford Greens is a public golf course. It also has over 400 homes for adults over 55.
Education in Oxford
Oxford has a good school system with four schools:
- Quaker Farms School: For students in kindergarten through 2nd grade.
- Great Oak School: For students in 3rd through 5th grade.
- Oxford Middle School: For students in 6th through 8th grade.
- Oxford High School: For students in 9th through 12th grade.
Great Schools, a website that rates schools, gives Oxford Public Schools a rating of 9 out of 10, which is "Excellent." In 2008, many students met state standards in math, reading, and writing. Oxford High School is part of the Naugatuck Valley League (NVL) for sports.
Local Media
If you want to know what's happening in Oxford, you can read these local newspapers:
- Connecticut Post (from Bridgeport)
- Republican-American (from Waterbury)
- New Haven Register (from New Haven)
- Voices (a free newspaper for many towns)
Local TV news stations that cover Oxford include:
- WTNH (New Haven)
- WTIC-TV (Hartford)
- WVIT (Hartford)
- WFSB (Hartford)
Comcast of Western Connecticut is the local cable TV provider.
Transportation in Oxford
Connecticut Route 67 runs through Oxford. It connects Woodbridge to New Milford. Route 188 also goes through the Quaker Farms area. Other important roads are Route 34 along the Housatonic River and Route 42 in the eastern part of town.
The Waterbury-Oxford Airport is located in Oxford and Middlebury. It has the second-longest runway in Connecticut. This airport has become a very busy place for corporate planes in the Northeast. There are 252 aircraft based here, including many large business jets.
Notable People from Oxford
- John Lyman Chatfield (1826–1863), a colonel in the U.S. Civil War.
- Barbara Hershey (born 1948), a famous actress.
- Orson Hyde (1805–1878), an important leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement.
- Kurt Kepshire (born 1959), a former baseball pitcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals.
- Ottilie Pauline Wilke Lundgren (1907–2001), a person involved in a national news event.
- Andrew Leete Stone (1815–1892), a pastor, author, and Civil War chaplain.
- Elliot M. Sutton (1841–1908), a politician who was mayor of Burlington, Vermont.
See also
In Spanish: Oxford (Connecticut) para niños
