The village of Oxford, Michigan lies north of the Metro Detroit Region, approximately forty miles north of Detroit.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Oxford include Lake Orion, Leonard, Metamora, Ortonville, Rochester, Auburn Hills, Clarkston, Romeo, Pontiac, Rochester Hills, Lake Angelus, Dryden, Lapeer, Goodrich, Bloomfield Hills, Almont, and Sylvan Lake.
The chief route to and from the village is US-24 (Lapeer Road), which becomes Washington Street within the village limits. Other routes include Seymour Lake Road and Drahner Road.
The body of water known as Oxford Lake takes up much of the northeastern portion of the village, and is entirely within its boundaries. Other lakes within the village include Ploss Lake, Round Lake, and a portion of Erwin Lake, as well as other smaller bodies of water. Several other lakes surround the village.
Formerly a gravel pit, Oxford Lake is a private, non-sports lake about 115 acres in size. There are no public boat launches, beaches, or marinas on the lake, which is surrounded by lakefront residences. There is, however, a fenced 6-acre park with a gazebo, picnic tables, grills, basketball court, volleyball court, tennis court, play structure, and a private boat launch.
The area of what would later become Oxford, and much of northeastern Oakland County, was mostly avoided by early settlers in the early 1800s, as it was thought to be useless swampland. Known as the Barren Plains of Oxford, the area was described in an 1812 report as "a poor, barren, sandy land, on which scarcely any vegetation could grow with the exception of some very small scrubby oaks." A surveyor's report estimated that only one out of a hundred acres would be suitable for cultivation.
The first recorded land purchase was made in 1823 by Elbridge G. Deming, although Avery Brown, a wolf trapper, was the first settler in the region. The Deming family moved to their land in 1832 and, as others moved nearby, Deming became the first postmaster on May 2, 1834. The post office was originally known as Demingsburgh.
Another nearby post office was opened as Oxford Corners in 1836, and moved to the community on January 15, 1839, and renamed Oxford, which supplanted Demingsburgh.
In 1837, the community petitioned the Michigan legislature to be recognized as a municipality. Originally part of Oakland Township, Oxford was incorporated as a village in 1876.
The Deming family and Avery Brown produced shingles to supply incoming settlers, as travel to Detroit was difficult at the time.
In 1837, the Michigan Central Railroad's Detroit to Bay City Branch opened a station in Oxford, and the Detroit United Railway, an interurban line, later provided transportation from Rochester to Imlay City, and connecting with the Bay City Railroad.
Early industries included the shingle factory, but carriages, plows, harrows, scrappers, and other types of farm machinery were also manufactured in Oxford.
Beginning in the early 1900s, Oxford was home to a significant gravel mining industry. By 1924, five of the largest gravel pits in the state were in Oxford or the area immediately surrounding the village. The gravel pits account for many of the lakes in the region, including Oxford Lake.
The population of Oxford declined by just under three percent in the 2010 census, but that was the only census year in which it declined. Its population is approximately 3,500.
Oxford Community Schools provides public K-12 educational services to the village, as well as portions of northeastern Oakland County and southwestern Lapeer County, through several campuses.
The focal point of this portion of our guide is on the village of Oxford, Michigan. Topics related to the municipal government, any other governmental bodies within the village, and local businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities, are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Situated in northeast Oakland County, Michigan, the township includes the village of Oxford, as well as three unincorporated communities: Oakwood, Thomas, and Waterstone. The official township website features a guide to township housing, businesses, downtown district, trails, and public transportation options, as well as public safety departments, and Oxford Community Television. Board members are introduced, with contacts, office hours are posted, and township departments are acknowledged.
https://www.oxfordtownship.org/
OCTV is a non-profit organization developed to enhance communications and networking in the Oxford, Addison, and Leonard, Michigan area. Its mission, vision, and television productions are set forth, along with membership information, public access use, and inter-local agreements with individuals, organizations, educational institutions, and local governments. Programs, schedules, volunteer opportunities, and training workshops are posted on the site, along with photos and contacts.
http://www.oxfordcommunitytv.us/
In service since 1876, the Oxford Village Police Department operates a detective bureau, providing investigation services to the community, as well as a communications center that offers fire-related, police, and medical services. The Oxford Village City Jail is a minimum-security jail operated by the police department to hold new detainees before transferring them to the nearest county jail. Information about getting information on inmates housed at the jail and other details are offered.
https://oxfordvillagepolice.org/
The Oxford, Michigan bar and restaurant offers a wide range of craft and bottled beers, wine by the glass or bottle, and a full bar that includes a selection of Irish and Scotch whiskeys. The Tap Room also offers a food menu that includes barbecue baby-back ribs, fish and chips, entrees, sandwiches, salads, and other menu items, which are listed on the site. Tap specialties and a full menu are included, along with a gallery of photographs, the address, a map, hours of operation, and contacts.
https://theoxfordtap.com/
The locations of the village offices and facilities, hours of operation, and contacts are published on the official municipal website, which includes a community calendar, master plans, ordinances, a zoning map, employment opportunities, and village meeting agendas and minutes. Other resources include a guide to local schools, parks and recreation facilities, libraries, and museums. Instructions for paying water, sewer, and garbage bills are included, some of which may be paid online.
https://www.thevillageofoxford.org/
