Oxford Ranked as Nation’s Second-Best College Town
Oxford is more than a town, much more. It's a way of life, a place built with words that holds the heart, mind and spirit of those who call it home whether for four years or a lifetime. Oxford is at the crossroads of Southern culture, class and cuisine. The storied buildings around the picture perfect town square seem to hold the key to Southern culture, equally embracing learning and leisure. In many ways Oxford is a dichotomy, simultaneously offering stimulation and serenity, creativity and calm. Oxford is a state of mind, a gateway to some and a lifelong home to others. It's a place where all four seasons take a firm hold, accentuated by football games, festivals and friendships.
Oxford is full of stories that resonate with a tenor that can only be found in a town that reverberates Southern charisma and charm. Enjoy the slices of life that follow as they are but snapshots of the town and university we so deeply love and admire.
Articles
- Texas Visionary Brings Development, Love to Oxford
- Ronzo: The Gateway Drug to Cool
- Ron Shapiro, one-of-a-kind ‘cultural ambassador’ for Oxford, Mississippi, has died
- Four Decades of Oxford’s Square Books
- Tailgating Goes Above and Beyond at the University of Mississippi
- At Ole Miss, evolving perceptions both outward and inward
- Week 6: What Happened To You On Saturday?
- Real Estate Students Network With Wine-Tasting, Plan Future Goals
- The Anatomy of a Field Storming: The Fantastic Saga of the Ole Miss Goalposts
- Hotel for College Towns Coming to Oxford in 2015
- Harvest Supper: An Unforgettable Night
- Movie Magic
- Who Remembers the Rebel Deli?
- American Atlas: Oxford, Mississippi
- The Sounds and the Fury - Down Home with Ole Miss, Beauty Queens and Literary Greatness in Oxford
- Are You Ready to Ryde?
- Ole Miss, MSU Real Estate Producing Grads Schooled in the Art of the Deal
- About Oxford
- Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace and Rebels Boat Race Longhorns 44-23
- Top 10 Best Small Towns, 2013
- Throwback Friday
- Oxford Takes the Tailgate
- Of Parties, Prose and Football
- A Sincere Thank You To The Good Folks of Ole Miss
- America’s Best College Bars
- New Oxford High School Under Construction
- They’re Bitin’ at Ezell’s Fish Camp
- Oxford Ranked as Nation’s Second-Best College Town
- Best of 2012- #4 Oxford Ranked as Nation’s Second-Best College Town
- Oxford Tourism: ‘All Good News’
- Best Breakfasts Around the World
- Take Monday Off: Oxford
- The Grove at Ole Miss
- Goose Creek Club Breaks Ground
- Inside Forbes: On a Visit to Ole Miss, a Look Into Journalism’s Past, Present and Future
Videos
- Forward Together: We Are Ole Miss
- Ole Miss National 60 Second Spot
- Sorry We’re Open
- Tailgate Movie
- Ole Miss Football: Vanderbilt Highlight ‘13
- The Tailgating Experience at Ole Miss
- The Pride of the South: From Dixie With Love
- Oxford, Mississippi on CNBC Boomer Nation
- Oxford, Mississippi
- Best Atmosphere in College Baseball
- Ole Miss Football - Opening Weekend 2012
- Ole Miss Football Team Intro 2012
- America’s Game - 1962 Ole Miss Rebels National Champions - John Vaught
- “Lock The Vaught”
- Ole Miss Baseball Home Run Shower
- The Ole Miss Rebels Throw Texas Size Party
- Ole Miss Band Dixie
- Ole Miss HOTTY TODDY Cheer
- The Oak Ridge Boys Tribute to George Jones
- Hoka Video / Documentary
- Oak Ridge Boys Stop in Oxford
- George Will Gives Honors Convocation Address
- College Towns Doubling as Retirement Communities
Oxford Ranked as Nation’s Second-Best College Town
- Mitchell Diggs, Ole Miss News
OXFORD, Miss. – It’s surely no surprise to most Ole Miss fans and people who live in the Oxford community, but the home of the University of Mississippi has been named one of the nation’s top college towns.
Livability.com ranks Oxford No. 2 on its third annual listing of top college towns, praising the town’s genteel atmosphere, cultural and social opportunities, and abundance of outdoor activities. Oxford was No. 9 on last year’s list and this year ranks right behind College Station, Texas, home of new SEC member Texas A&M.
“While there is an equal number of permanent residents and college students, the town retains a sophisticated feel,” the website’s review says. “That comes from the care city leaders take in preserving historic buildings and the fact that business owners know their clients have an appreciation for the finer things in life.”
The review also spotlights the university’s contribution to the city’s vibrant cultural scene, citing the UM Museum, Rowan Oak and Ole Miss Theatre offerings as being particularly important. It also notes that retirees have a chance to take UM classes tuition-free.
“College towns are appealing to all demographics because universities bring a host of quality-of-life amenities, such as arts and cultural activities, top-notch medical facilities and nightlife, as well as economic development assets, such as research and development, continuing education and workforce training,” said John Hood, spokesman for Livability.com.
The listing is an honor for the entire Lafayette-Oxford-University community, Chancellor Dan Jones said.
“Oxford has benefitted from strong city leadership for some time,” Jones said. “The University of Mississippi is proud to be a part of such a strong, vibrant community and grateful for the close relationship we enjoy. This honor for our hometown is just an affirmation of what we’ve known for some time.”
Other cities making the list are Logan, Utah, home to Utah State University; Champaign, Ill., home of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Lawrence, Kan., home to the University of Kansas; Corvallis, Ore., home to Oregon State University; Bloomington, Ind., home to Indiana University; Athens, Ga., home to the University of Georgia; Ann Arbor, Mich., home to the University of Michigan; and Blacksburg, Va., home to Virginia Tech.
Livability.com focuses on small and medium-size communities through a variety of lists that highlight good living, visiting and working opportunities. Some recent rankings have included the nation’s “Top 10 Best BBQ Cities,” “Top 10 Cities for Historic Preservation” and “Top 10 Cities for Affordable Vacations.” To develop the list of the top 10 college towns, editors considered a variety of factors, including cost of living, walkability, ratio of students to residents and the economic impact of the university on the city.
The listing is the third national honor in a month for Ole Miss, which moved up to No. 18 in Forbes’ annual rankings of the nation’s “Best Value Colleges” a few weeks ago. The university also is included in the “Fiske Guide to Colleges 2013,” which profiles the top 300 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.
For more information, visit the Livability.com rankings.