Oxford, Nova Scotia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oxford
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Town of Oxford | ||
The giant blueberry makes a distinctive entry feature for the community
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
Wild Blueberry Capital of Canada
|
||
 Oxford
Location in Nova Scotia
|
||
| Country | Canada | |
| Province | Nova Scotia | |
| Municipality | Cumberland County | |
| Founded | 1791 | |
| Incorporated | April 19, 1904 | |
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley |
|
| Provincial | Cumberland South | |
| Area
(2021)
|
||
| • Total | 10.68 km2 (4.12 sq mi) | |
| Highest elevation | 18 m (59 ft) | |
| Lowest elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
|
||
| • Total | 1,170 | |
| • Density | 109.6/km2 (284/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) | |
| Postal code |
B0M
|
|
| Area code(s) | 902 | |
| Telephone Exchange | 447, 552 | |
| Median Earnings* | $37,734 | |
| Website | oxfordns.ca | |
|
||
Oxford is a small town in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) east of Amherst. You can reach Oxford easily by several main roads. Even though it's small, Oxford is famous for being the world's biggest center for processing and distributing wild blueberries. These blueberries are "individually quick frozen" (IQF), meaning they are frozen very fast to keep them fresh and separate.
Contents
History of Oxford
Oxford was first settled in 1792 by a person named Richard Thompson. The town got its unique name from a nearby shallow river. Early settlers used strong animals called oxen to cross, or "ford," the river. This is how the name "Oxford" came to be!
Geography and Rivers
Oxford is located where three rivers meet. The biggest of these is the River Philip. A lot of the town is on a flat area called a floodplain. This means that floods can happen, especially when the snow melts in the spring.
There's also a place called Salt Lake between Black River Road and the Trans Canada Highway. This lake is connected to the River Philip by a series of swamps and meadows.
Population in Oxford
In 2021, the town of Oxford had a population of 1,170 people. These residents lived in 533 homes. The town covers an area of 10.68 square kilometers (about 4.12 square miles).
Blueberry Industry
Oxford is known as the wild blueberry capital of Canada. This is because it's right in the middle of a huge area where blueberries grow. The biggest employer in town is Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd. This company processes wild blueberries. During the busiest time of year, they can process up to three million pounds of berries every single day!
A local businessman named John Bragg owns the processing plant and over 12,000 acres of blueberry land. In 2014, he even added another 15,700 acres in New Brunswick.
In the past, Oxford also had a strong manufacturing industry. There was a woollen mill and a foundry (a place where metal is cast) that provided many jobs.
Getting Around Oxford
Oxford is in the center of Cumberland County, making it easy to connect to major roads in Nova Scotia and Canada.
The Trans Canada Highway (Highway 104) passes just south of the town. Other provincial roads like 204, 301, and 321 go right through Oxford. These roads include Pugwash Road, Birchwood Road, Water Street, Upper/Lower Main Street, and Little River Road.
For public transportation, you can use Maritime Bus. It stops at the Irving gas station, which is close to the highway.
In the past, Oxford had train service for both goods and passengers. This was on a line known as the 'Short Line'. Passenger trains stopped running in 1960, and the railway line was closed in the 1990s.
Today, this old railway line has a new purpose! It's now part of the Trans Canada Trail system. This section of the trail is 127 kilometers (78 miles) long and goes from Oxford to Pictou. It's a great place for outdoor activities like walking or biking, winding through farms, fields, and forests all year round.
