Nestled among the rolling hills of North Mississippi lies the extraordinary town of Oxford.

Whispers of William Faulkner novels float along the breeze through hundred-year-old magnolias. The aroma of redbud, wisteria and Southern cooking enhances a stroll around the town square-surrounded by history and tradition, laced with a cosmopolitan flare.

Recognized throughout the nation and world as a birthplace of literary genius, residents can obtain their own special blend of Oxford's diversity. It may be the arts, an eduation at the University of Mississippi (affectionately known as Ole Miss), entertainment at one of the diverse dining spots, the quiet seclusion of a small town, sports or perhaps a chance encounter with one of the many best-selling authors who call Oxford home.

USA Today called Oxford "...a thriving New South Arts Mecca" and Fortune magazine said Oxford is one of the "Top 20 Places in the World to Retire." Once you experience our unique blend of charm and sophistication, you’ll understand why we say: "Oxford... you’ll always come back."


A Place to Live
This quaint garden town offers a variety of housing styles. Grand antebellum and historic homes compliment and influence even the newest of developments. The median value of homes purchased in Oxford and Lafayette County in 1998 is $110,000. Small farms may be found just minutes from the city limits with rural acreage available for $800 to $1000 per acre. New construction in Oxford-Lafayette County runs about $60 to $80 per square foot. Outlying subdivisions developing on all sides of town have homes ranging from $150,000 to $275,000.

Newcomers are pleasantly surprised to find that even resort golf course living is available. A beautifully manicured golf community has home sites available for residential homes, and Golf villas are nestled around the fairways of the 450-acre site. The Economic Development Foundation even offers a "retirement tour" that features housing options and points of interest in the area for those interested in retiring.

Recreation In addition to games at The University of Mississippi with nationally ranked teams, residents and visitors can enjoy High School and Oxford Park Commission leagues.

For less structured play, enjoy one of Oxford’s three public parks. Two fitness centers offer wellness counseling from educated trainers in well facilities. Two 18-hole golf courses and one 9-hole private golf course are a haven for golf lovers. Outdoors enthusiasts can find many opportunities for fishing, camping, or hunting in nearby recreational areas, state and national parks.

Higher Education  
The University of Mississippi is an integral part of the Oxford community. Focusing on seven major schools of study - liberal arts, engineering, law, education, pharmacy, business administration and accountancy - the University offers complete programs for both undergraduate and advanced degrees. It was founded in 1848, and since that time it has grown to become one of the most respected universities in the South.

Nearby Northwest Community College offers classes to over 600 students in the North Mississippi and Oxford area. It is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has more than 40 different academic, vocational and technical programs.

Public and Private Schools
Lafayette County has two public school systems - the Oxford School District and the Lafayette County School District. With a combined enrollment of about 5,100 students, the two serve children in kindergarten through twelfth grade.Both educational districts are members of the prestigious Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Oxford School District has garnered a Level 5 rating, the highest rating available by the state of Mississippi.Children also have an option of attending Oxford University School, a private institution, which offers classes for students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight.

Vocational Education
The Oxford-Lafayette Business and Industrial Complex offers a variety of vocational classes and can design employment training classes specific to industries.

Oxford is a regional center for healthcare. Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi serves as a major referral center; thus attracting many doctors and other health care professionals to this area. BMH-NM has more than 70 physicians on staff representing over 30 specialty areas.

Because BMH-NM is affiliated with the Baptist Health System, including the nation’s largest private hospital and 16 affiliate hospitals, managed care is available.

Baptist-North Mississippi has a comprehensive cardiac care unit, a sleep disorders center, and specialties such medical oncology, neurosurgery, and pulmonology. Complete women’s services are available through the Women’s Pavilion, which houses the birthing suites with Level One and Level Two nurseries. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours per day with dedicated physicians and support personnel.

The health-care community of Oxford also includes complete dental, chiropractic, and optometry care providers. A variety of home health agencies and private-duty nursing are available to meet special needs of the community. For those who prefer to live a healthier lifestyle, Oxford also offers several fitness centers, spas and massage therapists.

Climate
Located in the rolling hills of North Mississippi, Oxonians enjoy four mild seasons, are greeted by a profusion of Spring flowers as early as late February. Autumn leaves usually peak in late October. Though lite snow fall is expected, Oxford has relatively mild winters.

Shopping
Oxford is well known for its charming downtown square and its modern mall offering unique shopping experiences - the best of both worlds.

Communications
The community is served by several local newspapers: a daily, a weekly and a student-operated daily at Ole Miss. Three radio stations and one student-operated television station provide an excellent variety of programming to suit almost everyone’s tastes.

Financial
Oxford’s financial base has grown rapidly in the last two decades. Today there are two local banks and five regional banks serving the needs of everyone from students to retirees. Assets are estimated to exceed $10 billion.

Spiritual Life
Approximately 100 congregations responding more than 40 churches sponsor such programs as Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, The Pantry and others.

Culture
Recognized as the cultural center of North Mississippi, the cultural opportunities in Oxford are exceptional.

Nightly you can find live entertainment at any one of the local venues, and regularly the University Artists Series puts on several major presentations from renowned classical performers.

The University Museums offer permanent displays of Greek and 19^th Century artifacts, while the privately owned Southside Gallery in the Oxford Square is a showplace for local and national artists.

The Blues Archive and the personal album collection of B.B. King Ole can be found at the Ole Miss library, and in the Mississippi Collection you’ll find the works of writers such as William Faulkner, John Grisham and Eudora Welty.

Speaking of writers, each year two annual international conferences are held in Oxford. The Faulkner Conference draws attendance from around the globe, and the Oxford Conference for the Book attracts some of America’s most successful writers. Rowan Oak, the home where Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner wrote many of his masterpieces, remains today as it was during his lifetime.

The Center for the Study of Southern Culture serves as a teaching and research center dedicated to the study of the South. Housed in the antebellum Barnard Observatory, the Center’s studies include music, science, politics folklife, literature and art.

Government
The City of Oxford is governed by a Mayor and Board of Aldermen, while the County is represented by a Board of Supervisors. The federal government has a significant presence in Oxford with 15 governmental agencies including U.S. Marshals, the U.S. District Court for Northern Mississippi, the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Division of U.S. Treasury and more.

Crime
Crime statistics for the area are quite comforting, with FBI reporting Oxford as having one of the lowest crime rates in the state.