Oxford, Maine | |
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 Seal | |
  Oxford  Oxford | |
| Coordinates:44°07′37″N70°29′42″W / 44.12694°N 70.49500°W /44.12694; -70.49500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Oxford |
| Incorporated | 1829 |
| Area | |
• Total | 41.88 sq mi (108.47 km2) |
| • Land | 38.72 sq mi (100.28 km2) |
| • Water | 3.16 sq mi (8.18 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,229 |
| • Density | 109.2/sq mi (42.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 04270 |
| Website | www |
Oxford is a town inOxford County, Maine, United States. Oxford is included in theLewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area. The population was 4,229 at the2020 census.[2] It contains thecensus-designated place of the same name. Oxford is home to theOxford Plains Speedway, Kamp Kohut, the annualOxford County Fair, andOxford Casino. The town includes the village of Welchville.
The land was part of Plantation (also called Bog Brook Plantation), granted on March 8, 1777, by theMassachusetts General Court to Alexander Shepard Jr. ofNewton, Massachusetts. On March 6, 1792, the plantation was incorporated asHebron, with Oxford its southwesterly portion. First settled in 1794, Oxford was set off and incorporated on February 27, 1829. It annexed land fromOtisfield in 1830, and fromParis in 1838.[3] The town was named afterOxford, in England.[4]
Farmers grew mostlyhay, and the town became noted for cattle.Mills were established at 2water power sites; these developed in the 19th-century into principal villages within the town, especially after the arrival of theGrand Trunk Railway in the 1850s. Welchville was located on theLittle Androscoggin River, where thewoolentextile mill of the Harper Manufacturing Company was established. At the outlet of Thompson Lake was Oxford village, first called Craigie's Mill for thesawmill andgristmill built byAndrew Craigie, aBostonapothecary and land speculator. This was also the site of a grisly murder that, to this day, goes unsolved[citation needed]. Here were erected abarrel stave mill, a shovel handle factory, and the woolen textile mills of the Robinson Manufacturing Company. The railroad brought seasonal tourists to Thompson Lake, where inns and hotels opened. Today, Oxford is a recreational area with fine architecture remaining from its prosperousmill town past. The Congregational Church, built in 1842–1843, is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[5]
The town was hit by an F1 tornado on Saturday,June 5, 2010, causing some serious damage.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.88 square miles (108.47 km2), of which 38.72 square miles (100.28 km2) is land and 3.16 square miles (8.18 km2) is water.[1] Oxford is drained by theLittle Androscoggin River. Thompson Lake, the community's largest, is approximately 8 miles (13 km) long.
The town is served by state routes26 and121. It borders the towns ofParis to the north,Hebron to the northeast,Norway to the northwest,Poland to the southeast, andOtisfield to the southwest.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 69 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,116 | — | |
| 1840 | 1,254 | 12.4% | |
| 1850 | 1,233 | −1.7% | |
| 1860 | 1,281 | 3.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,631 | 27.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,655 | 1.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,455 | −12.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,331 | −8.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,221 | −8.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,097 | −10.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,125 | 2.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,316 | 17.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,569 | 19.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,658 | 5.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,892 | 14.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,143 | 66.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,705 | 17.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,960 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,110 | 3.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,229 | 2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] | |||
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 4,110 people, 1,657 households, and 1,107 families living in the town. The population density was 106.1 inhabitants per square mile (41.0/km2). There were 2,170 housing units at an average density of 56.0 per square mile (21.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.2%White, 0.3%African American, 0.4%Native American, 0.1%Asian, 0.2% fromother races, and 1.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 1,657 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the town was 42.4 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 32.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.
As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 3,960 people, 1,487 households, and 1,094 families living in the town. The population density was 102.3 inhabitants per square mile (39.5/km2). There were 1,926 housing units at an average density of 49.8 per square mile (19.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.88%White, 0.25%Black orAfrican American, 0.25%Native American, 0.28%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.23% fromother races, and 1.09% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 1,487 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,670, and the median income for a family was $38,438. Males had a median income of $27,957 versus $20,392 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,480. About 2.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 orover.
The town of Oxford is governed by an elected, five-person Board of Selectmen and an appointed town manager. The town's police department consists of one Chief of Police, one captain, two sergeants, four full-time patrol officers and several reserve (part-time) patrol officers.[citation needed] The town has a combination full-time/per-diem/on-call fire rescue department made up of several dedicated cross-trained (fire and EMS) members. It is run by a fire chief, deputy chief, captain, and two lieutenants. As of the summer of 2025, Oxford Fire/Rescue is the only transporting fire-based EMS service in Oxford County. They utilize 2 ambulances, 2 1000 gallon structural engines, a 95' tower ladder, a command SUV, and utility truck with two trailers; 1 with a side-by-side for wildland fire and backcountry rescue, the other hauling technical rescue equipment. The department is awaiting delivery of its first true mini-pump engine, an F550 chassis with 300 gallons of water and a 1500 gpm pump, to better respond to camp roads and other tight places. The fire department also employs fire police for traffic control at various calls and events.
coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
Municipalities and communities ofOxford County, Maine,United States | ||
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| Other villages | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county | |
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44°07′37″N70°29′42″W / 44.12694°N 70.49500°W /44.12694; -70.49500
