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Oxford, England

Oxford
City of Oxford
City and non-metropolitan district
From top left to bottom right: Oxford skyline panorama from St Mary's Church; Radcliffe Camera; High Street from above looking east; University College; High Street by night; Natural History Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum.
From top left to bottom right: Oxford skyline panorama from St Mary's Church; Radcliffe Camera; High Street from above looking east; University College; High Street by night; Natural History Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum.
Official logo of Oxford
Coat of arms of Oxford
Nickname(s): "the City of Dreaming Spires"
Motto: "Fortis est veritas" "The truth is strong"
Shown within Oxfordshire
Shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates: 51°45′7″N 1°15′28″W / 51.75194°N 1.25778°W / 51.75194; -1.25778
Sovereign state  United Kingdom
Constituent country  England
Region South East England
Ceremonial county  Oxfordshire
Admin HQ Oxford City Centre
Founded 8th century
City status 1542
Government
 • Type City
 • Governing body Oxford City Council
 • Lord Mayor Cllr Rae Humberstone (2015–2016) (Lab)
 • Sheriff of Oxford Cllr Sajjad Malik (Lab)
 • Executive Council Leader Labour
Cllr Bob Price
 • MPs Nicola Blackwood (C)
Andrew Smith (L)
Area
 • City and non-metropolitan district 45.59 km2 (17.60 sq mi)
Population (mid-2014 est.)
 • City and non-metropolitan district 157,997 (ranked 118th of 326)
 • Density 3,270/km2 (8,500/sq mi)
 • Urban 171,380
 • Metro 244,000
 • Ethnicity 72.4% White British
6.7% Other White
8.5% South Asian
3.7% Black
4.3% Chinese
3.0% Mixed Race
2.5% Other
1.4% White Irish
Demonym(s) Oxonian
Time zone GMT (UTC0)
 • Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)
Postcode OX1, OX2, OX3, OX4
Area code(s) 01865
ISO 3166-2 GB-OXF
ONS code 38UC (ONS)
E07000178 (GSS)
OS grid reference SP513061
Website www.oxford.gov.uk

Oxford (/ˈɒksfərd/) is a city in the South East region of England and the county town of Oxfordshire. With a population of 159,994 it is the 52nd largest city in the United Kingdom, and one of the fastest growing and most ethnically diverse. The city is situated 57 miles (92 km) from London, 69 miles (111 km) from Bristol, 65 miles (105 km) from both Southampton and Birmingham and 25 miles (40 km) from Reading.

The city is known worldwide as the home of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of every English architectural period since the late Saxon period. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold. Oxford has a broad economic base. Its industries include motor manufacturing, education, publishing and a large number of information technology and science-based businesses, some being academic offshoots.

Oxford was first settled in Saxon times and was initially known as "Oxenaforda", meaning "Ford of the Oxen" (according to the English Place-Name Society, who base their result on a passing reference in Florence of Worcester's work Chronicon ex chronicis); fords were more common than bridges at that time. It began with the establishment of a river crossing for oxen around AD 900. In the 10th century, Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes.


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