National Register of Historic Places

Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District

Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi
Listed
April 1, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80002257

About this property

The Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District is a historic district located in Oxford, Mississippi, which is the county seat of Lafayette County. The district has existed since the city's incorporation in 1837, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1980. It serves as the cultural center of Oxford, which also contains the University of Mississippi. Several notable residents have lived in Oxford whose images contribute to the popular culture of the square, such as writer William Faulkner, whose works set in the Lafayette county-inspired Yoknapatawpha prominently feature the square. The current standing courthouse was constructed in 1871 after an original temporary one was destroyed by union troops during the American Civil War in 1864.

Location

Oxford, Lafayette County, Mississippi
34.36645, -89.51717

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTLITERATUREPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District

This page lists Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Lafayette County Courthouse
Civil War
0.1 mi
South Lamar Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
North Lamar Historic District
Pre Contact
0.2 mi
Isom Place
Pre Contact
0.2 mi
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Pre Contact
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Forrest's Raid — Jackson, Tennessee to Oxford, Mississippi (1864)
1864Civil War
0.1 mi
Skirmish at Oxford, Mississippi
1862Civil War
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District listed on the National Register?

Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 1, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District?

Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District?

The period of significance for Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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Mississippi history

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