Oxfordshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oxfordshire
Ceremonial county
Clockwise from top left: the Radcliffe Camera, part of the University of Oxford; Islip, in the Cherwell district; and the Uffington White Horse
Ceremonial Oxfordshire within England Ceremonial Oxfordshire Historic Oxfordshire in the British Isles Historic Oxfordshire
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South East England
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (British Summer Time)
Members of Parliament	7 Members of Parliament Lab: 2 Lib Dem: 5
Police	Thames Valley Police
Largest city	Oxford
Ceremonial county Lord Lieutenant Marjorie Glasgow High Sheriff Amanda Ponsonby (2020–21) Area 2,605 km2 (1,006 sq mi)  • Ranked 22nd of 48 Population (2005 est.) 626,900  • Ranked 35th of 48 Density 241/km2 (620/sq mi) Ethnicity 90.9% White, 4.8% Asian/Asian British Non-metropolitan county County council Oxfordshire County Council Executive Conservative Admin HQ Oxford Area 2,605 km2 (1,006 sq mi)  • Ranked of 26 Population 626,900  • Ranked 18th of 26 Density 241/km2 (620/sq mi) ISO 3166-2 GB-OXF GSS code E10000025 ITL TLJ14 Districts Districts of Oxfordshire Districts Oxford Cherwell South Oxfordshire Vale of White Horse West Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in South East England. It is often called Oxon for short. The county shares borders with Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north. To the east, it borders Buckinghamshire. In the south, you'll find Berkshire, and to the west are Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

The biggest city and main town in Oxfordshire is Oxford. The county is mostly countryside. It covers an area of about 2,605 square kilometers (1,006 square miles). Around 691,667 people live here. After Oxford, the largest towns are Banbury and Abingdon-on-Thames.

Oxfordshire has five local government areas. Part of the county south of the River Thames used to be part of Berkshire. This area is now mostly the Vale of White Horse district.

The middle of the county has lowlands with the River Thames and its smaller rivers. Low hills separate these river valleys. In the south, you can find parts of the Berkshire Downs and Chiltern Hills. The north-west includes part of the Cotswolds. These three areas are known for their beautiful natural scenery. The highest point in Oxfordshire is White Horse Hill, which is 261 meters (856 feet) tall.

History of Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire became a county in the early 900s. It is located between the River Thames to the south and the Cotswolds to the west. The Chilterns are to the east, and the Midlands are to the north.

The area was important for farming in the past. However, it did not become very important until the town of Oxford was formed in the 700s. Alfred the Great, a famous English king, was born nearby in Wantage. The University of Oxford was started in 1096. It became very important during the Middle Ages.

From the 1200s, the county was part of the Cotswolds wool trade. This brought a lot of wealth, especially to the western parts of Oxfordshire. Later, in 1912, Morris Motors began in Oxford. This brought heavy industry to the county, which was mostly farming before. Today, very few people work in farming because machines do most of the work. Still, Oxfordshire remains a very agricultural county by land use.

Historically, the county was divided into fourteen areas called "hundreds." These included places like Bampton, Banbury, and Wootton.

In 1974, some towns that were once part of Berkshire joined Oxfordshire. These included Abingdon-on-Thames, Didcot, Faringdon, Wallingford, and Wantage. However, some areas like Caversham and Stokenchurch moved to other counties.

The flag which represents the historic county

Geography of Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire has parts of three special areas known for their natural beauty. These are the Cotswolds in the north-west, and the North Wessex Downs and Chilterns in the south and south-east. The north of the county has ironstone hills.

You can enjoy long walks on trails like the Ridgeway National Trail and the Oxfordshire Way.

What are the Extreme Points of Oxfordshire?

• The northernmost point is near Claydon Hay Farm, Claydon.
• The southernmost point is near Thames and Kennet Marina, Playhatch.
• The westernmost point is near Downs Farm, Westwell.
• The easternmost point is on the River Thames, near Lower Shiplake.

Rivers and Canals in Oxfordshire

The River Thames flows through Oxfordshire from west to south-east. It passes through the city of Oxford. This river used to mark the border with Berkshire. The Thames Path is a walking trail that follows the river.

Many smaller rivers flow into the Thames in Oxfordshire. These include the Thame, Windrush, Evenlode, and Cherwell. Some of these rivers also have walking trails along their valleys.

The Oxford Canal connects Oxfordshire to the Midlands. It follows the River Cherwell from Banbury to Oxford. Here, it joins the Thames. Parts of the Wilts & Berks Canal are also being restored.

What is the Green Belt?

Oxfordshire has a special "green belt" area. This area completely surrounds the city of Oxford. It helps protect nearby towns and villages from too much building and city growth. The green belt was first set up in the 1950s. All of Oxfordshire's districts have some part of this protected land.

Economy of Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire's economy has grown over the years. Here's a look at how much money the county made in different areas:

The "Services" sector, which includes things like education, healthcare, and tourism, makes up the largest part of the economy.

Education in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire has many schools, both independent (private) and state-funded. There are 23 independent schools and 35 state secondary schools. Most schools have a sixth form, where students can study after age 16.

The county is home to two universities in Oxford. The University of Oxford is very old and famous. Oxford Brookes University is a more modern university. There is also Wroxton College in Banbury, which is linked to a university in New Jersey, USA.

Brasenose Lane in Oxford city centre, a street onto which three colleges back.

The University of Oxford's Chemistry Research Laboratory.

Famous Buildings in Oxfordshire

Oxford is known for its beautiful university buildings, often called "dreaming spires." It is one of the most visited cities in the UK by people from other countries.

Notable University Buildings

• The Sheldonian Theatre was built between 1664 and 1668. It was designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.
• The Radcliffe Camera was built between 1737 and 1749. It was designed by James Gibbs.

Historic Country Houses

• Blenheim Palace is near Woodstock. It was designed for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. He won a big battle called the Battle of Blenheim. The gardens were designed by "Capability" Brown. He even planted trees to look like the winning army's battle formation! Winston Churchill, a famous Prime Minister, was born here in 1874. You can visit the palace and gardens.
• Chastleton House is a large country mansion. It was built on land bought from Robert Catesby, who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot.
• Stonor Park is another old country mansion. It has belonged to the Stonor family for many centuries.
• Mapledurham House is an Elizabethan stately home in the south-east of the county.
• The Abbey in Sutton Courtenay is a medieval house. It is considered a great example of an English medieval manor house.

Hand-drawn map of Oxford, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire by Christopher Saxton from 1576.

Towns and Villages in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire has many towns and villages. Here are some of the largest:

Oxfordshire population pyramid in 2021

Wantage Market Place

Fun Places to Visit in Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire has many interesting places to explore, from museums to historic houses and beautiful natural areas.

Key
	Owned by the National Trust
	Owned by English Heritage
	Owned by the Forestry Commission
	A Country Park
	An Accessible open space
	Museum (free)
	Museum (charges entry fee)
	Heritage railway
	Historic House

Images for kids

• 

  The five districts of Oxfordshire.

See also

In Spanish: Oxfordshire para niños