Oxford, Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
Cumberland County, Nova Scotia
Cumberland County is a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.-History:The name Cumberland was applied by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton to the captured Fort Beauséjour on June 18, 1755 in honour of the third son of King George II, William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, victor at...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
32 km (19.9 mi) east of Amherst
Amherst, Nova Scotia
Amherst is a Canadian town in northwestern Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.Located at the northeast end of the Cumberland Basin, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, Amherst is strategically situated on the eastern boundary of the Tantramar Marshes 3 kilometres east of the interprovincial border with New...
. The town is directly serviced by Routes 104
Nova Scotia Highway 104
Highway 104 in Nova Scotia runs from the New Brunswick border near Amherst to St. Peter's. Except for the portion on Cape Breton Island between Port Hawkesbury and St. Peter's, it is part of the Trans-Canada Highway....
, 204
Nova Scotia Route 204
Route 204 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and runs from Amherst at Trunk 6 to Streets Ridge at Route 368.-Route description:...
, 301
Nova Scotia Route 301
Route 301 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and connects Oxford at Route 204 with Port Howe at Trunk 6.From Port Howe it follows the western bank of River Philip to Oxford town limits...
, and 321
Nova Scotia Route 321
Route 321 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and connects Springhill at Route 2 with Port Howe at Trunk 6....
.
History
Oxford was founded in 1791 by settler Richard Thompson. The name "Oxford" is derived from the shallow river that was used to enter Oxford. Early settlers often found it easy to use Oxen to cross, or "ford", the river, and thus the town's name was born.Oxford is the Canadian wild blueberry
Blueberry
Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
capital and houses several blueberry attractions, such as The Wild Blueberry and Maple Center, a blueberry museum, and a giant blueberry sculpture. The part of Cumberland County south of Oxford hosts numerous lowbush blueberry fields. Oxford Frozen Foods is the largest employer in the town and is owned by John Bragg of Collingwood
Collingwood, Nova Scotia
Collingwood is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Cumberland County .-References:*...
who also owns Bragg Communications, a telecommunications company in the Maritime Provinces.(WBMC is closed)
Geography
Oxford is located at the junctions of three rivers (Philip, Little and Black). A lot of the town lies in a floodplain and floods are common during the springtime. Other than the rivers there is also Salt Lake located between Black River Road and the Trans Canada Highway. Connecting the lake to River Philip are meadows and swampy areas. Because of its location in a flood plain the centre of town has little to no slope and only a few hills are located further away from the rivers.Transportation
Oxford is directly serviced by one freeway, three provincial collector roads, and at least one interprovincial bus line.The Trans Canada Highway (Highway 104
Nova Scotia Highway 104
Highway 104 in Nova Scotia runs from the New Brunswick border near Amherst to St. Peter's. Except for the portion on Cape Breton Island between Port Hawkesbury and St. Peter's, it is part of the Trans-Canada Highway....
) has its Exit 6 in the southern part of Oxford. Provincial routes 204
Nova Scotia Route 204
Route 204 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and runs from Amherst at Trunk 6 to Streets Ridge at Route 368.-Route description:...
, 301
Nova Scotia Route 301
Route 301 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and connects Oxford at Route 204 with Port Howe at Trunk 6.From Port Howe it follows the western bank of River Philip to Oxford town limits...
, and 321
Nova Scotia Route 321
Route 321 is a collector road in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.It is located in Cumberland County and connects Springhill at Route 2 with Port Howe at Trunk 6....
all travel through town via Pugwash Road, Brichwood Road, Water Street, Upper/Lower Main Street and Little River Road.
The town is also serviced via a stop by Acadian Bus Lines.