Oxford, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Oxford, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester County |
| Settled | 1687 |
| Incorporated | 1713 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| - Town Manager |
Dennis A. Power |
| Area | |
| - Town | 27.5 sq mi (71.3 km²) |
| - Land | 26.6 sq mi (69.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 508 ft (155 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 13,352 |
| - Density | 501.5/sq mi (193.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01537, 01540 |
| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 |
| Website: http://www.town.oxford.ma.us/ | |
Oxford is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 13,352.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford (CDP), Massachusetts.
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[edit] History
Oxford was first settled in 1687 and was officially incorporated in 1713. It was also the birthplace of Clara Barton, the first president and founder of the American Red Cross. Oxford was originally settled by Huguenots in two waves, the original settlers having all been killed in a violent confrontation with local Native Americans. The most infamous event, the Johnson Massacre, is commemorated near the center of town. The remains of the Huguenot's Fort still exist off of Huguenot Road.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 71.3 km² (27.5 mi²). 69.0 km² (26.6 mi²) of it is land and 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.20% water. The town of sits in a valley, and much of the town is flood plain for the French River, 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. The land, known as Hodges Village Dam, also serves as a nature preserve.
It also serves to cut off east-west travel on former roads through the site. There are no state routes running east-west in Oxford; only north-south Route 12, locally called Main Street; less than a mile of Route 56, connecting North Oxford with points north; and Interstate 395, linking Oxford to Worcester and eastern Connecticut 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 town line.
The town used to include much of what is now Webster, on its southern border, but Oxford and neighboring Dudley both gave portions of their land to allow the creation of that town. Other towns bordering Oxford are Charlton on the west, Leicester and Auburn on the north, Millbury and Sutton on the east, and Douglas on the southeast.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 13,352 people, 5,058 households, and 3,596 families residing in the town. The population density was 193.6/km² (501.5/mi²). There were 5,228 housing units at an average density of 75.8/km² (196.4/mi²). 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 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 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.
[edit] Government
| County government: Worcester County | |
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| Clerk of Courts: | Dennis P. McManus (D) |
| County Treasurer: | Position Eliminated |
| District Attorney: | Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D) |
| Registrar of Deeds: | Anthony J. Vigliotti (D) |
| Registrar of Probate: | Stephen Abraham (D) |
| Sheriff: | Guy W. Glodis (D) |
| State government | |
| Representative(s) in General Court: | Geraldo Alicea (D), Paul K. Frost (R), Paul Kujawski (D) |
| Senator(s) in General Court: | Richard T. Moore (D) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Thomas J. Foley (D) |
| Federal government | |
| Member(s) of the U.S. House of Representatives: | Richard E. Neal (D-2nd District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Edward Kennedy (D) John Kerry (D) |
[edit] Education
Oxford has two elementary schools, Clara Barton School serving the north side of town (including the village of North Oxford) and Alfred M. Chaffee School in the south, serving grades K-4. All public school students in Oxford attend Oxford Middle School (grades 5-8) and Oxford High School (grades 9-12).
