Updated: September 18, 2008

Oxford, Mississippi is a dynamic community, a small town where students and active retirees alike may avail themselves of any number of services and amenities each and every day. The city, whose hub is the historic town square, consisting of a beautiful old courthouse surrounded by shops and restaurants, is well known for its culture, thriving commerce, and small town character.    Oxford is the home of the University of Mississippi, the state’s flagship university, known commonly as Ole Miss.

Oxford lies amidst a gentle, green countryside, 25 miles east of the famous Mississippi Delta and 50 miles west of the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway.   The surrounding area has abundant natural resources that include Holly Springs National Forest and Sardis Lake, the second largest earthen dam reservoir in the world.   With a crime rate that is half the national average, outstanding public schools, and a regional health care facility, Oxford’s exceptional quality of life is widely recognized.

This recognition has created a 36% rate of growth since 2000 in Oxford, which includes an annexation in 2004.   Unanticipated building and development accompanied growth, leading to sprawl, traffic congestion, infrastructure stress, and a rapid escalation of land value and housing costs.

Citizens old and new are united in the effort to preserve Oxford’s character while encouraging so-called smart growth. A new public transit program and the city’s pathway project, which led to a coveted League of American Bicyclist designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community, are accomplishments that suggest a bright future for the city.   The good, hard-working, people of Oxford will continue to collaborate to keep their community great – just as they always have.