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History · Oxford

Oxford dates to 1864, and 53% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1968 on and the census since 1950.

1864founded
0on the National Register
53%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Oxford began

When was Oxford founded?

1864

Oxford dates its founding to 1864 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1950.

First census: 110 in 19502020 census: 42162 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1870.The full story ↓

What stands out about Oxford’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Oxford are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Oxford’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Oxford’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Oxford’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Oxford came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Oxford.

Read it all →

Oxford was first settled by Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in September 1864.

Oxford has several historical links. It is the location where Harold B. Lee, a future president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught school. It is also the location where Jefferson Hunt, a colonist who belonged to the Church died. Hunt is buried just behind the hill off the highway at Red Rock Pass.

In a county meeting held on Dec 9, 2024, it was moved by 28-6 vote that Oxford be disincorporated.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Oxford, 1864 to 1968

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1864
    FoundingOxford is established
  3. 1870Post officeThe Oxford post office opens
  4. 20th century
  5. 1959Post officeThe Oxford post office closes
  6. 1968On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
By decade

Oxford, decade by decade

Today1 recent
IDMap-doton-Oxford2004IDMap-doton-Oxford
On the map

Oxford on the map, 1968 to 1984

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Oxford. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Oxford on the 1968 USGS mapOxford on the 1984 USGS map1968Oxford sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Oxford.

People over time

Oxford, census by census

01001960198020002020Peak: 110

Between 42 and 110 people in every census since 1950.

8 censuses, 1950–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Oxford’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Oxford

Nobody well known was born in Oxford itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Tara WestoverAmerican historian and author · b. 1986
Harold B. LeePresident of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latt… · b. 1899
John V. EvansAmerican politician · b. 1925
Terrel BellUnited States Secretary of Education · b. 1921
Phil JohnsonAmerican basketball player and coach · b. 1941
Ralph R. HardingAmerican politician · b. 1929
Places that used to be

Lost post offices

Oxford had its own post office from 1870 to 1959.

Oxford
1870–1959
18701950today

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Questions about Oxford’s history

What year was Oxford founded?

In 1864, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Oxford’s post office opened in 1870, and the census of 1950 counted 110 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.