On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Oxford Township is more historic than 80% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Oxford Township’s overall grade.
Kansas towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Kansas town has 5.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Oxford Township’s 25.0 sits above most of its state (84% of Kansas towns have fewer) while its 3 historic buildings outnumber those of 65% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±9.5 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date.
Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Oxford Township’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Oxford Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1890Wellington sheet · 1:125,000
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Oxford Township.
Oxford was founded in 1871 at the site of a former trading post. Oxford was incorporated as a city on October 17, 1879. It was named after Oxford University, in England. The founding city officials were Ben Smith (1831–1898), the elected mayor, Joseph Sleigh (1842–1924), the elected police judge and George Walton (1820–1902), the appointed city clerk.
When Oxford was known as Napawalla, a post office had been established and Lafe Binkley (1842–1917) was postmaster. When Oxford was founded, a new post office was opened and T.E. Clark was appointed postmaster.
The Oxford Township post office opened in 1871, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Oxford Township rank for history?
Oxford Township is more historic than 80% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Oxford Township?
One place: the Old Oxford Mill (listed 1982).
How old are the homes in Oxford Township?
41% of Oxford Township’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±9.5 points), against a typical 10% for a Kansas town; the median home was built in 1951.
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).
From Wikimedia Commons (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.
2005