Oxford, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oxford, Michigan
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Village
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| Village of Oxford | |
Intersection of Washington and Burdick
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| Motto(s):
"Our past guides our vision for the future."
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Location within Oakland County
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 Oxford, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Oxford, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| 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
(2020)
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| • Village | 3,492 |
| • Density | 2,773.63/sq mi (1,071.31/km2) |
| • Metro | 4,296,250 (Metro Detroit) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
48371
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| Area code(s) | 248 and 810 |
| FIPS code | 26-62020 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0634267 |
Oxford is a village located in Oakland County, Michigan, in the United States. It is a northern suburb of the Metro Detroit area, about 30 miles (48 km) north of Detroit. In 2010, the village had a population of 3,436 people. Oxford is part of Oxford Township.
Contents
History of Oxford
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In the early 1800s, many early settlers avoided the northeast Oakland County area. They thought it was mostly swamp land that was hard to get through. People even called it "The Barren Plains of Oxford." This name came from a report in 1812 by the U.S. Surveyor General. The report said the land was poor and sandy, with only small, scrubby oak trees growing there. It seemed like only a tiny part of the land could be used for farming. Because of this, people thought the area was worthless and wouldn't develop much.
However, in 1823, a man named Elbridge G. Deming bought some public land in what is now Oxford. Soon after, Avery Brown, a wolf trapper, became the first person to settle there. He used the land and showed that it had some value. The first local post office was set up in this area, then called Demingsburgh, on May 2, 1834. Five years later, on January 15, 1839, the name was officially changed to Oxford. Elbridge D. Deming was Oxford's first postmaster, and the post office was in his log home.
On November 30, 2021, a serious event occurred at Oxford High School. This event resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to seven others, including a teacher. A 15-year-old student was arrested in connection with the incident.
Geography of Oxford
The village of Oxford covers a total area of 1.46 square miles (3.78 square kilometers). Most of this area, 1.26 square miles (3.26 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.20 square miles (0.52 square kilometers) is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 851 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,128 | 32.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,172 | 3.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,191 | 1.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,668 | 40.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,052 | 23.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,144 | 4.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,305 | 7.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,357 | 2.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,536 | 7.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,746 | 8.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,929 | 6.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,540 | 20.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,436 | −2.9% | |
| 2020 | 3,492 | 1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
How Many People Live Here?
According to the 2010 census, Oxford had 3,436 residents living in 1,335 households. The village had about 2,748.8 people per square mile (1,061.3 per square kilometer). Most residents, about 95.1%, were White. About 4.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 33.0% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.49 people, and the average family had 3.09 people. The median age in the village was 38.5 years. About 25% of residents were under 18, and 10.2% were 65 or older.
Arts and Culture in Oxford
The center of Oxford village has many shops, restaurants, and taverns. These stretch for two blocks and offer a variety of places to visit. The community often gathers for local events. These include sports games, downtown fairs, and fun scarecrow competitions. School plays and concerts also bring many people together.
The Oxford Leader, a weekly newspaper that started in 1898, reports on all these local happenings. The area's public high school, Oxford High School, was made bigger in 2003–2004 to welcome more students.
Education in Oxford
The village of Oxford is home to the Oxford Community Schools district. This district has nine schools for students of all ages.
- Two high schools: Oxford High School and Oxford Bridges High School (which is an alternative school for different learning styles).
- One middle school: Oxford Middle School.
- Five elementary schools: Clear Lake, Daniel Axford, Lakeville, Leonard, and Oxford Elementary. All five elementary schools received high marks on their EducationYes! Report cards for the 2010–2011 school year.
- One school for adjudicated youth: Crossroads for Youth.
The main mascot for Oxford Schools is the Wildcat. Both the high school and middle school have sports teams called the Oxford Wildcats. You can see the Oxford Wildcat logo around town, especially on one of the three water towers.
In 2009 and 2010, Oxford Community Schools was named one of the "Best Schools In Michigan." Leonard Elementary and Lakeville Elementary both won Michigan Blue Ribbon Awards. This means all Oxford elementary schools are now Michigan Blue Ribbon Schools. In the 2010–2011 school year, Oxford High School joined the Oakland Activities Association.
Notable People from Oxford
Many interesting people have connections to Oxford:
- Brace Beemer: An actor famous for playing the Lone Ranger on the radio. He lived in Oxford after retiring.
- George H. Durand: A U.S. Representative who lived in Oxford.
- Nathan Gerbe: A former NHL hockey player who was born in Oxford.
- Eric Ghiaciuc: An NFL football player for the New England Patriots, born in Oxford.
- Mike Lantry: An NFL football player who played for the University of Michigan and the Dallas Cowboys.
- Chris Gambol: An NFL football player who played for the University of Iowa and the Indianapolis Colts.
- Dave Rayner: An NFL football player who played for Michigan State University and the Indianapolis Colts.
- Jim Bates: A longtime NFL defensive coach for teams like the Packers and Dolphins.
- Zach Line: An NFL football player who played for the New Orleans Saints. He is now the head coach for the Oxford football varsity team.
- William R. Reed: Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1961 to 1971, born in Oxford.
- Albert J. Campbell: A United States Representative from Montana who lived in Oxford.
- Ralph Gilles: A well-known automotive designer for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
- Josh Norris: An NHL hockey player born in Oxford, currently playing for the Ottawa Senators.
See also
In Spanish: Oxford (Míchigan) para niños
