Oxford County, Maine

Oxford County
County
Strathglass Building at Rumford, Maine.
Location within the U.S. state of Maine
Maine's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°19′28″N70°42′19″W / 44.324516°N 70.705177°W / 44.324516; -70.705177
Country	United States
State	Maine
Founded	1805
Named for	Oxford, Massachusetts
Seat	Paris
Largest town	Rumford
Area
• Total	2,176 sq mi (5,640 km2)
• Land	2,077 sq mi (5,380 km2)
• Water	99 sq mi (260 km2)  4.5%
Population  (2020)
• Total	57,777
• Estimate  (2021)	58,629
• Density	27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.oxfordcounty.org

Oxford County is a county in the state of Maine, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the county had a population of 57,777. ^[1] Its county seat is the town of Paris. ^[2] The county was formed on March 4, 1805, by the Massachusetts General Court in the Maine District from northerly portions of York and Cumberland counties. It borders the Canadian province of Quebec. Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is included in the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine metropolitan New England City and Town Area.

Geography

Typical fall landscape in Oxford County, ME.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,176 square miles (5,640 km²), of which 2,077 square miles (5,380 km²) is land and 99 square miles (260 km²) (4.5%) is water. ^[3]

Adjacent counties and municipalities

• Franklin County – northeast
• Androscoggin County – east
• Cumberland County – southeast
• York County – south
• Carroll County, New Hampshire – southwest
• Coös County, New Hampshire – west
• Le Granit Regional County Municipality, Quebec – north

National protected areas

• Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• White Mountain National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	17,630		—
1820	27,104		53.7%
1830	35,219		29.9%
1840	38,351		8.9%
1850	39,763		3.7%
1860	36,698		−7.7%
1870	33,488		−8.7%
1880	32,627		−2.6%
1890	30,586		−6.3%
1900	32,238		5.4%
1910	36,256		12.5%
1920	37,700		4.0%
1930	41,483		10.0%
1940	42,662		2.8%
1950	44,221		3.7%
1960	44,345		0.3%
1970	43,457		−2.0%
1980	48,968		12.7%
1990	52,602		7.4%
2000	54,755		4.1%
2010	57,833		5.6%
2020	57,777		−0.1%
2023 (est.)	59,905	[4]	3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790–1960 [6] 1900–1990 [7] 1990–2000 [8] 2010–2016 [9] 2018 [10]

Ancestries

As of 2015, the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Oxford County, Maine were: ^[11]

Largest ancestries (2015)	Percent
English	22.6%
French or French Canadian	20.9%
Irish	15.7%
"American"	8.9%
German	6.5%
Scottish	5.6%
Italian	4.9%
Polish	1.9%

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 54,755 people, 22,314 households, and 15,173 families living in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10 people/km²). There were 32,295 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.25% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.6% were of English, 13.9% French, 13.7% United States or American, 10.1% Irish and 8.4% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.9% spoke English and 2.6% French as their first language. ^[12] Of the 22,314 households 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 25.60% of households were one person and 11.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 24.20% under the age of 18, 6.50% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.70 males.

The median household income was $33,435 and the median family income was $39,794. Males had a median income of $30,641 versus $21,233 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,945. About 8.30% of families and 11.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.80% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 57,833 people, 24,300 households, and 15,781 families living in the county. ^[13] The population density was 27.8 inhabitants per square mile (10.7/km²). There were 36,055 housing units at an average density of 17.4 units per square mile (6.7 units/km²). ^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. ^[13] In terms of ancestry, 23.6% were English, 14.8% were Irish, 8.2% were American, 6.4% were German, and 5.6% were French Canadian. ^[15]

Of the 24,300 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.1% were non-families, and 27.1% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 44.6 years. ^[13]

The median household income was $39,748 and the median family income was $48,000. Males had a median income of $37,892 versus $30,187 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,254. About 9.6% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over. ^[16]

Politics

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024 [17]
	Unenrolled	13,102	33.69%
	Republican	12,874	33.1%
	Democratic	10,662	27.42%
	Green Independent	1,957	5.03%
	Libertarian	149	0.38%
	No Labels	147	0.38%
Total		38,891	100%

From 1880 to 1988, Oxford County was dominated by the Republican Party in presidential elections, only failing to back a Republican candidate in 1912, 1964, and 1968. The county flipped in 1992 to become consistently Democratic like the rest of Maine, staying that way until 2012. However, it made a 27.8 point swing ^[18] (the largest statewide) to back Republican Donald Trump in 2016 as he won Maine's second congressional district containing the county.

United States presidential election results for Oxford County, Maine ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	17,698	52.84%	14,755	44.06%	1,039	3.10%
2016	16,210	51.95%	12,172	39.01%	2,819	9.03%
2012	11,996	40.77%	16,330	55.51%	1,094	3.72%
2008	12,863	40.64%	17,940	56.68%	847	2.68%
2004	14,196	45.00%	16,618	52.68%	732	2.32%
2000	11,835	43.05%	13,649	49.65%	2,009	7.31%
1996	7,238	27.74%	13,580	52.05%	5,273	20.21%
1992	8,194	27.91%	11,202	38.16%	9,960	33.93%
1988	13,568	55.91%	10,523	43.37%	175	0.72%
1984	15,408	64.34%	8,430	35.20%	110	0.46%
1980	11,041	47.04%	9,914	42.23%	2,519	10.73%
1976	10,551	49.04%	10,340	48.06%	625	2.90%
1972	12,114	64.36%	6,661	35.39%	48	0.26%
1968	8,030	41.66%	10,870	56.39%	375	1.95%
1964	5,340	28.14%	13,616	71.76%	19	0.10%
1960	11,715	56.69%	8,951	43.31%	0	0.00%
1956	12,607	73.04%	4,653	26.96%	0	0.00%
1952	11,575	66.62%	5,757	33.13%	43	0.25%
1948	7,444	58.24%	5,183	40.55%	155	1.21%
1944	8,053	55.76%	6,377	44.16%	12	0.08%
1940	8,656	53.49%	7,502	46.36%	25	0.15%
1936	8,778	57.13%	5,836	37.98%	752	4.89%
1932	8,264	52.73%	7,179	45.80%	230	1.47%
1928	9,409	69.75%	4,015	29.76%	66	0.49%
1924	7,062	69.90%	2,563	25.37%	478	4.73%
1920	7,301	64.59%	3,906	34.55%	97	0.86%
1916	4,026	51.73%	3,625	46.58%	131	1.68%
1912	1,234	16.69%	2,941	39.79%	3,217	43.52%
1908	4,179	64.53%	2,093	32.32%	204	3.15%

Recreation

Oxford County is home to many summer camps. Some of these camps are Camp Wekeela, Kamp Kohut, Camp Wyonegonic, Forest Acres Camp for Girls and Maine Teen Camp.

Communities

Spruce Mountain Wind Farm is one of three wind farms in Oxford County, ME.

Towns

• Andover
• Bethel
• Brownfield
• Buckfield
• Byron
• Canton
• Denmark
• Dixfield
• Fryeburg
• Gilead
• Greenwood
• Hanover
• Hartford
• Hebron
• Hiram
• Lincoln Plantation
• Lovell
• Mexico
• Newry
• Norway
• Otisfield
• Oxford
• Paris (county seat)
• Peru
• Porter
• Roxbury
• Rumford
• Stoneham
• Stow
• Sumner
• Sweden
• Upton
• Waterford
• West Paris
• Woodstock

Unorganized territories

• North Oxford
• South Oxford
• Milton

Census-designated places

• Bethel
• Dixfield
• Fryeburg
• Kezar Falls
• Mexico
• Norway
• Oxford
• Rumford
• South Paris

Other unincorporated communities

• Center Lovell
• Dickvale
• Magalloway
• North Waterford
• Waterford Flat

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oxford County, Maine

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Oxford County, Maine". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 21, 2021.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 9, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
4. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
10. "QuickFacts. Oxford County, Maine". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
11. "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
15. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
16. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
17. Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. "Registered & Enrolled Voters Statewide" (PDF). Maine SOS. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
18. "Here's a map of the US counties that flipped to Trump from Democrats". www.cnbc.com. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

External links

• Official Website of Oxford County
• Maine Genealogy: Oxford County, Maine

44°29′N70°46′W / 44.49°N 70.76°W / 44.49; -70.76