Boasting a healthy population of 23,000 people, Oxford, Mississippi, is one of the best places to live in the state. Oxford and Lafayette County were formed from lands ceded by the Chickasaw natives in 1832 via the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek, and were organized in 1836. In the following year, three pioneers John Martin, John Chisom, and John Craig, bought land from a female Chickasaw landowner named Hoka, which became the site of their city. The city was named after the British university city of Oxford in the hopes that one day it would be the location of the state university. Those hopes became a reality in 1848.
Oxford has a long history intertwined deeply with the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It was the site of a riot sparked by state officials, including the Governor. He was attempting to prevent an African American man, James Meredith, from enrolling in the University of Mississippi despite the Federal Courts ruling that he must be allowed to enroll. Ultimately, much damage was done, and tragically, two people lost their lives in the ensuing riot. Meredith did end up enrolling in what was a historic moment in American History.
These days, Oxford is a much different place. The city has become a haven for young professionals and students alike. The State University is ranked in the Top 100 public universities in the country. It is highly committed to research, with multiple ongoing projects underway in the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, the National Center for Physical Acoustics, the Mississippi Law Research Institute, and many more. Known affectionately as Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi, Oxford campus is laid out on a sprawling 3,500 acres, with a total student body numbering just under 25,000. The athletics program is top-rated amongst college sports fans, and its teams have won multiple national championships in tennis, track and field, baseball, and football. Two of the school’s most famous alumni went on to play professional football, Archie, and Eli Manning. They are honored by their respective jersey numbers, 18 and 10, being posted as speed limits on the signs on campus.
Being such an important location in American history, many of the most popular attractions in the city are sites of importance from the Civil Rights movement, and even further back in history. The Historic Downtown Square is a destination many people travel to get a feel for what life may have looked like from an architectural standpoint centuries ago. Many people stop at the Confederate Cemetery, although the reasoning behind that may surprise you. While some pay respects to the fallen soldiers of the Civil War, others visit for a chance to experience the paranormal. The cemetery is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers killed in the area.
While Oxford might be an excellent place to put down roots, sharing your home with varmints is something that no one wants to put up with. Luckily, there is an answer for your wildlife control needs. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Wildlife Resolutions is the one to contact when your home is invaded by raccoons, squirrels, armadillos, moles, and more. Wildlife Resolutions will handle your wildlife issues in the most humane, professional manner. Call today for more information.
