ABOUT OXFORD, MI
For over 130 years Oxford has been developing character: the village maintains a small town look even with the addition of modern amenities. Topnotch schools and a new, state-of-the-art public library attests to the modern status of this area. The downtown offers an array of unique shops, restaurants, a 7-screen movie theater, and business services. In 2006 and 2007, Oxford became a Oakland County Main Street Community. Downtown Oxford is also host to many wonderful events that are sure to please. Festivals such as Stew Stroll in February, Celebrate Oxford in August, and the Scarecrow Festival in the fall help to define the quality of life in Oxford.
Visit our Museum located at 1 N. Washington Street. Operated by The Northeast Oakland Historical Society for over 35 years. The building, a former Oxford Bank site, contains various displays of the North Oakland area including the Radio Lone Ranger, Brace Beemer.
Thursday night Concerts in Centennial Park take place from late May through mid-September from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. each week, providing residents and visitors alike a free night of live music. Please be sure to drop by for one of our special events. Also, while in town, be sure to stop by the Oxford Village Offices and say hello to our friendly and helpful staff and pick up a current calendar of events. The residential districts of the community range from newly-built homes and condos to older homes which have historical character or significance, all of which contributes to the overall quaint character of our community.
~ Provided by villageofoxford.org
SCHOOLS
Oxford High School - 248.969.5100
Oxford Bridges High School- 248.884.4232
Oxford Middle School- 248.969.1800
Daniel Axford Elementary - 248.969.5050
Lakeville Elementary - 248.969.1850
Leonard Elementary - 248.969.5300
Oxford Elementary - 248.969.5075
Oxford Virtual Academy - 248.969.5009
- NO Focus-School Lottery - Same Opportunities for all students
- Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary Schools
- The Fifth CoreTM: World language instruction beginning in PreK (Spanish/Chinese)
- State of Michigan Green and Emerald Green Schools
- MASB Education Excellence Awards, Michigan's Best Awards and School Board Standard Excellence Awards
- Oxford Early Learning Center offering preschool, infant/toddler child care, and before/after school care
- Young-Fives Program Available
- PreK-12 Orchestra Programs
- Oxford Arts Conservatory catering to students in visual, media, and theater arts
- FREE student admission to athletic and fine arts events
- We offer nearly every athletic program sanctioned by the Michigan High School Athletic Association
- No pay-to-play policy for athletes or performers
- Kindergarten-9th grade Schools of Choice
- Oxford Schools Early College program allowing high school students to earn transferable college credits with the potential of earning up to an associate’s degree
POWELL LAKE
Powell Lake Park
Powell Lake Park
Powell Lake Park
Location: 530 Pontiac Street
(adjacent to the Library)
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. year round.
This 56-acre park features a passive recreation activities including a 1 mile A.D.A. approved asphalt nature trail fishing on Powell Lake, boardwalks and access to the Polly Ann Trail.
Polly Ann Trail
Powell Lake Park
Powell Lake Park
The Polly Ann Trail is a 14.2 mile long, non-motorized trail located in Oakland County Michigan in suburban Detroit. The trail connects the communities of Orion Township, Oxford Township, the Village of Oxford, Addison Township, and the Village of Leonard.
The popular linear park utilizes the abandoned P.O. & N. railroad corridor and transverses through some of the most beautiful untouched landscape in northern Oakland County.
The trail is open year round during daylight hours and is restricted to non-motorized uses. Walking, hiking, jogging, cycling, horseback riding, and cross country skiing in winter are just some of the activities enjoyed by users of all ages.
HISTORY
Oxford, MI History
During the early 19th century the northeast Oakland County area was largely avoided by the early settlers because it was believed to be nothing but impenetrable swamp land. The area was, at that time, nicknamed "The Barren Plains of Oxford." It was called this primarily because of a report made in 1812 by the U.S. Surveyor General that described the area as a poor, barren, sandy land, on which scarcely any vegetation could grow with the exception of some very small scrubby oaks. It was concluded in the surveyors' report that there was one acre out of one hundred that appeared to be eligible for cultivation. Any hope for crop production was thought to be preposterous. At this point, the area was deemed worthless, and discouragement of any hope for development by forthcoming settlers was inevitable.
Purchase of public land in what is now called Oxford was in 1823 by a man named Elbridge G. Deming. Soon after, the first person to settle in Oxford was a wolf trapper named Avery Brown. He made use of the land and gave some credibility to its value. It wasn't long after that the first area post office was officially established in what was then known as Demingsburgh on May 2, 1834. Five years later, the name was officially changed to Oxford on January 15, 1839. Elbridge D. Deming was the first postmaster for Oxford, as the post office was located in his log home near the intersection of M-24 and Metamora Road. At that time, the mail was brought from Rochester once a week by a man named Mr. Hubbard who walked the distance to ensure, what was at that time, considered as prompt delivery of the mail. A few years later the delivery time was drastically cut by another man named Mr. Rose. The route was given to him as he would use his horse and cart instead of walking like his predecessor, thus expediting the delivery time tenfold.
~ Provided by wikipedia.org
Learn More
Host Ron Brock, President of the Northeast Oakland Historical Society, talks about the history of the Oxford area and how things used to be.