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Oxford, Pennsylvania

Oxford, Pennsylvania
Borough
Oxford PA Hotel.jpg
Oxford Hotel
Country United States
State Pennsylvania
County Chester
Elevation 535 ft (163.1 m)
Coordinates 39°47′02″N 75°58′42″W / 39.78389°N 75.97833°W / 39.78389; -75.97833Coordinates: 39°47′02″N 75°58′42″W / 39.78389°N 75.97833°W / 39.78389; -75.97833
Area 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2)
 - land 2.0 sq mi (5 km2)
 - water 0.0 sq mi (0 km2), 0%
Population 5,077 (2010)
Density 2,590.3/sq mi (1,000.1/km2)
Incorporated 1833
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP Code 19363
Area code 610 and 484
Location in Chester County and the state of Pennsylvania.
Location of Pennsylvania in the United States
Website: www.oxfordboro.org

Oxford is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Oxford is the closest town to Lincoln University. The population was 5,077 at the 2010 census.

The borough was once called Oxford Crossing and Oxford Village.

Oxford is located near the half-way point on the main road from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The owner of the stage between the two cities purchased Hood's Tavern and renamed it Oxford Hotel. It became the stopping point on the two-day trip between the two cities.

In 1833, Oxford was officially incorporated as a borough. Its first burgess (now called the mayor) was Thomas Alexander, who operated a general store thought to be the oldest building in Oxford.

The northern half of Oxford was owned by the Dickey family in the 19th century. The Dickeys included the local Presbyterian minister, the Mr O'Malley of the local bank, a state Representative, and local businessmen. Reverend John Miller Dickey and his wife Sarah Emlen Cresson founded Ashmun Institute in 1854, and which later became Lincoln University. The family played a major role in re-routing the new Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad (P&BC) through Oxford. Track was laid in the 1850s. The railroad reached Oxford in 1860 and later connected to Philadelphia and Baltimore. By the time of the Civil War, Oxford was a bustling community. The business district on Third Street was entirely re-built at this time, including the Oxford Hotel (1858) and Oxford Hall (1862). Oxford became known for its confectionery and candy businesses and was the location of many manufacturing facilities. A second railroad, the Peach Bottom Railway, was built in the 1870s from Oxford to Peach Bottom. It carried farm products and passengers but was not profitable. It struggled through three bankruptcies and reorganized as the Lancaster, Oxford and Southern Railway, finally closing permanently in 1918.


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