Oxford city spokeswoman, Lorie Denton shared that during Oxford’s most recent city council meeting, Mayor Alton Craft issued a proclamation to Main Street Director Hunter Gentry declaring 2022 as “Oxford’s 170th Anniversary.”
Oxford Mayor Alton Craft says, “Oxford is a very special place to me, and I’m honored to lead this city into its 170th year. Hard work and perseverance by many before me must be remembered. They laid the strong foundation that allowed us to see the tremendous growth and many opportunities we now enjoy. As I reflect on years past and think about where we are today, we truly have been blessed. It continues to be my honor to serve the wonderful people and their families who have chosen to call Oxford, Alabama home.”
An act of the Alabama Legislature established the City of Oxford on February 7, 1852. The original limits of the town extended one square mile from the center of the male academy located on Second Street.
Historic Main Street Oxford and the Oxford Arts Council will host a birthday party on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 5:30 PM at Oxford City Hall to commence the celebratory occasion. Special plans are in the works to celebrate Oxford’s many decades of continued success. Look for upcoming announcements for things such as guided walking tours of Historic Downtown Oxford, media features on lifetime residents, tours of our historic cemeteries, spotlights on
Oxford’s oldest businesses, a lecture series on the book Images of America: Oxford, plus many other activities.
“Preserving Oxford’s history is crucial. As each day passes, more and more of our history is lost. I am thankful to live in a community that supports strong preservation efforts ranging from helping save historic properties to writings about the earliest origins of Oxford’s establishment,” says Main Street Director Hunter Gentry.
