Frequently Asked Questions about the City of Oxford

All of the contact information for the Mayor and Board of Aldermen is on this page.

Where is Oxford, Mississippi and City Hall?

Oxford, Mississippi is located in Lafayette County in the north central portion of Mississippi, approximately equidistant between St. Louis, Missouri and New Orleans, Louisiana.

City Hall is the large red brick building on the northeast side of the courthouse square. The physical address is 107 Courthouse Square. Here is a map showing the location.

I need directions; how do I get to Oxford, Mississippi?

Select this link for driving directions to Oxford.

What are the area and zip codes for Oxford?

The area code for Oxford and the University is 662.
The zip code for Oxford is 38655, and the zip code for the University is 38677.

Where is the Oxford Conference Center?

The Oxford Conference Center is located at 102 Ed Perry Boulevard which is at the east end of Sisk Avenue. To get to the Conference Center from Highway 6, take the Hwy 7 North exit towards Holly Springs. The first exit on the right is the Sisk Avenue exit. Take this exit and turn right. The Conference center is to the right. The OCC website has a printable map showing it's location. Call 662-232-2367 for more information.

Where is the closest major airport to Oxford?

Memphis International Airport (MEM) in Memphis, Tennessee is the closest major airport (approximately 75 miles from Oxford) that most of the major airlines fly into.

Where is Rowan Oak and what can I do there?

From MS Hwy 6, take the South Lamar exit, and turn north (towards town). Then turn left onto Old Taylor Road. Proceed past the intersection with a stop sign and Rowan Oak is on the right just before Old Taylor curves sharply to the left. A map is available here.

The house is available for touring 10-4 Tuesday through Saturday, and 1-4 Sunday. Rowan Oak is closed every Monday and July 4, Thanksgiving, and December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. The grounds are open every day from dawn until dusk. For a guided tour, call 662-234-3284. You may also wish to visit the University Library Special Collections Floor and see Faulkner's Nobel Prize. For more information, see the University of Mississippi's website about Rowan Oak, and John Padgett's pages about Rowan Oak and Faulkner.

I'm interested in relocating to Oxford. Can you direct me to more information for moving here?

We're glad you're thinking of moving to Oxford! You may want to try the following websites for more information:

City of Oxford Employment Opportunities - Jobs with the City of Oxford.

Oxford Chamber of Commerce - Includes a business directory and guide to everything from education to health care.

Oxford Convention & Visitors Bureau- For newcomers or visitors, this site includes information on lodgings, attractions, and events in Oxford.

Retiree Attraction Program - Includes information on the quality of life and cost of living in Oxford. Also includes contact info on where to send for a retiree information packet.

University of Mississippi Visitors - Part of the University's main website, has information on University employment opportunities, campus and area attractions, and a campus map.

The Oxford Post Office is located on 401 McElroy Drive and the phone number is
662-234-5615.

How do I get my City water & sewer and/or electric service turned on?

Forms with instructions for requesting utility service activation are available here. Or you can go by the Oxford Electric Department at 300 McElroy Drive (near the Post Office). Rates are listed below. Call 662-232-2373 for more information.

Renter's Deposit:
Electric only: $175 plus $15 service fee*
Electric, water, and sewer: $250 plus $15 service fee*
Home Owner's Deposit:
Electric Only: $75 plus $15 service fee*
Electric, water, and sewer: $150 plus $15 service fee*
Water and sewer only deposit:
$100.00 plus $15 service fee*
Water only deposit:
$75.00 plust $15 service fee*

Visa & MasterCard are accepted in the office only.
*(An additional 3% of total payment will be charged for payments made with a credit card)

What are the rates for water, sewer, and garbage?

Inside the City limits, the monthly water rate is $3.24 per 1,000 gallons. There is a minimum charge of $6.48 per month per occupied residential unit connected to the meter. The minimum charge for businesses, commercial or industrial units is $6.48 also.

The monthly volumetric charge for sanitary sewer service inside the City limits is $4.32 per 1,000 gallons consumed. The minimum monthly charge for sanitary sewer service is $8.64.

Outside the City limits, water furnished by the City is $4.16 per 1,000 gallons. The minimum charge shall be $8.32 per 1,000 gallons.

The monthly volumetric charge for sanitary sewer service outside the city limits is $4.68 per 1,000 gallons consumed. The minimum monthly charge is $9.36.

Connection fees (tap or meter) rates are based on what size line is being connected to the City water lines, and whether a meter is being installed, and whether the connection is being made inside or outside the City limits. See the Public Works pages on Water & Sewer Rates and Connection Tap Fees for a complete breakdown of water & sewer rates.

Garbage pickup rates are a flat $16.00 per month.

Where do I pay my water and sewer and/or electric bills for the City?

If you're not going to mail it in, you may pay it at the Oxford Electric Department, 300 McElroy Drive (near the Oxford Post Office). There's even a handy drive-through window which is open during business hours, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There is also a drop box at City Hall for after-hours payment on the Square. Call 662-232-2373 for more information.

Where do I pay a City ticket or sign up for driving school?

You will need to go to second floor of City Hall at 107 Courthouse Square where the Clerk of Court office is located. Call 662-232-2320 for more information.

Where can I obtain a Mississippi driver's license?

Driver's licenses are obtained through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, located on Highway 7 South. Call 662-236-2066 for office hours, and see this page for more information and requirements.

Where do I register to vote?

Voter registration for City, County, State, and Federal elections can be done at the Circuit Clerk's office in the Courthouse located on the square. Call 662-234-4951 for more information.

What is involved in opening a business in Oxford?

To start, you'll need a privilege (business) license. You will need to provide an address and a Mississippi state tax ID #. The cost of the license depends on the business. Call 662-232-2350 and someone in the City Clerk's office can answer your questions and/or fax you a form.

If you are renovating an existing location, or developing a new location, contact the Building Department for determining what permits are required and what steps to follow in developing your business property.

What days are residential garbage picked up for where I live?

If you live north of Jackson Avenue or the Rivers Hill area, garbage pickup is on Monday and Thursday. If you live on or south of Jackson Avenue garbage pickup is on Tuesday and Friday. (Not sure where you live in relation to this? Check this map.) Garbage cans are to be placed at the designated area or curbside no sooner than a day before pickup, and must be removed within a day after pickup.

Rubbish pickup for residents north of Jackson Avenue is on Monday or Wednesday. Residents living on or south of Jackson Avenue rubbish collection is on Tuesday or Thursday. Call 662-232-2359 for more information.

What about recycling in Oxford?

Curbside pickup for recyclables is currently underway as a pilot program for several neighborhoods in Oxford. Click on this link for information on how to get started with curbside pickup in your area.

All residents that are not part of the pilot program can take their recyclables to the drop-off bins located at the City Maintenance facility on Molly Barr Road. Several bins are available for plastic containers (#1 & #2 only), newspaper, office paper, cardboard, and aluminum and steel cans. From Jackson Avenue, turn onto Washington Avenue and then left onto Molly Barr Road. You will see the Oxford Police Department on the left, followed by the City Maintenance facility where the recycling bins are located.

Call 662-232-2745 for more information. A short information sheet on recycling is also available.

I want to contact John Grisham. Can you give me his phone number?

Sorry, we do not have John Grisham's phone number or address. Your best bet is to contact him through his book publisher.

Is there a Veteran's Hospital in Oxford?

There is a Veteran's Nursing Home in Oxford, which is not a hospital. The two (2) VA Hospitals nearest Oxford are in Memphis, TN and Jackson, MS. Information about VA facilities in Mississippi can be found at the Mississippi State Veteran Affairs Board and the Department of Veterans Affairs websites.

I have an ancestor that lived in Oxford. Can you help me find more information about when they lived/married/died etc.?

The City of Oxford holds no records pertaining to births/deaths/marriages/wills etc.

Birth and death certificates for the state of Mississippi can be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Health - Office of Vital Statistics - 601-576-7981.

Marriage records are kept by the Lafayette County Circuit Clerk's Office:
Lafayette County Circuit Clerk, Lafayette County Courthouse, Oxford, MS,38655
Phone:662-234-4951, Fax:662-236-0238

Divorce records are kept by the Lafayette County Chancery Clerk's Office:
Lafayette Chancery Court Clerk, P.O. Box 1240, Oxford, MS, 38655
Phone:662-234-2131, Fax: 662-234-5402

What is Oxford's population and area (in square miles)?

The population of Oxford has grown from 10,026 in 1990 to 11,756 in 2000, an increase of 17.6%. It is estimated that the current (2008) population is 19,000 after Oxford annexed 4.3 square miles this year to bring the total size to 16.5 square miles.

How do I reserve one of the Double Decker buses for a function?

For rates and scheduling information regarding the Double Decker buses call 662-232-2306.

Where can I purchase a plot in the City cemetery?

Contact the Public Works Department in City Hall, 662-232-2306.

Where can I get a copy of a city map, study, plan, etc.?

The City zoning map and other related information are available online here. Printed copies are available for a fee from the Office of Planning & Development in City Hall. Call 662-232-2304 for more information.

Other maps, including cemetery plats, topographic maps, and subdivision plats are available in the Public Works Department of City Hall. Copies of these can be made for a fee. Call 662-232-2306 for more information.

Free tourist maps are available at the Oxford Tourism counter located in City Hall. Call 662-234-4680 for more information. A large scale City Map with an detailed index of streets is available here for printing.

Where can I get a Social Security card application, and/or file for benefits?

An application is available online here: http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html Printed applications are also available on the display counter located on the 2nd floor of City Hall.

The Social Security benefits officials take applications for cards and benefits in the courtroom of City Hall on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 8:30 am - 11:00am. Call 662-842-6582 for more information.

You didn't answer my question here. Where can I get more help?

We tried! Email it to webmaster@oxfordms.net and we'll do our best to answer your question as quickly as possible.

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107 Courthouse Square

Oxford, MS 38655

Phone: (662) 236-1310

Fax: (662) 232-2337

e-mail: webmaster@oxfordms.net