History
Founded
in 1871, Oxford's first citizens had high hopes and a vision,
naming the town after Oxford, England, in hopes that it would be a
center of learning. In the 1930's, Oxford was an oil boom town
with a booming population and business district-there was even an
opera house. Today Oxford is a strong community strategically
located along US Highway 160 less than an hour south of
Wichita.
Oxford's
history really began in 1869, when the Osage Indians camped near the
large cottonwood ford which winds along the Ninnescah River and
dumps into the Arkansas River. Chief Napawalla first gave Oxford its
name. When the Treaty of 1870 was signed, the Osage Tribe moved from
the area and left thousands of acres of the town "Napawalla"
to be purchased by settlers. The "Oxford Town Company" was
the first business to open in Oxford in 1871. This changed the town
name to Oxford as many citizens hoped this name would place the town
on the same educational status of Oxford, England. Oxford
established the first school district in Sumner County. A newspaper,
hotel, schools, churches, and mill helped the town grow quickly. In
the 1930's the town was booming with oil, increasing the
population. The town even had an opera house. For many years Oxford
was a busy shipping and transportation center. Three railroads ran
regular schedules. Gradually oil production lessened and after World
War II, people were transferred to other areas. Many of those who
came here in the 1930's have retired in Oxford.
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