Oxford, Alabama

Oxford
City
Downtown Oxford
Seal
Nickname:  Crossroads to the Future
Location of Oxford in Calhoun County and Talladega County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 33°35′49″N85°50′19″W / 33.59694°N 85.83861°W / 33.59694; -85.83861
Country	United States
State	Alabama
Counties	Calhoun, Talladega, Cleburne
Government
•  Mayor	Alton Craft
Area [1]
• Total	32.19 sq mi (83.36 km2)
• Land	31.82 sq mi (82.42 km2)
• Water	0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2)
Elevation	686 ft (209 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	22,069
• Density	693.49/sq mi (267.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
ZIP code	36203, 36201, 36207, 36253
Area code	256/938
FIPS code	01-57576
GNIS feature ID	0160330
Website	www.oxfordal.gov

Oxford is a city in Calhoun, Talladega, and Cleburne counties in the State of Alabama, United States. The population was 22,069 at the 2020 census,. ^[2] Oxford is one of two principal cities of and included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area, and it is the largest city in Calhoun County by population.

History

Founded in the early 1850s, Oxford was the first city in Calhoun County to be incorporated, in 1852. ^[3] The name "Oxford" was due to the presence of a narrow crossing of Chocolocco Creek that allowed farmers to ford cattle from one side of the creek to the other. Since 1970, Oxford has annexed large amounts of land to the south and west, including the communities of Coldwater and Bynum. In 1970, it was all in Calhoun County, but today it includes areas in Talladega County and Cleburne County. ^[4]

A smaller municipality, Hobson City, was once a part of Oxford. The area, then known as the Mooree Quarter, is one square mile, and is located north and west of Oxford, and south and west of Anniston. The new town became incorporated on August 16, 1899, as Hobson City, taking the name of a naval hero of the Spanish–American War. ^[5] Another result was the creation of only the second town in the United States (after Eatonville, Florida) with 100% black government, and an almost 100% black population (at least at first). ^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.2 square miles (83.3 km²), of which 31.72 square miles (82.15 km²) is land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km²), or 1.07%, is water. ^[7]

Oxford lies among the foothills at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nearby Cheaha Mountain is Alabama's highest point and offers expansive views of the surrounding wilderness and the city below. Much of the city's southern border is shared with the Talladega National Forest.

Major bodies of water include Oxford Lake, Choccolocco Park Lake, Lake Hillabee, Snow Creek, and the Choccolocco Creek that bisects the city.

Oxford is located mainly in the southern part of Calhoun County and is located along Interstate 20, which runs through the southern part of the city, with access from exits 179, 185, 188, and 191. Via I-20, Birmingham is 62 mi (100 km) west, and Atlanta is 88 mi (142 km) east. U.S. Route 78 also runs through the city and connects it to Cleburne County, paralleling I-20. Alabama State Route 21 connects the city with the city of Talladega, which is southwest 21 mi (34 km).

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Oxford has a humid subtropical climate (abbreviated Cfa).

Climate data for Oxford, 1991–2020 simulated normals (653 ft elevation)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	54.0 (12.2)	58.1 (14.5)	66.4 (19.1)	74.3 (23.5)	81.0 (27.2)	87.1 (30.6)	90.0 (32.2)	89.4 (31.9)	85.1 (29.5)	75.6 (24.2)	64.8 (18.2)	56.7 (13.7)	73.5 (23.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	43.2 (6.2)	46.6 (8.1)	54.0 (12.2)	61.5 (16.4)	69.4 (20.8)	76.5 (24.7)	79.7 (26.5)	79.0 (26.1)	73.9 (23.3)	63.0 (17.2)	52.2 (11.2)	45.7 (7.6)	62.1 (16.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	32.2 (0.1)	35.1 (1.7)	41.4 (5.2)	48.7 (9.3)	57.9 (14.4)	65.8 (18.8)	69.4 (20.8)	68.5 (20.3)	62.6 (17.0)	50.5 (10.3)	39.6 (4.2)	34.7 (1.5)	50.5 (10.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.27 (133.88)	5.48 (139.26)	5.50 (139.60)	4.78 (121.33)	4.27 (108.49)	4.76 (120.98)	4.61 (117.05)	3.78 (96.00)	3.11 (78.90)	3.44 (87.38)	4.45 (112.92)	5.16 (131.15)	54.61 (1,386.94)
Average dew point °F (°C)	33.8 (1.0)	36.3 (2.4)	41.9 (5.5)	49.6 (9.8)	59.4 (15.2)	66.9 (19.4)	70.2 (21.2)	69.3 (20.7)	63.9 (17.7)	53.4 (11.9)	42.4 (5.8)	37.2 (2.9)	52.0 (11.1)
Source: Prism Climate Group [8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	780		—
1890	1,473		88.8%
1900	1,372		−6.9%
1910	1,090		−20.6%
1920	1,108		1.7%
1930	1,206		8.8%
1940	1,393		15.5%
1950	1,697		21.8%
1960	3,603		112.3%
1970	4,361		21.0%
1980	8,939		105.0%
1990	9,362		4.7%
2000	14,592		55.9%
2010	21,348		46.3%
2020	22,069		3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 2018 Estimate [10]

2020 census

Oxford racial composition ^[11]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	15,309	69.37%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	3,645	16.52%
Native American	69	0.31%
Asian	377	1.71%
Pacific Islander	9	0.04%
Other/Mixed	910	4.12%
Hispanic or Latino	1,750	7.93%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,069 people and 5,604 families residing in the city. The population density was 677 inhabitants per square mile (261/km²). There were 8,806 housing units at an average density of 284 per square mile (110/km²).

There were 8,072 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $57,887, and the median income for a family was $53,612. Males had a median income of $46,008 versus $30,231 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,568. About 10.8% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The city's growth in recent years can be attributed mainly to the presence of Interstate 20 and Oxford's central location between Atlanta and Birmingham. The Quintard Mall is the only fully enclosed shopping mall between Birmingham and Douglasville, Georgia. Several other shopping centers dot the landscape of Oxford with the most recent being the construction of the Oxford Commons which is just off exit 188 on Interstate 20.

Arts and culture

• Oxford Performing Arts Center
• Quintard Mall

Government

Oxford features a mayor-council form of government, though the mayor actually dictates the daily running of the city. Alton Craft is the current mayor, having succeeded former Mayor Leon Smith, whose mayorship began in 1984 and retired from office after his eighth term in 2016. Craft previously served as the Finance Director of Oxford for over two decades. The five-member council includes Phil Gardner (Place 1), Charlotte Hubbard (Place 2), Mike Henderson (Place 3), Chris Spurlin (Place 4, Council President), and Steven Waits (Place 5, Council President Pro Tempore). The mayor and city council members are elected to four-year terms that coincided with presidential election years. In 2021, a bill was passed in the Alabama legislature that moved many municipal elections, including Oxford's, to non-presidential election years. The next election will be in 2025 and will then be held every four years.

Education

Oxford's public schools are administered by the Oxford City School System. There are four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. A new Oxford High School building opened in August 2010, as well as a new Technical Building. ^[12]

Media

• WTBJ-FM 91.3 (Christian Radio)
• WTDR-FM 92.7 (Country)
• WVOK-FM 97.9 (Adult Contemporary)
• WTAZ 1580 (Oldies)
• WEAC-CD TV 24 (Television Broadcast Station)
• The Anniston Star (25,000 circulation daily newspaper)
• Oxford Independent (weekly newspaper)
• Insight (a bi-monthly entertainment and event paper serving Oxford and Calhoun county)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Areawide Community Transportation System provides local bus service on an hourly schedule in Oxford. Major highways passing through the city include:

• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 78 (Hamric Drive)
• U.S. Highway 431 (Leon Smith Parkway from I-20 northward)
• State Route 21 (Quintard Drive)
• State Route 202

Law enforcement

The city maintains a 64-member police department. The agency is divided into Uniform Division, Criminal Investigation Division, Administrative Division. The agency also has several specialized units including Special Investigations Division, Emergency Services Unit, Traffic Homicide Unit, Aviation Unit, and Honor Guard. ^[13]

Notable people

• Kwon Alexander, NFL, New Orleans Saints
• The Bridges, folk rock band
• K. J. Britt, NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Rick Burgess, half of the nationally syndicated radio program Rick and Bubba
• Asa Earl Carter, Ku Klux Klan leader, segregationist speech writer, and later famed western novelist
• Tae Davis, NFL, Cleveland Browns
• Trae Elston, NFL, Miami Dolphins
• Chris Hammond, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Terry Henley, former Auburn University and National Football League running back
• Vic Henley, professional comedian
• Maud McLure Kelly, first woman lawyer in Alabama
• Lash LeRoux, cartoonist and former professional wrestler
• Bobby McCain, NFL, Miami Dolphins
• Felton Snow, baseball player in the Negro leagues ^[14]
• Jackson Stephens, Major League Pitcher Atlanta Braves
• Jim Stephens, former Major League Baseball catcher
• Roc Thomas, NFL, Minnesota Vikings

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Oxford city, Alabama".
3. Alabama Encyclopedia
4. Old borders based on Andriot, John L. Township Atlas of the United States (McLean, Virginia: Andriot Associates, 1979) p. 17
5. Claire M. Wilson, of Auburn University, Alabama Encyclopedia, retrieved 5Dec2014
6. The Story of the Progress and Achievements of the Negro in the Art of Self Government, by Ross Blackmon, published in 1947
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Oxford city, Alabama". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
8. "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University". Northwest Alliance for Computational Science & Engineering (NACSE), based at Oregon State University. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
9. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved November 20, 2013.
10. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 8, 2018.
11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
12. "Oxford City Schools / Homepage". www.oxfordcityschools.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
13. "Home_new". oxfordpd.
14. "Felton Snow - Seamheads Negro Leagues Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.

External links

• City of Oxford official website