About Oxford, MS
Oxford is the county seat for Lafayette County in the northern part of Mississippi. In the mid-1800s, the city was named Oxford, after the town in England, in hopes of attracting a university. The University of Mississippi did become established in the town, and it is now a major employer and cultural center. Financial company FNC is also headquartered in Oxford, and its employees voted the company one of the best to work for in the whole state. Students attend Oxford School District public schools. The university offers many visitor attractions with one of the most important being the home of Nobel-Prize winning-author William Faulkner. Faulkner became one of the South's most powerful literary voices, and he drew his inspiration from the area around his home, Rowan Oak. Every summer, the university sponsors the Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha conference centered on Faulkner's work and featuring films based on his novels. Historical influences continue in the town's Courthouse Square Historic District. Within one walking tour in this district, visitors observe multiple architectural styles, including art deco and Victorian.
