Oxford, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Oxford is a town in Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...

, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.

For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...

 Oxford, please see the article Oxford (CDP)
Oxford (CDP), Massachusetts
Oxford is a census-designated place in the town of Oxford in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,103 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Oxford is located at ....

, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

.

History

Oxford was first settled in 1686 and was officially incorporated in 1713. It was the birthplace of Clara Barton
Clara Barton
Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse, and humanitarian. She is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.-Youth, education, and family nursing:...

, the first president and founder of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...

. Oxford was originally settled by Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...

s in two waves, the original settlement having been abandoned after four residents (John Johnson and his three children, Peter, Andrew and Mary) were killed in a violent confrontation with local Native Americans. This event, the Johnson Massacre, is commemorated near the south end of town on Main Street. The remains of the Huguenot Fort
Huguenot Fort
Huguenot Fort is a historic fortification site on Fort Hill Road in Oxford, Massachusetts.The original fort was built in 1694 by Huguenots, Protestant immigrants who were fleeing state church persecution in France...

 (built in 1686) still exist off Huguenot Road.

The first town clerk of Oxford was John Town, who also served as selectman and as a church deacon.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the town has a total area of 27.5 square miles (71.2 km²), of which 26.6 square miles (68.9 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), or 3.20%, is water. The town sits in a valley, and much of its area lies in the flood plain of the French River
French River (Massachusetts)
The French River is a river in south-central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut.The river rises near Leicester, Massachusetts, and flows generally southwards through Auburn, Oxford, and Dudley; it then enters Connecticut where it joins the Quinebaug River at Thompson, just northeast of Putnam...

, which runs through the town. A substantial parcel north and west of Oxford Center is held, for flood control purposes, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...

. The land, known as Greenbriar, also serves as a nature preserve.

It also serves to cut off east-west travel on former roads through the site. Route 20 runs east-west through North Oxford; running
north-south Route 12
Massachusetts Route 12
Massachusetts Route 12 is a north-south state highway that runs through central Massachusetts from the Connecticut state line at Dudley to the New Hampshire state line at Winchendon.-Route description:...

, locally called Main Street; less than a mile of Route 56
Massachusetts Route 56
Route 56 is a north–south state highway running through central Worcester County, Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 56 begins at Route 12 in North Oxford. It crosses the French River before meeting U.S. Route 20. It continues north, passing under I-90 without access between the two...

, connecting North Oxford with points north; and Interstate 395
Interstate 395 (Connecticut)
Interstate 395 is a 67-mile-long north–south Interstate Highway that begins at Interstate 95 in East Lyme, Connecticut and ends at Interstate 90 in Auburn, Massachusetts, where it becomes Interstate 290. The original designation for the freeway was Route 52...

, linking Oxford to Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....

 and eastern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...

 with three local exits: Depot Road in North Oxford; Sutton Avenue, the main east-west street in Oxford Center; and Cudworth Road, on the Webster
Webster, Massachusetts
-Media:* Worcester Telegram & Gazette * Webster Times, published every Friday* The Patriot, published every Wednesday* WGFP-AM 940, a country music station* Boston Globe* Boston Herald-Library:...

 town line.

The town used to include much of what is now Webster, on its southern border, but Oxford and neighboring Dudley
Dudley, Massachusetts
Dudley is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,390 at the 2010 census.-History:Dudley was first settled in 1714 and was officially incorporated in 1732...

 both gave portions of their land to allow the creation of that town. Other towns bordering Oxford are Charlton
Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all...

 on the west, Leicester
Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,970 at the 2010 census.-History:Leicester was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1714....

 and Auburn
Auburn, Massachusetts
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,188 at the 2010 census.- History :Auburn was first settled in 1789 and was officially incorporated in 1808 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward...

 on the north, Millbury
Millbury, Massachusetts
Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:...

 and Sutton
Sutton, Massachusetts
-Library:The Sutton Free Library was established in 1876. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Sutton spent 0.7% of its budget on its public library—some $18 per person.-Education:...

 on the east, and Douglas
Douglas, Massachusetts
Douglas is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,471 as of the 2010 census. It includes the sizable Douglas State Forest, managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation .- History :...

 on the southeast.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 13,352 people, 5,058 households, and 3,596 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 501.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,228 housing units at an average density of 196.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.62% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 1.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,058 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,233, and the median income for a family was $58,973. Males had a median income of $41,727 versus $30,828 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the town was $21,828. 7.8% of the population and 5.5% of families were below the poverty line. 12.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

Library

The Oxford public library was established in 1869. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Oxford spent 1.5% ($468,609) of its budget on its public library—some $34 per person.

Education

Oxford has a public school system with two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.

Elementary schools include Clara Barton School, which serves the north side of town (including the village of North Oxford) and Alfred M. Chaffee School in the south.Clara Barton School serves Pre-School, 3rd, and 4th. Alfres M. Chaffee serves Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd. All public school students in Oxford attend Oxford Middle School for grades 5-8. Oxford High School serves grades 9-12.

Points of interest

  • Bartlett's Bridge
    Bartlett's Bridge
    Bartlett's Bridge is a historic, stone arch bridge on Clara Barton Road over the French River in Oxford, Massachusetts.The bridge was built in 1889 with much of design done by Charles A. Allen. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000....

  • Barton Center for Diabetes Education
    Barton Center for Diabetes Education
    The Barton Center for Diabetes Education is an independent, non-profit 501 organization, located in North Oxford, Massachusetts, dedicated to the education of children living with diabetes and their families and caregivers through year-round programs...

    , site of the Clara Barton Camp for Diabetic Girls and the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum
  • Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills
    Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills
    Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills is an historic mill on Main Street in Clinton, Massachusetts.The mill was built in 1864 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.-See also:*Clinton, Massachusetts...

  • Carl's Oxford Diner
  • Hodges Village Dam
    Hodges Village Dam
    Hodges Village Dam, a United States Army Corps of Engineers flood control project on the French River in Oxford, Massachusetts was built in 1959 as a response to the 1936 floods which took lives and caused tremendous property damage in the Thames River basin of Connecticut. The surrounding lands...

  • Hudson House
  • Huguenot Fort
    Huguenot Fort
    Huguenot Fort is a historic fortification site on Fort Hill Road in Oxford, Massachusetts.The original fort was built in 1694 by Huguenots, Protestant immigrants who were fleeing state church persecution in France...

  • Oxford High School
    Oxford High School (Massachusetts)
    -Levels:Oxford High offers four levels of courses to every student, ensuring that each student learns at their own pace, no matter how slow or fast. These are career, college preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement.-Rules and Regulation:...

  • Oxford Public Library

Notable residents

  • Michael Bartlett, Bartlett was one of America’s most popular tenors, starring in films, opera, Broadway, radio, concerts, and recitals
  • Clara Barton
    Clara Barton
    Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse, and humanitarian. She is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.-Youth, education, and family nursing:...

    , American teacher, nurse, humanitarian best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross during the Civil War
  • Nelson H. Davis
    Nelson H. Davis
    Nelson H. Davis was a career soldier in the United States Army. Graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1845, he served in the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War and in actions against the Apache people in New Mexico. His service in the Civil War began as a...

    , brigadier general during the American Civil War
    American Civil War
    The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

  • Tom Herrion
    Tom Herrion
    Tom Herrion is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach for the Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team...

    , former head basketball coach at the College of Charleston, assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh, currently head coach at Marshall University
  • Elliott P. Joslin
    Elliott P. Joslin
    Elliott Proctor Joslin, M.D. was the first doctor in the United States to specialize in diabetes and was the founder of today’s Joslin Diabetes Center. He was the first to advocate for teaching patients to care for their own diabetes, an approach now commonly referred to as “DSME” or Diabetes...

    , doctor, pioneer in diabetes research
  • Ebenezer Learned
    Ebenezer Learned
    Ebenezer Learned was a brigadier general in the American Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.-Early life and career:...

    , general in the American Revolutionty

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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