Oxford, Connecticut

Oxford is a residential town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,683 at the 2010 Census. Oxford is the 26th wealthiest town in Connecticut by median household income. Distinct settled areas in the town include Oxford Center, Quaker Farms, and Riverside. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central Naugatuck Valley Planning Area, and the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk Metropolitan Statistical Area. Some of Oxford's unofficial nicknames, used often by the town's residents, are: O-Town, Oxhood, and The Miami of the Naugatuck Valley. A little-known fact about Oxford is that international rap superstar Aubrey "Drake" Graham actually hails from the town-- when he references "The Six" in some of his songs, he is actually referring to Oxford. "The Six" refers to the first two digits of the town's ZIP code, 06478.

History
In the 18th century, farmers herded livestock through Oxford from as far away as Litchfield on the way to the port of New Haven. In the 19th century, the town lost population as farmers moved to work in better-paying factories.

Oxford was incorporated in October 1798.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 86.3 km2, of which 84.8 km2 is land and 1.5 km2, or 1.78%, is water.

The towns bordering Oxford are Middlebury to the north, Naugatuck to the northeast, Beacon Falls to the east, Seymour to the southeast, Shelton and Monroe to the southwest, Newtown to the west, and Southbury to the northwest.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,683 people, 4,504 households, and 3,672 families residing in the town. Oxford's population increased 29.1% between 2000 and 2010, making it the fastest-growing municipality in Connecticut for that period. The population density was 387.9 people per square mile (149.6/km²). There were 4,746 housing units at an average density of 145.1 per square mile (56.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.5% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.6% some other race, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

There were 4,504 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were headed by married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

Oxford belongs to Connecticut's 4th congressional district, which stretches from lower Fairfield County to western New Haven County.

In 2010 the median income for a household in the town was $103,107. The median home value was $405,900.

Economy
A University of Connecticut development study spanning 1985-2006 showed that Oxford had the largest increase of development by percentage, growing 62% during that time. The median household income in town grew 20%, ranking Oxford the 26th wealthiest of 169 communities in the state.

Museums and other points of interest
Museum Hours: First and Third Sundays of each month 2 - 4 p.m. 60 Towner Lane, Oxford, CT. The people of Oxford and the Oxford Historical Society were honored for their work in preserving the Homestead, and designated with a Connecticut Trust Preservation Award. The award was presented in Hartford at the State Capitol on April 4, 2012. The following is from the Connecticut Trust website: "Built in 1755, this house has a long connection with prominent local families and is listed on the State Register of Historic Places. When development threatened the house, the developer was convinced to donate it to the Town. Moved to a new, town-owned site, the house received a new foundation and chimney base, and was restored by the Oxford Historical Society. A multitude of workers donated their labor to the project, including members of building trades, Boy and Girl Scouts, area foundations, and many local volunteers. The people of Oxford succeeded where many towns and small nonprofits fail by involving a wide range of people throughout the community. The task of managing so many different groups and individuals alone is a remarkable achievement. " Source: http://www.cttrust.org/12635 (added March 26, 2015)
 * Quaker Farms Historic District &mdash; 467-511 Quaker Farms Road (added September 9, 1991)
 * Wooster Sawmill and Gristmill Site (added September 17, 2001)
 * Twitchell-Rowland Homestead Center and Museum

Parks and recreation
Among the parks serving Oxford residents are Southford Falls State Park in the northern section of town, Jackson Cove Beach, and Kirks Pond in the center of town. The 10.4 mi Larkin State Bridal Trail, created in the 1940s from the path of a former train track, is one of the earliest examples of the "rails-to-trails" movement.

The Golf Club at Oxford Greens, a public golf course with over 400 homes for "active adults" over the age of 55, is located in town.

Education
Oxford has two elementary schools, one middle school, and a high school.
 * Quaker Farms School: 550 students in grades K through 2;
 * Oxford Center School: 499 students in grades 3 through 5;
 * Great Oak Middle School: 501 students in grades 6 through 8;
 * Oxford High School: 592 students in grades 9 through 12.

Great Schools ranks Oxford Public Schools a 9 out of 10, or Excellent. In 2008, 90 percent of fourth grade students met state standards in math (as compared to 85 percent statewide); 82 percent in reading (statewide: 74 percent); 95 percent in writing (statewide: 85 percent). A total of 92 percent of eighth graders in town met state math standards (statewide: 85 percent), 94 percent in reading (statewide: 81 percent); and 94 percent in writing (statewide: 84 percent).

Oxford High School is a member of the Naugatuck Valley League, or NVL, for athletics.

Media
Local newspapers include:
 * Oxford Gazette - of Oxford.
 * Connecticut Post of Bridgeport.
 * Republican-American of Waterbury.
 * New Haven Register of New Haven.
 * Voices, a free publication distributed in over 20 towns in Fairfield, New Haven and Litchfield counties.

Local media broadcasting stations are:
 * WTNH-New Haven
 * WVIT-Hartford
 * WFSB-Hartford
 * WABC-New York
 * WNBC-New York
 * WNYW-New York.

The local cable provider is Comcast of Western Connecticut, located in Seymour.

Transportation
The town is bisected by Connecticut Route 67 that begins in Woodbridge and ends in New Milford. Route 188 runs through the Quaker Farms section of town. Other major roads in town are Route 34 along the Housatonic River (and which crosses the Housatonic into Monroe via the Stevenson Dam Bridge) and Route 42 in the eastern section of town.

Waterbury-Oxford Airport, with the second largest runway in Connecticut is located in Oxford and Middlebury. The airport, which is owned and operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, has become one of the largest and fastest growing corporate aviation centers in the Northeast. There are 252 aircraft based at the airport, with 80 of those aircraft being large corporate business jets.

Notable people

 * Barbara Hershey (1948-), actress
 * Kurt Kepshire (1959-), former pitcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals
 * Andrew Leete Stone (1915-1892), pastor, author, Civil War chaplain

Mysterious death
In 2001, Oxford made international headlines when 94-year-old Ottilie Lundgren mysteriously died of anthrax. At the time, there was a spread of anthrax attacks in New York and Washington, and this case baffled law enforcement. No additional cases in the area suggested Lundgren's death was the result of accidental cross-contamination of the mail.