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Forested mountains and lakes characteristic of western Maine

Western Maine county guide

Oxford County

A border county shaped by mountain forests, large lakes, historic towns, and a landscape extending north from Maine’s southern interior toward Quebec.

County overview

From the New Hampshire line to Quebec

Oxford County lies in western Maine, adjoining New Hampshire on the west and the Province of Quebec on the north. It was formed on March 5, 1805, from northern portions of York and Cumberland counties. Its towns and boundaries continued to change during the early nineteenth century.

Paris serves as the county seat and hosts county government and court functions. The county includes part of the White Mountain National Forest, a substantial stretch of the Appalachian Trail in Maine, and major waters including Richardson Lake and Mooselookmeguntic Lake.

Historical geography can also be explored through the county’s 1858 map in the Map Cabinet.

Mountain lake bordered by dense evergreen forest

Land and water

A county of mountains, forests, and lakes

Oxford County’s geography links the White Mountains with river valleys, lake country, working communities, and extensive northern forest. Its recreation landscape includes hiking corridors and public forest lands as well as Richardson and Mooselookmeguntic lakes.

The combination of border geography and interior waterways has influenced travel, settlement, forestry, tourism, and community development across the county.

Communities

Towns and plantations

Follow the available community entries from the county list. Hartford is shown without a separate link because the source directed it to the home page.

Historical reference

Archived county data

The figures below are retained as dated historical reference points, not descriptions of present-day Oxford County.

Read the dates carefullyThe source tables combine figures from 1999 through 2009, with a 2010 census count of 57,833. They should be cited with their stated year and not treated as current statistics.

Selected people and housing figures

Measure	Oxford County	Maine
Population, 2010 census	57,833	—
Population, 2009 estimate	56,244	1,318,301
Population change, 2000–2009	2.7%	3.4%
People under age 18, 2009	21.2%	20.6%
People age 65 and older, 2009	16.2%	15.6%
High school graduates, age 25+, 2000	82.4%	85.4%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, age 25+, 2000	15.7%	22.9%
Housing units, 2009	35,040	704,578
Homeownership rate, 2000	77.0%	71.6%
Households, 2000	22,314	518,200
Median household income, 2008	$41,526	$46,419
People below poverty level, 2008	14.1%	12.6%

Selected economy and geography figures

Measure	Oxford County	Maine
Private nonfarm establishments, 2008	1,397	41,755
Private nonfarm employment, 2008	14,783	509,093
Nonemployer establishments, 2008	4,423	113,522
Total firms, 2002	5,502	135,410
Retail sales, 2002	$403,483,000	$16,053,515,000
Land area, 2000	2,078.00 sq. mi.	30,861.55 sq. mi.
People per square mile, 2000	26.3	41.3
FIPS code	017	23

These archived tables were originally accessed in April 2011. Suppressed or unavailable values have been omitted from this condensed presentation. State totals marked in the source with a footnote included data not distributed by county.

Continue researching

Related reference routes

Use maps, terminology, and category indexes to place Oxford County within the larger state reference.

FAQ

Understanding Oxford County

Quick answers about the county’s location, government, communities, landscape, and historical data.

Where is Oxford County?

Oxford County occupies part of western Maine. It borders New Hampshire to the west and Quebec to the north.

When was Oxford County established?

The county was formed on March 5, 1805, from northern portions of York and Cumberland counties. Its boundaries changed during the early nineteenth century.

What is the county seat?

Paris is the county seat and the center for county government and court functions.

Which major natural areas are in the county?

The county includes part of the White Mountain National Forest, a substantial Maine section of the Appalachian Trail, and major waters including Richardson and Mooselookmeguntic lakes.

Are the population and economy figures current?

No. They are clearly labeled archival statistics drawn from years between 1999 and 2010. They are preserved for historical comparison and should always be cited with their year.

Where can I find a historical county map?

The Map Cabinet includes an 1858 map of Oxford County.

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