Oxford

History

Founded in the early 1850s, Oxford was the first city in Calhoun County to be incorporated, in 1852. 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. 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. 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).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.07%, is water. 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 west, and Atlanta is 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 . According to the Köppen climate classification, Oxford has a humid subtropical climate (abbreviated Cfa).

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,234
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  2,231
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,065
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,964
• Eastern Bluebird

  Sialia sialis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,939
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,855
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  1,851
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,837

Largest nearby schools

• Oxford High School
  High · Oxford · 1,288 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Oxford Elementary School
  Elementary · Oxford · 794 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Oxford Middle School
  Middle · Oxford · 635 students · 15.9:1 ratio
• CE Hanna School
  Middle · Hobson City · 601 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Wellborn Elementary School
  Elementary · Anniston · 582 students · 16.6:1 ratio
• Wellborn High School
  High · Anniston · 491 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• De Armanville Elementary School
  Elementary · Anniston · 487 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Anniston High School
  High · Anniston · 466 students · 17.3:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.58 — 2017-06-02
  7 km NW of Broomtown, Alabama
• M 2.5 — 2011-09-14
  4 km ESE of Trussville, Alabama
• M 2.6 — 2011-09-14
  0 km WNW of Trussville, Alabama
• M 3 — 2011-09-13
  1 km NNW of Leeds, Alabama
• M 3.2 — 2010-05-06
  11 km ENE of Whitesboro, Alabama
• M 2.5 — 2009-03-17
  5 km W of Ragland, Alabama