Oxford, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oxford, New York
Town
U.S. Post Office, Oxford
Oxford, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Chenango
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	60.41 sq mi (156.47 km2)
• Land	60.06 sq mi (155.56 km2)
• Water	0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
Elevation	1,499 ft (457 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	3,901
• Estimate  (2016)	3,811
• Density	63.45/sq mi (24.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	13830
Area code(s)	607
FIPS code	36-017-55959
GNIS feature ID	0979335

Oxford is a town located in Chenango County, New York, United States. It's like a big area that includes a smaller village also called Oxford. You can find Oxford in the south-central part of Chenango County, a bit southwest of the city of Norwich. In 2010, about 3,901 people lived here. The town got its name from an early settler who came from Oxford, Massachusetts.

History of Oxford

Early Settlers and Land

Long ago, this area was home to the Oneida and Tuscarora people. The first European settlers arrived in Oxford in the spring of 1789. Benjamin Hovey, from Oxford, Massachusetts, bought a large piece of land here.

Elijah Blackman, his son Jabez, and their adopted daughter Polly Knapp built a simple log cabin. They settled on an island in the Chenango River. When Benjamin Hovey arrived to claim his land, he gave the Blackman family a new piece of land. This was a thank you for the improvements they had made. Elijah Blackman lived there until he passed away around 1825.

A detailed map of Oxford from 1888, showing important places.

Town Formation and Changes

The town of Oxford was officially created in 1793. It was formed from parts of the towns of Bainbridge and Union. Over time, Oxford's size changed. Some of its land was used to create other towns. For example, the town of Guilford was formed in 1813. Later, the town of Coventry was created in 1843.

Transportation and Landmarks

The old Chenango Canal was built in 1837 and passed through Oxford. This canal helped move goods and people. Railroad service also came to Oxford in 1870, making travel and trade even easier.

A special place called the Loomis Family Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. This means it's an important historical site worth protecting.

Geography of Oxford

Land and Water

Oxford covers a total area of about 156.5 square kilometers (about 60.4 square miles). Most of this area is land, around 155.6 square kilometers (60.1 square miles). A small part, about 0.9 square kilometers (0.35 square miles), is water.

The Chenango River is a major waterway in Oxford. It flows south through the town. This river is a branch of the larger Susquehanna River.

Roads and Highways

Two important roads run through Oxford. New York State Route 12 is a main highway that goes from northeast to southwest. New York State Route 220 also crosses NY-12 right in Oxford village. These roads help people travel in and out of the town.

Population and People

Population Numbers

In 2000, there were 3,992 people living in Oxford. The population density was about 66.4 people per square mile. By 2010, the population was 3,901. In 2016, it was estimated to be around 3,811 people.

Households and Families

In 2000, there were 1,440 households in Oxford. A household is a group of people living together. About 1,035 of these were families. Many households (56.9%) were married couples living together. About 32.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.56 people.

Age and Income

The median age in Oxford in 2000 was 42 years old. This means half the people were younger than 42 and half were older. About 24% of the population was under 18 years old.

The median income for a household was $33,024. This is the middle income for all households. For families, the median income was $37,639. The average income per person was $16,149. About 13.6% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Communities and Places in Oxford

Oxford is made up of several smaller communities and interesting spots:

• Brackett Lake – A small lake in the southeastern part of the town.
• Coventry Station – A place southwest of Oxford village.
• Ingraham Corners – A spot northwest of Oxford village, right at the northern town line.
• Northrups Corners – A location south of Oxford village.
• Oxford Village – This is the main village in the northern part of the town. It's located on Route NY-12 and NY220, right by the Chenango River.
• Oxford Station – A place southeast of Oxford village, found on County Road 35.
• Puckerville Corners – A location near the eastern town line.
• South Oxford – A small hamlet southwest of Oxford village. It's on County Road 32 (East River Road). The Sannick Family Farm here was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
• Walker Corners – A location east of South Oxford hamlet.

Famous People from Oxford

Many notable people have connections to Oxford:

• Frances R. Brown – A college president.
• Theodore Burr – An inventor and engineer.
• Charles Benjamin Dudley – A chemist who worked on making things standard in industry.
• Maria Hyde Hibbard – An educator and leader in the temperance movement.
• Clarence H. McNeil – A U.S. Army major general.
• Camille Paglia – A well-known author and academic.
• Thomas Ryan – A congressman from Kansas.
• Uri Tracy – A missionary, who founded Oxford Academy, and also served as an assemblyman and congressman.

Images for kids

• 

  U.S. Post Office, Oxford

• 

  Location of Oxford within Chenango County, New York

See also

In Spanish: Oxford (Nueva York) para niños