Oxford, Pennsylvania

Last updated
Oxford, Pennsylvania
Oxford PA Hotel.jpg
Oxford Hotel
Chester County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Oxford highlighted.svg
Location in Chester County and the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
USA Pennsylvania location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Oxford
Location of Oxford in Pennsylvania
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Oxford
Oxford (the United States)
Coordinates: 39°47′02″N75°58′42″W / 39.78389°N 75.97833°W / 39.78389; -75.97833
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
County Chester
Incorporated1833
Area
[1]
  Total1.97 sq mi (5.09 km2)
  Land1.96 sq mi (5.08 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
535 ft (163 m)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total5,736
  Density2,922.06/sq mi (1,128.24/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
19363
Area codes 610 and 484
FIPS code 42-57480
Website www.oxfordboro.org

Oxford is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Oxford is the closest town to Lincoln University. The population was 5,733 at the 2020 census. [3]

Contents

History

The borough was once called Oxford Crossing and Oxford Village during the 1700s.

Borough Hall in the old train station Oxford PA train station town hall.JPG
Borough Hall in the old train station

In 1805, the Oxford post office was established. In 1833, Oxford was officially incorporated as a borough. Its first burgess (now called the mayor) was Thomas Alexander, who operated a general store thought to be the oldest building in Oxford.

The northern half of Oxford was owned by the Dickey family in the 19th century. The Dickeys included the local Presbyterian minister, the Mr O'Malley of the local bank, a state Representative, and local businessmen. Reverend John Miller Dickey and his wife Sarah Emlen Cresson founded Ashmun Institute in 1854, and which later became Lincoln University. The family played a major role in re-routing the new Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad (P&BC) through Oxford. Track was laid in the 1850s. The railroad reached Oxford in 1860 and later connected to Philadelphia and Baltimore. [4] By the time of the Civil War, Oxford was a bustling community. The business district on Third Street was entirely re-built at this time, including the Oxford Hotel (1858) and Oxford Hall (1862). Oxford became known for its confectionery and candy businesses and was the location of many manufacturing facilities. A second railroad, the Peach Bottom Railway, was built in the 1870s from Oxford to Peach Bottom. It carried farm products and passengers but was not profitable. It struggled through three bankruptcies and reorganized as the Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railway, finally closing permanently in 1918. [5]

The Pennsylvania Railroad took control of the P&BC on the eve of World War I. Passenger train service on the line ended in 1935. [6] In the late 20th century, transportation changes resulted in Oxford being located off the main roads. A bypass was constructed for U.S. Route 1 in the late 1960s, [7] but the major change was the 1963 opening of Interstate 95, which shifted the bulk of the Philadelphia-Baltimore traffic away from Oxford. The former Pennsylvania Railroad Station is now the borough hall. [8]

The Oxford Historic District and Oxford Hotel were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. [9]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.97 square miles (5.1 km2), all land. The population per square mile is 2,581.1.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850 186
1860 482159.1%
1870 1,151138.8%
1880 1,50230.5%
1890 1,71113.9%
1900 2,03218.8%
1910 2,39017.6%
1920 2,093−12.4%
1930 2,60624.5%
1940 2,7234.5%
1950 3,09113.5%
1960 3,3769.2%
1970 3,6588.4%
1980 3,633−0.7%
1990 3,7693.7%
2000 4,31514.5%
2010 5,07717.7%
2020 5,73312.9%
2021 (est.)5,737 [3] 0.1%
Sources: [10] [11] [12] [13] [2]

At the 2010 census, the borough was 59.9% non-Hispanic White, 9.0% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 4.0% were two or more races. 28.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry. [14] 693 people in the borough were foreign born.

As of the census [11] of 2000, there were 4,315 people, 1,703 households, and 1,047 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,254.6 inhabitants per square mile (870.5/km2). There were 1,825 housing units at an average density of 953.6 per square mile (368.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.75% White, 11.87% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 7.39% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.15% of the population.

There were 1,703 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $49,896, and the median income for a family was $41,172. Males had a median income of $35,398 versus $23,015 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,924. About 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2012, there was a total of 264 business firms located in the borough.

Points of interest

Town clock on the BB&T Bank Oxford Historic District bank PA.JPG
Town clock on the BB&T Bank

The Oxford Town Clock, on the BB&T bank on South Third Street, was restored in May 2001. The Fire House located right off of Market Street was originally the Dickey Building, but was renovated and named the Union Fire Company No. 1. They are still in this location today.

The Oxford Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest buildings in town, was destroyed by fire in 1989 after the steeple (which it was known for and can be seen for miles) was struck by lightning. It has been rebuilt and is still in use today.

Oxford has built a four-story parking garage in the middle of the borough. The borough office will also be moved to the first floor of the garage. The borough intends to bring in more people into the town with this new addition.

Education

Oxford Grain and Hay Oxford PA Grain and Hay.JPG
Oxford Grain and Hay

The local public school district is the Oxford Area School District. There are six schools associated with the district: Jordan Bank Elementary (K), Elk Ridge Elementary (1-2), Nottingham Elementary (3-4), Hopewell Elementary (5-6), Penn's Grove Middle School (7-8), and Oxford Area High School (9-12). Penn's Grove Middle was the original location of the High School, but became Penn's Grove after the new High School building was completed in November 2005, (the new place is located down Waterway Road). Sacred Heart School is also located in Oxford, which was built in 2002, and is run by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Oxford is a part of the American Division in the Ches-Mont League for high school sports. Sports included are football, basketball, baseball, soccer, field hockey, swimming, lacrosse, wrestling, tennis, and golf.

Oxford is the closest town to Lincoln University, a historically black college that was founded in 1854. People such as Langston Hughes and Thurgood Marshall were students at Lincoln University.

Transportation

US 1 southbound in Oxford 2022-09-15 10 09 08 View south along U.S. Route 1 (Kennett-Oxford Bypass) from the overpass for Pennsylvania State Route 472 (Lancaster Avenue) in Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania.jpg
US 1 southbound in Oxford

As of 2020, there were 18.32 miles (29.48 km) of public roads in Oxford, of which 6.88 miles (11.07 km) were maintained by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and 11.44 miles (18.41 km) were maintained by the borough. [15]

U.S. Route 1 is the main highway serving Oxford. It follows the Kennett-Oxford Bypass along a southwest-to-northeast alignment across the northwestern edge of the borough. Pennsylvania Route 472 mostly follows Lancaster Avenue and Market Street on an east–west alignment through the center of town, while Pennsylvania Route 10 begins at PA 472 in the center of town and follows Third Street north.

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birdsboro, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Birdsboro is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located along the Schuylkill River 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Reading. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 5,106. Birdsboro's economy had historically been rooted in large foundries and machine shops, none of which remain in operation today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyertown, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Boyertown is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,264 at the 2020 census. Boyertown is known for the many painted fiberglass bears that can be found throughout the town and borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Fleetwood, also called Schlegelschteddel in Pennsylvania Dutch, is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,049 at the 2020 census. It was home to the Fleetwood Metal Body company, an automobile coachbuilder purchased by Fisher Body and integrated into General Motors in 1931. The name lived on in the Cadillac Fleetwood automobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamburg, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Hamburg is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,270 at the 2020 census. The town is thought to have been named after Hamburg, Germany, but this is likely to have been a corruption of Bad Homburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Shoemakersville is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,360 at the 2020 census, a decline from the figure of 1,378 tabulated in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penndel, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Penndel is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,328 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elverson, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Elverson is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,332 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honey Brook, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Honey Brook is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population of the borough was 1,895 at the 2020 census. The borough is surrounded by Honey Brook Township, and both are referred to locally collectively as Honey Brook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennett Square, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Kennett Square is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Kennett Square had a population of 5,943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Grove, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

West Grove is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,775 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darby, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Darby is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The borough is located along Darby Creek 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Center City Philadelphia. The borough of Darby is distinct from the nearby municipality of Darby Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansdowne, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Lansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, located 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Center City Philadelphia. It was named for the Marquess of Lansdowne. As of the 2010 census, the borough had a population of 10,620.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Media, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Media is a borough in and the county seat of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about 13 miles (21 km) west of Philadelphia. It is part of the Delaware Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkside, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Parkside is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,328 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ridley Park, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Ridley Park is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 7,002 at the 2010 census. Ridley Park is the home of Boeing's CH-47 Chinook helicopter division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeadon, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Yeadon is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It borders the city of Philadelphia. The population was 11,443 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alburtis, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Alburtis is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The borough's population was 2,596 as of the 2020 census. It is a suburb of Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania. It is part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narberth, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Narberth is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is one of many neighborhoods on the historic Philadelphia Main Line. The population was 4,282 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wales, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is a suburb of Philadelphia and is one of the three historic population centers that make up the North Penn Valley, which is centered on the borough of Lansdale. It is approximately 27 miles (43 km) north of Center City Philadelphia. The population was 3,426 as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schwenksville, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Schwenksville is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,431 at the 2020 census. It is notable for being located near the site of the Philadelphia Folk Festival. The borough was founded in 1684, when the Lenni-Lenape Indians ceded to William Penn the land along the Perkiomen Creek; it was incorporated in 1903. The borough was named for George Schwenk, whose son, Jacob Schwenk, served in George Washington's army.

References

  1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 12, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. Garrett, Jerre. "The Baltimore Central Railroad Reaches Rising Sun." Accessed 2011-09-14.
  5. Hilton, George W. (1999). The Ma & Pa: A History of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 29–36. ISBN   9780801862946.
  6. Dixon, Mike. "All’s Quiet on the Octoraro Branch Line." Archived 2011-12-17 at the Wayback Machine Window on Cecil County's Past. 2008-10-20.
  7. "US 1 Expressway-South of Philadelphia Section." The Roads of Metro Philadelphia. Accessed 2011-09-14.
  8. Existing Railroad Stations in Chester County, Pennsylvania
  9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  11. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  12. "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  13. "Census 2020".
  14. "Census Profile PA". USA Today. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  15. "Oxford Borough map" (PDF). PennDOT. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  16. "Hon. William T. Fulton, of Oxford, Chester County, Dies Suddenly". The New Era. 1912-11-11. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-12-21 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. "Ware, John Haines, III". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Retrieved 2023-12-21.