Town of Oxford
Town of Oxford
Located in Oak Grove Township, Oxford is home to nearly 1200 people. Founded in 1843, Oxford was home for the first Benton County Courthouse. Our brick-paved town square is home to the annual Farmer’s Market in the summer. We have two parks with shelter houses that can be rented for reunions, receptions and parties. Our youth attend Prairie Crossing Elementary School and Benton Central Jr/Sr High School. Open to the public, Oxford is fortunate to have the Oak Grove Country Club, an 18-hole golf course.
Oxford is known as the “Home of Dan Patch”. Dan Patch was a world famous harness racing horse, whose 1906 record pace of 1:55, for the mile, stood for 32 years. The barn that housed Dan Patch still stands.
Be proud to be a Bison! Watch below to get a picture of what's offered at
Benton Central High School....that includes our contagious team spirit.
In Oxford you can live a life of small town charm while completing quality higher education! Did you know that Oxford's downtown is only 19 miles from "Big-10" school Purdue University, and 26 miles from Ivy Tech's Lafayette Campus? Also, see the Higher Ed section of our County's Education Page for more information on Agriculture Development and Education opportunities, and other Adult Education through Benton Fountain Warren Adult Education "
History of Oxford
The first settlers came to graze cattle on the lush prairie grasses. They built their houses among the groves of trees, to protect themselves from the harsh winter environment, just as the Indians had done. They named the area White Oak Grove. This was near the intersection of two major Indian trails. An old, oak tree still stands, just west of Crown Street, with its branches permanently bent, they say, by the Indians to point the direction of the trails.
In 1843 the settlers soon decided they needed to establish a county government. So, Benton County was formed, at Basil Justus’ Tavern just south of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, on Michigan Rd. under some large oak trees, which still stand.
The first County Court House was constructed in the Town Square Park. When the need for restoration or rebuilding came, Moses Fowler led a successful drive to move the Court House to Fowler, Indiana, the geographic center of the county. Today Oxford has a lovely Park on the site where the first Court House stood.
Oxford is also known as the “Home of Dan Patch”. Dan Patch was a world famous harness racing horse, whose 1906 record pace of 1:55, for the mile, stood for thirty two years. Dan Patch was so well known throughout America, that he was called the first “Sports Superstar”
Oxford has a great heritage. To learn more about our town’s history, refer to the book entitled “Tales of a Prairie Town”, by Howard C. Gillispie, at our library.
