Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,347 as of the 2020 United States census. The town contains the census-designated place of the same name. It was the birthplace of Clara Barton, the first president and founder of the American Red Cross.

History

Pre-Colonial Era

Present day Oxford and the areas surrounding it were inhabited for thousands of years before European colonization. Although archaeological sites exist in Central Massachusetts dating back to the Paleoindian period (12,000–9000 years before present) there are much more abundant archaeological remains starting in the period from 6500 to 3000 years before present, including an arrowhead identified in Oxford Massachusetts. An arrowhead collected at an archaeological site in Oxford has been radiocarbon dated to 2990 ± 155 years before present. To this end, out of unceded Nipmuc lands, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England created the praying town of Manchaug in the early 1670s, which included present day Oxford in its bounds. This sale included the present day town of Oxford.

Colonial Era

Oxford was first colonized intermittently by Europeans in 1687, with several breaks during the French and Indian Wars, and was officially incorporated in 1713. In 1687, Robert Thompson arranged for a group of 52 French Huguenots he had connected with in London to colonize the land recently purchased from Black James. out of concern for conflict with local Native Americans

The English investors who received the deed from Black James in 1682 continued to try to recruit settlers to the Oxford area, and by 1720, a group of around 30 English families had founded a new church there with a new minister. From 1699 to 1704, Huguenot settlers attempted to return to the settlement but it was abandoned again during Queen Anne's War.

As of the 2000 census there were 13,352 people, 5,058 households, and 3,596 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,228 housing units at an average density of . 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. Of the population, 1.97% 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 living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 23.6% 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 for the town was $21,828. Of the population, 7.8% and 5.5% of families were below the poverty line. Of those, 12.5% under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Oxford (CDP)

The geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford is different in that the CDP has a total area of 9.6 km (3.7 mi), of which 9.1 km (3.5 mi) is land and 0.6 km (0.2 mi) (5.91%) is water.

As of the census of 2000, in the CDP specifically there were 5,899 people, 2,282 households, and 1,567 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 650.7/km (1,683.9/mi). There were 2,370 housing units at an average density of 261.4/km (676.5/mi). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.36% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 2,282 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,866, and the median income for a family was $58,030. Males had a median income of $42,306 versus $28,611 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,149. About 5.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local 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—approximately $34 per person, per year ($41.64 adjusted for inflation to 2021).

Education

Oxford has a public school system with two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The first elementary school is the Alfred M. Chaffee School, which offers kindergarten- 2nd grade education. The second elementary school is the Clara Barton School, which offers 3rd–5th grade education. The Oxford Middle School offers 6th–8th grade courses, and Oxford High School offers grades 9th –12th with preschool in the basement.

Oxford High School has a number of sports activities throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. Some of these sports include, field hockey, cross country, football, soccer, indoor track, basketball, outdoor track, baseball, softball, golf, and ultimate frisbee.

Points of interest

  • Bartlett's Bridge
  • Barton Center for Diabetes Education, site of the Clara Barton Camp for Diabetic Children and the Clara Barton National Historic Site
  • Hodges Village Dam
  • Hudson House
  • Huguenot Fort
  • Oxford High School

Notable people

  • Agnes Ballard, educator, early woman architect and first woman elected to office in Florida was born here
  • Michael Bartlett, internationally renowned tenor, star of Broadway, films, radio, opera, theatre and concert stage
  • Clara Barton, teacher, nurse, humanitarian best remembered for organizing American Red Cross during the Civil War
  • Carla Berube, college basketball player and coach
  • Nelson H. Davis, brigadier general during American Civil War
  • Tom Herrion, college basketball coach
  • Elliott P. Joslin, doctor, pioneer in diabetes research
  • Ebenezer Learned, general in American Revolution
  • Tony Reno, college football coach
  • Matthew Sands, educator
  • Aron Stevens, wrestler and actor
  • Elvira Stone, postmaster and genealogist

References

  • Town of Oxford official website