About Oxford

A town of only 25,000 residents, Oxford has long been recognized as a culturally and historically rich tourist destination. The home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, Oxford is a vibrant university town filled with unique boutiques and gift stores, a nationally recognized bookstore, eclectic restaurants and bars, historic homes and buildings, and a beautifully preserved courthouse Square. This town stands apart from others in that it has maintained its charm and Southern gentility all the while becoming a cultural oasis for the arts and learning.

Other nationally celebrated writers such as John Grisham, Larry Brown (July 9, 1951 – November 24, 2004), Cynthia Shearer, and Barry Hannah (April 23, 1942 – March 1, 2010) have followed Faulkner’s lead by making Oxford their home. Independent bookstore, Square Books, and annual events such as the Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference and the Oxford Conference for the Book have made the town a destination for not only writers but readers as well.

Each spring, Oxford hosts the annual Double Decker Arts Festival. Taking its name from the town’s authentic double-decker bus imported from England in 1994, the festival brings together visitors and residents alike for a daylong celebration of music, food, and the arts held on the picturesque courthouse Square. Over one hundred selected art vendors from around the region display their creative wares for the anticipated 40,000 attendees. Shoppers can browse to the rhythmic sounds of bluegrass, jazz, gospel, blues, country folk, Cajun, and rock-and-roll musical groups, while sampling the variety of culinary treats from local restaurateurs.

Another unique attraction for visitors, and the cultural and economic hub of Oxford since the town’s incorporation in 1837, is the historic Courthouse Square. Devastated during the Civil War when General A.J. “Whisky” Smith and his federal troops burned many of the area’s homes and buildings, today it thrives with businesses such as Neilson’s, the oldest continuously operating department store in the South and the sixteenth oldest in the nation. Oxford also offers a variety of restaurants and upscale clothing boutiques. The downtown square in Oxford has remained the center of economic and cultural life in this vibrant university town for over 150 years.

The historic downtown area is now more than ever the nucleus of all forms of activity. For example, at nationally acclaimed Square Books, there are weekly reading and signings. Just next-door is South side Gallery. The gallery hosts numerous forms of art, from high art to folk-art. An evening walk around Oxford will present a unique atmosphere with families strolling, bike riding, co-eds jogging through the square, and observing balconies full of people enjoying live blues or jazz music.

Every fall, Oxford doubles in size for nine months of the year when University of Mississippi students enroll in classes. Thousands of fans travel to Oxford to see exciting SEC football as the Ole Miss University Museums whose exhibits include rare Greek and Roman antiquities and 19th century scientific instruments.

Over the years, Oxford has received notable recognition, such as being listed among the “Best100 Small Towns” for several years in a row. The town square has been included in the 63 “Great American Public Places” from among 200 candidates, as well as being named the “Thriving New South Arts Mecca.” Most recently, Oxford was recognized as one of the six “Best Places to Retire” by Money Magazine.

Throw in beautiful homes, the intoxicating scent of magnolias, extraordinary cuisine, upscale shopping, colorful characters, laughter and music that echoes at twilight and endless tailgate parties on weekends -that’s Oxford.”

Oxford and Lafayette County Links:
City of Oxford
Community events