Oxford, Nova Scotia

**Oxford** is a town in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada  east of Amherst. The town is on Routes 104, 204, 301, and 321.

## History

Oxford was established in 1791 by settler Richard Thompson. The name "Oxford" comes from the shallow river that was used to enter the town. Early settlers used Oxen to cross, or "ford", the river, and from here came the town's name.

## Geography

Oxford is located at the junctions of three rivers. Much of the town lies in a floodplain and floods are common during the springtime. Salt Lake is located between the Black River Road and the Trans Canada Highway. A number of swamps and meadows connect this lake to the River Philip.

## Industry

Oxford is considered the wild blueberry capital of Canada as it is centred in a large blueberry growing region. Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd., a wild blueberry processor, is the largest employer in the town, processing up to three million pounds of berries a day during peak season. The plant and over 12,000 acres blueberry land are owned by local businessman, John Bragg.

Historically, the town was home to a manufacturing industry with a woollen mill and foundry being key employers.

### Transportation

Centrally in Cumberland County, Oxford is well connected to the provincial and national road network.

The Trans Canada Highway (Highway 104) passed near just south of the town and provincial routes 204, 301, and 321 all travel through town via Pugwash Road, Brichwood Road, Water Street, Upper/Lower Main Street and Little River Road.

In terms of public transport, the town is serviced by Acadian Bus Lines, which stops at the Lower Main Market not far off the highway.

Historically, the town had freight and passenger rail service via CN's Oxford Subdivision, known locally as the 'Short Line', which ran from Oxford Junction to Stellarton.  Passenger service was discontinued in 1960 and the line was abandoned in the 1990s.

## Other websites

- Official Oxford website
- Central Nova Tourist Association - official website
- Oxford, Nova Scotia on Google maps

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Oxford
- **nickname**: Wild Blueberry Capital of Canada
- **settlement type**: Town
- **image skyline**: OxfordGiantBlueberry Night.jpg
- **image caption**: The giant blueberry makes a distinctive entry feature for the community
- **pushpin map**: Nova Scotia
- **pushpin label position**: right
- **pushpin map caption**: Location of Oxford
- **pushpin mapsize**: 275
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: Canada
- **subdivision type1**: Province
- **subdivision name1**: Nova Scotia
- **subdivision type2**: Municipality
- **subdivision name2**: Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Cumberland County
- **seat type**: Electoral Districts     
List of Canadian federal electoral districts, Federal
- **seat**:
Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
- **parts type**: List of Nova Scotia provincial electoral districts, Provincial
- **parts**: Cumberland South
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **leader name**: Gregory Henley
- **leader title1**: Governing Body
- **leader name1**: Oxford Town Council
- **leader title2**: MLA
- **leader name2**: Terry Farrell
- **leader title3**: Bill Casey Liberal Party Of Canada
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: 1791
- **established title2**: Incorporated
- **established date2**: April 19, 1904
- **area footnotes**:  (2021)
- **area total km2**: 10.68
- **population as of**: Canada 2021 Census, 2021
- **population total**: 1170
- **population density km2**: 109.6
- **timezone**: Atlantic Standard Time, AST
- **utc offset**: -4
- **timezone dst**: ADT
- **utc offset dst**: -3
- **elevation min m**: 5
- **elevation max m**: 18
- **postal code type**: Postal code
- **postal code**: List of B Postal Codes of Canada, B0M
- **area code**: Area code 902, 902
- **blank name**: Telephone Exchange
- **blank info**: 447, 552
- **blank1 name**: Median Earnings*
- **blank1 info**: $60,400
- **blank2 name**: National Topographic System, NTS Map
- **blank3 name**: Geographical Names Board of Canada, GNBC Code
- **footnotes**: *Median household income, 2020 ($) (all households)