The Livability of Oxford, Mississippi (Cover Photo by Karen Pulfer Focht)

.com/ms/oxford

Oxford

2022

LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

plus

SCENES to SEE

Discover a community as cl ose to perfec t as yo u can find

Arts of all varieties abound here DISCOVER

10 things to do your first year here

Take Charge of Your Health

Find options to stay active and access quality care

STARTING POINT LAUNCH A BUSINESS IN OXFORD AND WATCH IT THRIVE Sponsored by the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce

livability.com/ms/oxford

oxford, mississippi

CONTENTS 2022 EDITION • VOLUME 3

10 It’s Yours QUALITY OF LIFE

Discover a community as close to perfect as you can find.

16 Small-Business Boom INNOVATION

Ole Miss encourages, supports student innovation.

18 Starting Point BUSINESS CLIMATE

Launch a business in Oxford and watch it thrive.

6 Overview 8 Discover

23 32

Economic Profile Community Profile

24 Schooling for Success TALENT

Access to options provides students with the education they need.

26 Hands on Health HEALTH & WELLNESS

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: KAREN PULFER FOCHT (1-2); THOMAS GRANING/UM

With options to stay active and access to quality care, taking charge of your health is easy.

30 Scenes to See ARTS & CULTURE

Arts of all varieties abound in Oxford.

ON THE COVER Tom Smith, owner of Wildrose Kennels. Photo by Karen Pulfer Focht livability.com/ms/oxford

See what's happening online:

livability.com/ms/oxford

STAY INFORMED Moving to Oxford, Mississippi, might make sense for your bottom line. See how the numbers add up.

QUALITY OF LIFE

TALENT

Whether it’s digging into the area’s best dishes or diving into its lively cultural scene, locals are living their best lives. Explore how Oxford, Mississippi, plays during the day – and night.

Discover how area public and private schools are helping stock the region’s talent pool.

Read the DIGITAL MAGAZINE TWICE THE VIEWS

Each article can be read as a stand-alone feature on livability.com/ms/oxford or within the digital magazine.

SOCIAL IN A SNAP

INNOVATION Explore the area’s cutting-edge business technologies, forward-thinking community planning strategies and much more.

Share an interesting article or a captivating image on your social platforms easily and quickly.

EMBED IN YOUR SITE

Post the digital magazine on your website and share it with the world!

Oxford .com/ms/oxford

2022

LAF AYE TTE COU NTY, MIS SISS IPPI

SCENES to SEE Arts

plus

of all varieties abound here

Disco communityver a to perfe as close ct as can find you

DISCOVE R

10 things to do your first year here

Take Charge of Your Health

Find options to stay active and access quality care

STARTING PO INT LAUNCH A BUSIN

ESS IN OXFO RD

Sponsored by the

Oxford-Lafayette

AND WATCH IT

County Chamber

of Commerce

THRIV E

Oxford 2022 EDITION • VOLUME 3

MISSISSIPPI

PHOTOS (OPPOSITE PAGE), CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: KAREN PULFER FOCHT; ISTOCK.COM; DOLLAR PHOTO CLUB/JOHOO; JEFF ADKINS

Livability Oxford, Mississippi is published annually by Livability Media, a division of Journal Communications Inc., and distributed through the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at 615-771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce 299 W. Jackson Ave. PO Box 147 Oxford, MS 38655 662-234-4651 • oxfordms.com VISIT LIVABILITY OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI ONLINE AT LIVABILITY.COM/MS/OXFORD. ©Copyright 2022 Journal Communications Inc., 6550 Carothers Parkway, Suite 420, Franklin, TN 37067, 615-771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Please recycle this magazine.

livability.com/ms/oxford

HOME

is Calling Oxford awaits – welcoming neighbors, great jobs, quality schools and fun activities

Oxford, Mississippi

OVERVIEW

Ole Miss

YOUTHFUL VIBES

While Oxford is home to a mix of all ages, it has a median age of 28 years old, largely due to Ole Miss being MEDIAN AGE in the region�

The University of Mississippi not only offers students strong academic and athletic programs, but it provides the community with arts and entertainment attractions� One favorite event locals love attending on Saturdays in the fall is Ole Miss Rebels football games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium�

AWASH WITH CREATIVITY “Cultural Mecca of the South” is the moniker given to Oxford for its rich history, small-town charm and creative community.

DIVERSE ECONOMY

TO THE FIELD!

Oxford’s business ecosystem is quite diverse and interconnected, especially for a community of its size� Strong economic sectors include education, health care, manufacturing, retail, technology and tourism�

The highly utilized mTrade Park is a more than 75-acre sports complex that features five soccer fields, eight baseball diamonds, three softball fields, a tennis center, a walking track and a BMX bike park. Find more information at mtradepark.com.

75+

ACRE SPORTS COMPLEX

In and around the area, you will find great places to get your wheels turning, such as the South Campus Rail Trail, adjacent to the Ole Miss campus, and Clear Creek Trail, which is a 30-minute drive from Oxford.

OXFORD

Lafayette County

TAYLOR

DENMARK

The Walton Family Foundation lists Oxford as

One of America’s Fastest Growing Micropolitan Areas containing 10,000 to

Best 100 Small Towns in America.

(geographical areas

ABBEVILLE

e ak sL

TR AC EP KW

Grab your helmet and start pedaling because Oxford is the first Mississippi city to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.

NA TC HE Z

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: OLE MISS; ISTOCK.COM/MICHAEL BURRELL; OPPOSITE PAGE: ART MERIPOL

SPOKES MODEL

Livability.com ranks Oxford among the

TULA

Getting Around Traveling to and from Oxford is a breeze, thanks to the eight highways that serve the community�

50,000 residents).

Camp Here! • John W. Kyle State Park • Wall Doxey State Park HISTORY LESSON

Nearly 50 buildings throughout the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with about a dozen sites predating the Civil War� One of the most visited historic buildings is the Lafayette County Courthouse, which opened in 1872� livability.com/ms/oxford

Discover

Things Every Newcomer Needs To Do Their First Year in Oxford, Mississippi

1) Thumb Through Some Pages For 40+ years, Square Books has done business on the Historic Oxford Square� This two-story building is home to a huge selection of reading material as well as a café, where you can find some tasty desserts and espresso drinks� Peruse its shelves, and you’re sure to find a page-turner�

When the shopping bug hits you, Neilson’s is where you want to go� As the oldest department store in the South and a fixture on the Historic Oxford Square since 1839, there’s a reason people keep coming back� Here, you can find items for everyone in the family – apparel, shoes and houseware items�

3) Hang Out at The Grove

Named for its surrounding elm, magnolia and oak trees, The Grove is a tailgating hot spot on The University of Mississippi (or Ole Miss) campus, where as many as 100,000 fans gather on fall Saturdays prior to kickoff� Spaces are first-come, first-serve, so you’re going to want to get there early to ensure you have a great spot to set up your tent and other tailgating necessities�

4) Visit William’s Home

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Oxford is Rowan Oak, the former home of famed author William Faulkner� The Greek Revival 1840s house is open for tours, and a highlight is the outline of Faulkner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “A Fable,” which is penciled in graphite and red on the plaster wall of his study� Rowan Oak has been featured as a literary destination in publications such as Conde Nast Traveler, Garden & Gun and Southern Living�

oxford, mississippi

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: STEVE JONES; ISTOCK.COM/SEZERYADIGAR; ALLISON MUIRHEAD PHOTOGRAPHY

2) Shop at Neilson’s

5) Go for a Double

6) Sample the Catfish

Taylor Grocery & Restaurant, which offers the slogan, “Eat or we both starve,” is known for serving up some of the best catfish meals in the South� One of its most popular selections is the Mississippi blackened catfish� If you’re looking for something other than catfish, not to worry� Here, you can also find dishes with shrimp, chicken, pork or steak�

Every spring, the Historic Oxford Square lights up for the annual Double Decker Arts Festival, where live music and art are the main event� About 60,000 people attend� It was inspired by the double-decker bus Oxford imported from England in 1994�

7) Exercise on South Campus Rail Trail

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: KAREN PULFER FOCHT; UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI; VISIT OXFORD MS; ISTOCK.COM/BONCHAN; THACKER MOUNTAIN RADIO HOUR

Whether you want to walk, run or bike, exploring the South Campus Rail Trail is a must that you’ll want to do every time the sun is shining� Once a gravel railroad bed, today, South Campus is a well-marked, 5-mile trail� Residents and Ole Miss students approve!

10) Eat a Gosh Almighty Burger

8) Enjoy the State Parks

9) Listen to Thacker Mountain Radio Hour

Get ready to have some fun outside! Four Mississippi state parks are within an easy drive of Oxford� Home to Sardis Lake, John W� Kyle State Park is 15 minutes away, while Wall Doxey State Park is 30 minutes away, Cossar State Park is 30 miles away, and Hugh White State Park is 50 miles away�

Celebrating its 25th year on the air in 2022, Thacker Mountain Radio Hour broadcasts about 30 live shows a year at 6 p�m� on various Thursday evenings from its studio at Off Square Books on the Historic Oxford Square�

OXFORD’S HELPFUL HARDWARE PLACE for 70 YEARS

On the Historic Oxford Square is the landmark restaurant Oxford Burger Co�, which specializes in 100% black Angus hamburgers made from choice beef that is never frozen� One of its offerings is the mammoth triple-decker Gosh Almighty Burger topped with cheese, bacon, grilled onions and house-made sauce� Trust us, you’ll be back for another�

Monday-Friday 7 am-6 pm Saturday 7 am-5 pm Sunday Noon-5 pm

1400 University Ave Oxford, MS 38655 662-234-3232 SneedsAce.com

livability.com/ms/oxford

It’s YOURS

QUALIT Y OF LIFE

Discover a community as close to perfect as you can find

By Rebecca Treon

Oxford, Mississippi

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: KAREN PULFER FOCHT (1-2); ART MERIPOL; OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTOS: KAREN PULFER FOCHT

Clockwise from top left: Downtown Oxford; Yaya’s Frozen Yogurt; Farmstead Florals; downtown Oxford; cycling through an Oxford park; Square Books

livability.com/ms/oxford

ou don’t have to travel far into Oxford before a realization forms – this north central Mississippi community of 54,000 residents has everything – great jobs, fun activities, affordable housing, excellent schools and the main campus of The University of Mississippi – and that’s just the beginning. Current residents love where they live, with many even considering it a privilege. (The hashtag #WeGetToLiveHere appears often on residents’ social media posts.) And while the aforementioned assets are a large part of what makes this place so great, Oxford has a secret sauce – the people who live here. Neighbors help neighbors,

Oxford, Mississippi

“We’re fortunate because there’s a cosmopolitan aspect to Oxford.” - Wil Cook/Southside Gallery and everyone hands out a warm welcome. “A lot of our activities aren’t just geared toward college students or to families that live here, but to retirees and all of that goes together to support a great mix and diversity of citizens,” says Kinney Ferris, executive director at Visit Oxford.

Good Arts &Good Eats Oxford is home to many unique arts and entertainment destinations, including

The Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, which brings in performers of all genres from around the world, as well as a mass of creative talent, from exquisite painters and novelists to award-winning chefs. Local artists are supported by galleries like Gallery 130, the Oxford Artists’ Guild Gallery, Powerhouse Community Arts Center and Southside Gallery. The city also boasts several diverse and notable restaurants, some of which are run by James Beard Award-

winning chefs. And the home of well-known author William Faulkner is a popular destination here among residents and visitors alike. Square Books, a favorite bookstore among locals, is also here and carries an amazing selection of page-turners. “We’re fortunate because there’s a cosmopolitan aspect to Oxford,” says Wil Cook, director of the Southside Gallery. “We have great support, and the art department at The University of Mississippi has brought in great

professors, which we’ve benefitted from.”

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: KEN WOLTER / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; ART MERIPOL; KAREN PULFER FOCHT

On the Move In addition to the arts, Oxford offers residents the transportation infrastructure they are looking for, with access to north-south State Routes 7, 9, 315 and 331 and eastwest State Routes 6, 30, 314, 328 and 334. These make getting around the area to run errands or traveling to and from work simple. Commute times are below 16 minutes in Oxford, more than a third less than the U.S. average.

Home Sweet Home Finding your dream home is attainable here, as the median home value in Oxford is approximately $248,000. “We’re a growing market with a lot of young families,” says Wil Matthews of Matthews Real Estate. “And Oxford

HERE,

You Can Find... • A welcoming community

• Low crime rates Clockwise from top left: Ole Miss campus; downtown Oxford; Yaya’s Frozen Yogurt

will continue to be more affordable than whatever competitor, but it has an amazing quality of life.”

Off to Work or Class When inspecting Oxford’s business scene and economy, you’ll notice it is both a supplier of workforce talent and a driver of innovation. These are thanks, in part, to the presence of The University of Mississippi, a public

research university that offers a slew of highquality degree programs. As for K-12 options, families have the choice between Oxford School District and Lafayette County School District as well as private schools. “Our public education in Oxford and in Lafayette County school districts is of the highest quality that anybody could ask for,”

• Activities galore • Affordable housing • Great jobs • High-quality schools • Tasty cuisine • Must-visit local shops • Ways to get involved livability.com/ms/oxford

state, well-funded, have exceptional teachers, and the

academic programs they provide excel.” In addition to education, the area boasts a robust economy that includes

health care and manufacturing. Plus, it has great broadband infrastructure, making it the perfect choice for remote workers and trailing spouses who have job portability.

Involved & Welcomed

Families have plenty of options, including Oxford School District, Lafayette County School District and several private schools.

Lafayette County School District

Oxford, Mississippi

There are numerous programs in place to help newcomers connect with the community, like Oxford Newcomers Club and Friends, as well as ample volunteer opportunities. One organization, Leadership Lafayette, offers training sessions

and activities for emerging community leaders. “Every year, we have a project that involves our leaders identifying a need and addressing it, coming up with a solution that will enhance our community,” says Quentin Brewer, chairman of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and a member of Leadership Lafayette. “It’s one of the many things that we’re doing to enhance the value of the community.”

Find more about the qualityof-life assets in Oxford at livability.com/ms/oxford.

PHOTOS FROM TOP: SUBMITTED; LAFAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Matthews says. “They’re the highest rated in the

BUILDING NORTH MISSISSIPPI SINCE 1956

Residential Homes

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Renovations

Stout’s Carpet & Flooring is a full-service flooring provider. We take every step to make sure you are fully satisfied. In addition to providing the most comprehensive offering of flooring products in the area, we also offer our expertise with flooring installation services.

2 PRIVATE ROAD 2050 | OXFORD, MS stoutsflooring.com | 662-246-2927

2020 University Ave. • Oxford, MS 38655 662-234-3462 • granthamconstruction.com LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED

Visit Our Advertisers Baptist Memorial Hospital North Mississippi northmiss.baptistonline.org

Northwest Mississippi Community College northwestms.edu

Collegiate Realty – Max Hill yournewoxfordhome.com

Oxford School District oxfordsd.org

Elliott Lumber, Inc. elliottlumberinc.com

RE/MAX Legacy – Jody Black oxfordhomes.com

First Baptist Church Oxford gotofirst.org Graduate Hotel Oxford graduateoxford.com Grantham Construction granthamconstruction.com Matthews Real Estate matthewsrealestatems.com

Smith Building Supply, Inc. smithbuildingsupply.com Sneed’s Ace Hardware sneedsace.com Stouts Carpet & Flooring stoutsflooring.com

MaxxSouth Broadband maxxsouth.com

The University of Mississippi olemiss.edu

Nicholas Air nicholasair.com

Visit Oxford visitoxfordms.com

North East Mississippi Electric Power Association nesparc.com

Walker Electric Company, Inc. walkerelectricac.com

livability.com/ms/oxford

INN O VAT I O N

SMALL-BUSINESS

BOOM Ole Miss encourages, supports student innovation By Kim Madlom

With the number of University of Mississippi graduates finding success with their startups – some even in Silicon Valley – it’s almost as if waves of innovation and entrepreneurship are exuding from the university. Sara Kiparizoska and William Ault, for example, both graduates of Ole Miss and the school’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), developed the mobile platform Curtsy and landed support from a Silicon Valley businesses incubator. The app brings thrifty fashion to the forefront, allowing millions of women across the country to resell and shop apparel while monetizing investments in their clothing. Launched in 2016, Curtsy’s edge is simplifying the buying/selling process and providing excellent customer support. By the end of 2020, the company had moved from Mississippi to San Francisco and was reporting $25 million in revenue. It’s no surprise Curtsy has been successful. The idea won the CIE’s 2016 Gillespie Business Plan Competition, the marquee event for the academic year. The 2021 winner, Froomie, created by student Brea Givens, provides roommate and housing solutions for college students. The award comes with complimentary office space at the university’s Innovation Hub at Insight Park as well as $10,000 to go toward establishing her LLC.

Think Like Entrepreneurs

“Our idea was to help increase the entrepreneurial spirit of The University of Mississippi for students, faculty and staff,” Dibrell says. “One of our goals is to provide new entrepreneurial ventures and startups to the state of Mississippi.” CIE graduates have also created Mississippi-based companies like

Oxford, Mississippi

PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/SEVENTYFOUR

CIE encourages the students behind these and other ideas to think like entrepreneurs, says Clay Dibrell, co-director of CIE, who founded the center with Rich Gentry in 2014.

Collegiate Tutoring, which connects college students with tutors, and Jetson Smart Homes, which provides Mississippi homeowners with the latest home technology. Between 2018 and 2020, more than 50 student ventures were established, 280 student teams participated in CIE business competitions, approximately 25% of participants received funding for their innovations and more than $110,000 in prizes and $15,000 in scholarships were awarded. Dibrell says CIE also offers programs to the public to encourage more entrepreneurism in the region. “Oxford is a great startup hub with a lot of good human capital,” he says. “We offer programs that are open to the public, like REDe Entrepreneurship Summit, and invite the community as well as students, faculty and staff to be inspired to engage in entrepreneurship.”

“Oxford is a great startup hub with a lot of good human capital. We offer programs that are open to the public, like REDe Entrepreneurship Summit, and invite the community as well as students, faculty and staff to be inspired to engage in entrepreneurship.” - Clay Dibrell/Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship The summit is an annual speaker event to inspire students and community members with varied academic backgrounds to engage in entrepreneurship. Dibrell also points to the annual Venture Launch Weekend as a means to encourage entrepreneurs. The two-day business plan development competition is geared toward anyone in the business development and startup space.

Preparing for the Future To meet the demand for graduates in STEM fields, the university is constructing the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation. The

brothers made a $26 million gift toward the construction of the building. It is expected to be one of the nation’s leading student-centered learning environments for STEM. “In the coming years, STEM job creation will outpace non-STEM jobs, and STEM professionals earn higher salaries, generating more attractive opportunities for our students,” says Glenn Boyce, chancellor of the university. “This transformative facility will play a significant role in how the university will strengthen the pipeline for training engineers, tech entrepreneurs, and science and math teachers.”

livability.com/ms/oxford

Starting Point

B U S INE S S C L I M AT E

By Heather Cherry

LAUNCH A BUSINESS IN OXFORD AND WATCH IT THRIVE

Tom Smith, owner and

president of Wildrose Kennels 18 Oxford, Mississippi

Entrepreneurs can find the resources they need to thrive in Oxford.

PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: KAREN PULFER FOCHT; ISTOCK.COM/KATE_SEPT2004

rom business resources to a great quality of life, there are a few things all entrepreneurs are looking for when it comes to choosing a location to launch their business. And Oxford/ Lafayette County checks all of the boxes and then some as a launch location. Here are just a few things that make this area the perfect startup community.

On the Up & Up Oxford-Lafayette County’s population is on the rise. In fact, it has been cited as one of the fastest growing micropolitan communities in the nation. Lafayette County’s population jumped 14%

and Oxford’s rose 27% between 2010 and 2020. A study in 2018 by the Walton Family Foundation found that from 1970 to 2016, Oxford experienced a 455% income growth rate and a 265% gain in employment. This area’s growth is positive for entrepreneurs because it speaks to the community’s bright future and increases its pool of talent.

Set on Support No matter the business assistance you need, you are bound to find it in Oxford. One organization ready to help is Builders + Backers, which helps design, build and scale new ventures.

“We work with communities all over the country, and our goal is simple,” says Donna Harris, CEO of Builders + Backers. “We back exceptional entrepreneurs who are building globalscale ventures to power an entirely different future – one where technology creates value for many instead of capturing it for a few.” The organization partnered with Heartland Forward, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think-and-do tank, to extend its mission, opening its Idea Accelerator initiative to communities. Through the Idea Accelerator, participants craft a small experiment to test their ideas, and the organization fuels that test with a $5,000 Pebble Grant.

FROM 1970 TO 2016, OXFORD EXPERIENCED A

455% INCOME GROWTH RATE AND A

265% GAIN IN EMPLOYMENT. Oxford was also one of the first cities in the nation where residents could apply for Pebble Grants. livability.com/ms/oxford

“Every builder goes through a bootcamp,” Harris says. “Then they take their experiment into the real world. The Pebble Grant allows them to run their experiment at no out-of-pocket cost.” In addition to Builders + Backers, entrepreneurs

have access to The University of Mississippi and the Small Business Development Center. The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce also offers support and promotes area businesses. One business owner who has

garnered support from the chamber is Tom Smith of Wildrose Kennels. “The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce has been great promoting Wildrose to the Oxford community by including us in their Leadership Lafayette Leadership Lafayette Class of 2020/2021

and Young Leadership programs about local businesses and entrepreneurship,” Smith says. Wildrose Kennels is the oldest and most prominent British Labrador kennel in North America. Smith, while not originally from the area, says he was welcomed with open arms when he came here. “I bought a dog in 2008 from Wildrose Kennels and fell in love with Oxford, the dogs and the people at the kennel,” Smith says. “I became an associate trainer in 2010 after I sold my business in Kentucky. I became a general manager in 2014. The previous owner mentored me during all that time. Buying this business was a no-brainer – I wanted to continue the heritage of the company, uphold the reputation and do something I loved.” Jon Maynard, president and CEO of the OxfordLafayette County Economic Development Foundation and Chamber of Commerce, says the organization’s focus is not just on large businesses or industry. “Small businesses and entrepreneurs are a key component to support our community growth,” he says. “We are fundamentally peoplebased, and we aim to grow our community without changing our community – the way we do that is through entrepreneurship.”

People & Place Oxford and its residents and visitors are also beneficial to businesses launching here. “Oxford draws visitors from all over the country,”

Oxford, Mississippi

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: OXFORD-LAFAYETTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; KAREN PULFER FOCHT

Wildrose Kennels

Smith says. “We get many visitors interested in literature and the arts because of William Faulkner (the Nobel Prizewinning novelist who lived here) and the Double Decker Arts Festival. This diverse group of people comes from across the country – it is a part of the fabric of the culture that helps our local businesses.”

Double Decker Arts Festival

PHOTO: TATE K. NATIONS

And as for the quality of life entrepreneurs can experience here, just listen to Smith. “It’s a fantastic place with beautiful scenery – there is a lot to do,” he says. “The enjoyment of living and operating a business in this area is phenomenal.”

Find more about opportunities for entrepreneurs at livability. com/ms/oxford.

livability.com/ms/oxford

Pass Your Plate FROM ITS ASSORTMENT OF DISHES TO THE AWARD-WINNING CHEFS WHO PREPARE THEM, OXFORD IS KNOWN FOR ITS CUISINE SCENE // By Heather Cherry boasts a vibrant, diverse cuisine scene where you can find just about any dish you are craving� “The things that make our food scene relevant are the places you go when you’re not out for your anniversary dinner or a special dinner with your friends,” says Melissa Hall, managing director of the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA)� “Oxford has grown leaps and bounds� We have tiny 15-seat

Chef John Currence

places like Canteen (a local favorite that serves up everything from a beef brisket grilled cheese to breakfast tacos) and world-class restaurants on the Square�”

Food Knowledge Speaking of tasty dishes, Oxford is home to a nonprofit that really knows food backward and forward� Southern Foodways Alliance documents, studies and explores the diverse food cultures of the changing American South� “We make films, collect oral histories, stage events and publish a quarterly journal and a podcast,” Hall says� “The SFA provides a lens through which anyone interested in the region can get a deeper understanding of it� Other organizations here look at the South through literature, poetry and art� Here at the SFA, we figured, why not food? Food is a valid expression of culture and people in this place�” Hall says that it’s the people in the South that make the food here so diverse�

City Grocery

oxford, mississippi

“The reality is that the South is geographically similar landmass-wise to Western Europe,” she says� “One of the things that everyone should understand about Southern food, just like Western Europe or

international cuisine, is that we have microregions� And what you may eat in a specific region looks very different from another�”

Award-Winning Chefs As for Oxford, you can find very different dishes here, depending on the restaurant, and the people behind the kitchen doors are working hard to bring you the dishes you love� Psst … and did we mention some of the individuals serving up grub are James Beard Awardwinning chefs? “We have four James Beard Award winners in Oxford, which is crazy because we’re not that big,” Hall says� “Two of them are chefs, which definitely helps draw visitors to the region�” One of these chefs is John Currence, founder of the City Grocery Restaurant Group, which operates establishments such as City Grocery, Bouré, Big Bad Breakfast and Snackbar� The other award-winning chef is Vishwesh Bhatt� “He explores the commonalities between his native Indian cuisine and his adoptive Southern cuisine� He does amazing things with okra, approaching it as an Indian chef would, but with the same reverence as a Southern chef,” Hall says�

PHOTOS: CITY GROCERY

icture it … you get off late from work on a Wednesday evening, you haven’t had a morsel of food since lunch and taking the time to fix dinner back at your house is the last thing you want to do� Before you pull out that questionable loaf of bread from your fridge and a jar of peanut butter, keep in mind that you live in Oxford� Suddenly, that food dilemma is solved, because your community

ECONOMIC PROFILE PROXIMITY TO MAJOR MARKETS City/Miles to Oxford

Memphis, TN �� 86 Jackson, MS �� 164 Birmingham, AL �� 185 Little Rock, AR �� 199 Nashville, TN �� 234 Montgomery, AL �� 267 Mobile, AL �� 311 Atlanta, GA �� 330 Biloxi, MS �� 337 New Orleans, LA �� 359 Pensacola, FL �� 369 Des Moines, IA �� 369 Jefferson City, MO�� 419 Lexington, KY �� 446 Springfield, IL �� 465

EDUCATION LEVEL High school graduate or higher�� 93.8% Bachelor’s degree or higher�� 56.3%

BUSINESS/INDUSTRY/EMPLOYMENT The University of Mississippi ��2,955 Education Olin Corporation Winchester Division ��1,581 Manufacturing Baptist Memorial Hospital ��1,200 Medical North Mississippi Regional Center ��1,000 Institutional educational care Oxford School District ��594 Education Lafayette County School District ��450 Education Walmart Supercenter ��400 Retail City of Oxford��388 City services Lafayette County ��310 County services CoreLogic/FNC Inc� ��230 E-commerce mTrade LLC ��116 Finance

INCOME

$28,427 Per capita income

$44,283 Median household income

HOUSEHOLD INCOME 54% 27% 14% 5% $49,000 and under $50,000-$99,999 $100,000-$200,000 Over $200,000 Source: Census Reporter; OxfordLafayette County Economic Development

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

Full Service Realtor – Buyers, Sellers, Commercial Clients and Property Management

Your Hometown Realtor Max Hill Associate Broker

1201 Ivy Rd. • Suite C Oxford MS 38655 • 662-234-8500

662-807-1810 maxhill38655@gmail.com yournewoxfordhome.com

livability.com/ms/oxford 23 /YourNewOxfordHome

TA L EN T

Access to options provides students with the education they need By Teree Caruthers

Helping stock this pool is an impressive roster of highly regarded public and private schools. All of these options not only help the business community, but they allow families to choose the curriculum and services that best meet the needs of their children and their futures. “Having an educated and qualified workforce is of great importance to the economic development of the OxfordLafayette County community and North Mississippi as a whole,” says Heather Lenard, public information officer for the Oxford School District. “Ensuring Oxford School District students have those attributes provides our community with young people who are ready to successfully engage in society and the world of college and work.”

Early Preparation Planning each student’s future happens early on in Oxford. According to Lenard, schools within the Oxford District begin having collegeand career-level discussions with students in fifth grade through its AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. Students take careerinterest surveys and learn about different career pathways.

Oxford, Mississippi

All sixth graders take the College, Career and Life course. The district’s career and technical education course offerings begin at Oxford Middle School in seventh grade. In the eighth grade, students can enroll in the Exploring Pathways program, which introduces them to multiple careers. The district offers 24 hours of on-campus dual credit along with 19 advanced placement courses and 11 career and technical education pathways. An ACT prep course is required for all 11th graders. “Through our Middle College program, students can earn an associate degree from Northwest Community College before graduating high school,” Lenard says.

Ready to Work The Lafayette County School District plays an equally vital role in the region’s workforce development efforts. Like Oxford, Lafayette County schools boast high graduation rates and low student-teacher ratios with above average college-readiness scores. “The overall vision for our district is to make sure when kids come through our school, when they walk across the stage, if they choose to go to college, then we want to prepare them for that,” says Jay Foster, district superintendent. “But if not, we want to give them the skills and the training and provide the avenues necessary for them to be able to stay in our community.”

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SCHOOLING for Success

Oxford/Lafayette County’s economy is running strong, thanks to its thriving business community and pool of educated talent.

At the Oxford-Lafayette School of Applied Technology, students can train in a wide range of in-demand fields. Foster says the district works with local businesses to ensure students are learning the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace. “We also partner with businesses to offer our special needs students hands-on learning opportunities through vocational rehabilitation services. For example, some of our special needs students have an opportunity to work in the hospital in a variety of roles — and this experience could translate into a job in the future for them,” Foster says.

Oxford School District

Lafayette County School District

Enrollment �� 5,310

Enrollment �� 2,888

Number of schools � �� 12

Number of schools � �� 5

Student-teacher ratio �� 18:1

Student-teacher ratio �� 15:1

(17:1 is U.S. average)

Number of teachers �� 298

Number of teachers �� 199 Source: publicschoolreview.com

Specialized Options In addition to these districts, the region also offers students numerous private and charter schools and specialized education programs, such as Regents School of Oxford, Magnolia Montessori School and the North Mississippi Japanese Supplementary School (NMJSS).

A collaboration between The University of Mississippi’s U.S. Japan Partnership Program and several Japan-based employers, NMJSS allows students to maintain their culture, stay fluent in their native language and stay on par with their peers in Japan. Students attend local schools during the week and study at NMJSS on Saturdays.

“The primary goals of the Japanese Supplementary School are to help Japanese families and students settle in North Mississippi and provide them an opportunity to maintain their education and culture,” says Shinobu Sullivan, associate director of the U.S. Japan Partnership Program at Ole Miss.

livability.com/ms/oxford

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

Hands on Health WITH OPTIONS TO STAY ACTIVE AND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE, TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH IS EASY // By Val Hunt Beerbower

Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford/Lafayette County is a region that puts the “live” in “livability,” as the residents here are met with a combination of great health care services and amenities that support and promote wellness.

Serving the Community Should a medical issue arise, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi

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mTrade Park

is ready to serve. This 217-bed acute care facility boasts more than 100 medical and surgical specialists who cover over 30 specialty areas. “To provide the best possible care close to home, we assure our hospital is in a state of continual improvement by developing new services and upgrading our technology,” says Bill Henning, the

hospital’s CEO and administrator. “Over the past five years, the hospital moved into a new five-story, 600,000-square-foot facility. The new facility offers a larger emergency department, more surgical suites and operating rooms, larger patient rooms and advanced technology.” Patients suffering from chronic and acute back and neck pain can receive care at the Spine Center, which is in Baptist’s new facility and the result of a collaboration between Baptist and Memphisbased SemmesMurphey Clinic. Also on campus is the Baptist Wound Care Center,

offering wound debridement, bioengineered skin substitutes, epidermal skin, grafting compression therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The hospital often adopts new technology, such as the latest minimally invasive surgical procedure transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). “This procedure repairs the valve without removing the old, damaged valve,” Henning says. “Instead of an open-heart surgery, the TAVR or TAVI procedure can be done through small openings that leave all the chest bones in place. Our team of cardiologists are now performing some of the latest life-saving procedures, such as the new shockwave

Baptist Memorial Hospital

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Prepping Physicians Like any high-quality health facility, it’s the medical professionals there who make all of the difference, and Baptist is working to ensure doctors are ready to take on the job.

Baptist Memorial Hospital

Through its new residency program, which received accreditation in January

“To provide the best possible care close to home, we assure our hospital is in a state of continual improvement by developing new services and upgrading our technology.” - Bill Henning/Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi

Oxford, Mississippi

2021 and welcomed its first class that July, the hospital is educating new doctors and helping retain talent in the region. “Research suggests that physicians tend to practice where they complete their residency training,” says Dr. Seger Morris, chief of internal medicine and program director for the Internal Medicine Residency. “It makes good strategic sense, in alignment with the mission of Baptist, to train the next generation of physicians within the Baptist system so both those physicians and the system can better serve our communities in need.” Those goals are already taking shape with the first residency class.

PHOTOS: BAPTIST MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE; OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTO: ART MERIPOL

technology, the first-ofits-kind treatment for heart disease.”

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Dr. Michael Ghaly, a native of Montreal, Canada, says he found his way to Baptist because of its robust program offerings. “The faculty and medical staff have been very welcoming and have established a great work environment to practice medicine,” he says. “I envision myself continuing to help the underserved and provide the best continuity of care for patients, ultimately improving their lives, families and communities through health care.”

Oxford in Action While doctors are on standby, a key part of maintaining one’s health is ensuring you stay active. Oxford offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, such as parks (and dog parks) and walking/ biking trails. One well-known park is mTrade, a premier soccer, baseball and softball facility that

features more than 75 acres of state-ofthe-art fields to handle city, county and tournament participants. “Over the years, we have grown and have been able to create a significant economic impact, second to only Ole Miss football home games,” says Clay Brownlee, mTrade Park assistant director. Brownlee says he feels fortunate to be able to provide such facilities alongside other city parks and recreational amenities. “Recreation is crucial to a healthy quality of life,” he says. “We take pride in being able to offer our citizens – and those playing with us from afar during tournaments – the best fields in the state. Providing high-quality fields only increases the level of opportunity and pleasure when joining us for recreation.”

Find more health and wellness information at livability.com/ ms/oxford.

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Scenes to See

A R T S & C U LT U R E

ARTS OF ALL VARIETIES ABOUND IN OXFORD

Oxford’s Double Decker bus

onsidering its size, Oxford is a community that punches well above its weight in the “creative” department.

“The city is completely full of arts and culture,” says Robert Saarnio, museum director of The University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses. “When I put on my art-enthusiast hat, I can go to galleries and literary events, and we have a notable restaurant scene.”

Collections Worth Perusing The museum alone houses one of the world’s best collections of Greek and

oxford, mississippi

Roman antiquities, thanks to renowned scholar and archeologist David Robinson, who accepted a professorship at the university following his retirement from Johns Hopkins University and bequeathed part of his personal collection to Ole Miss. The museum also boasts more than 20,000 pieces of artwork, including the work of many Southern and African American artists.

“What makes academic museums so thrilling is that you have this dual mandate of serving the general public – children, families, adults of all ages, lifelong learners – but you’re looking inward to the faculty, the research, the needs of the students of the university,” Saarnio says. “It’s really cool. Of all the things we do exceptionally well, I think it’s bringing in the 14,000 children a year who come

in contact with the museum. Serving children and young adults is what makes a new generation of art lovers.” People of all ages also love browsing the art in some of Oxford’s standout galleries, like Southside Gallery, Oxford Treehouse Gallery and Gallery 130.

Printed Pages As for those who prefer the written word, Oxford might just be your paradise. This community not only includes Rowan Oak, the home of renowned author William Faulkner, but it gave us great writers like John Grisham and Willie

PHOTO: RONNIE HARRIS

By Rebecca Treon

“Serving children and young adults is what makes a new generation of art lovers.”

Oxford Fiber Arts Festival

- Robert Saarnio/The University of Mississippi Museum and Historic Houses

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: OXFORD FIBER ARTS FESTIVAL; KAREN PULFER FOCHT; STEVE JONES

Square Books

Morris. Today, visitors can tour Rowan Oak to get a peek into the life of Faulkner. The grounds and property are open to the public year-round. Also appealing to literary lovers is Square Books, the city’s iconic bookstore, which has satellite locations that specialize in children’s books, rare books and bargain books.

History Lives Here Residents can catch a glimpse of their community’s past every day, as Oxford has worked hard to preserve pieces of its history, including its

town square, which today includes unique boutiques and galleries. History buffs and art enthusiasts also love the Powerhouse, which was built in 1928 as the home of the Oxford Electric Department and now serves as a venue for theater and art classes, performances and community events. “We support the arts in our community so the arts can continue to support creatives,” says Wayne Andrews, director of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, which resides in the building. “We also create and support

cornerstone events for the community that are socially engaging, like the Oxford Fiber Arts Festival, which is the country’s largest and oldest fiber arts festival.” Another must-visit event – the Double Decker Arts Festival – takes place in April and turns the square into a gathering spot for food, drinks and music.

Just Listen Several musical and artistic performances can be found in this community, too. Enjoy live music at venues like the historic Lyric Theatre and Proud

Larry’s, which serves up pasta, sandwiches, pizza and other delicious dishes. The 88,000-square-foot Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts hosts over 150 community events each year, ranging from Broadway musicals to rock acts. “It really is a place where people are drawn to it as a beautiful environment,” says Julia Aubrey, director of the Ford Center.

Discover Oxford’s lively arts scene at livability.com/ ms/oxford. livability.com/ms/oxford

COMMUNITY PROFILE DEMOGRAPHICS

(Oxford)

Median Age

TRANSPORTATION

(Oxford)

WALKABILITY

$248,200

23 Walkscore Almost all errands require a car

COMMUTE

15.9 Minutes Mean travel time to work

AGE Under 19 �� 20% 20-39 �� 47% 40-59 �� 17% 60 and older �� 16%

25,416 Total population

26.6

Square miles

1,013

People per square mile

REAL ESTATE

(Oxford)

CLOSEST MAJOR AIRPORT:

Memphis International Airport flymemphis.com

69 Miles

Mean distance to airport

Median value of owner-occupied units

15,219 Total housing units

10,351 Number of households

2.5

Persons per household

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