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The Gravel Capital of the World: a two-block downtown on the Polly Ann Trail
01 / Why it matters
Oxford got off to a bad start: an 1812 survey described the area as barren, sandy plains where hardly anything would grow. Elbridge Deming bought land here anyway in 1823, and the settlement took its name from the post office, first Demingsburgh, then Oxford from 1839.
Then it turned out the sand was hiding a treasure: Ice Age glaciers had left a huge vein of gravel behind. The first rock-crushing plant opened in 1908, by the 1920s the village was shipping out 5 million tons of gravel a year, and Oxford took on the nickname Gravel Capital of the World. Back in the 1880s farmers here shipped out so many rutabagas by rail that the town was also called Bagatown.
Today the two-block downtown is lined with shops, restaurants and taverns, and the Polly Ann Trail runs right through the village. On November 30, 2021, the community was shaken by tragedy when a student opened fire at Oxford High School, killing four young people: Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling.
02 / Known for
The Gravel Capital of the World: by the 1920s it shipped 5 million tons of gravel a year
Brace Beemer, the radio voice of the Lone Ranger, lived here on Paint Creek Acres, his 300-acre horse ranch
The Polly Ann Trail, which has crossed M-24 downtown on its own bridge since 2006
The May 1896 tornado that killed 41 people across northern Oakland and southern Lapeer counties, 17 of them in Oxford Township
03 / What’s on
Oct 3, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 3, 2026, 7:00 PMUpland Hills Farm · Every Saturday from October 3 through October 31, 7–10 p.m., Upland Hills Farm in Oxford runs family-friendly, not-haunted evening hayrides with a cup of cider, a fresh donut and bonfire access. It's $10 per person, free for 24 months and under, and no reservations are needed.
Oct 4, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 10, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 10, 2026, 7:00 PMUpland Hills Farm · Every Saturday from October 3 through October 31, 7–10 p.m., Upland Hills Farm in Oxford runs family-friendly, not-haunted evening hayrides with a cup of cider, a fresh donut and bonfire access. It's $10 per person, free for 24 months and under, and no reservations are needed.
Oct 11, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 17, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 17, 2026, 7:00 PMUpland Hills Farm · Every Saturday from October 3 through October 31, 7–10 p.m., Upland Hills Farm in Oxford runs family-friendly, not-haunted evening hayrides with a cup of cider, a fresh donut and bonfire access. It's $10 per person, free for 24 months and under, and no reservations are needed.
Oct 18, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 24, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
Oct 24, 2026, 7:00 PMUpland Hills Farm · Every Saturday from October 3 through October 31, 7–10 p.m., Upland Hills Farm in Oxford runs family-friendly, not-haunted evening hayrides with a cup of cider, a fresh donut and bonfire access. It's $10 per person, free for 24 months and under, and no reservations are needed.
Oct 25, 2026, 10:00 AMUpland Hills Farm · Upland Hills Farm in Oxford hosts its Harvest Festival every Saturday and Sunday from October 3 through October 31, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., with a hayride, pumpkin patch, magic show, farm show and even cow milking included in the $13 admission. Kids 24 months and under get in free, and it runs rain or shine.
05 / What to do
A two-block downtown of shops, restaurants and taverns; most of the brick buildings put up after the 1878 fire are still standing.
Official site ↗A trail on the old Pontiac, Oxford & Northern rail bed, running 14.2 miles in Oakland County from Orion Township through Oxford to the county line.
Official site ↗A local history museum on North Washington Street in the limestone former Oxford Savings Bank building, used as a bank from 1922 to 1966; open Thursdays and Saturdays 1 to 4 p.m.
Official site ↗06 / History
Elbridge Deming makes the first purchase of public land in what is now Oxford.
On January 15 the Demingsburgh post office is officially renamed Oxford.
Oxford becomes a village within Oxford Township.
In May a tornado tears across northern Oakland County, killing 17 in Oxford Township; the hamlets of Oakwood and Thomas never regain their role as trading centers.
W. O. Smith opens the first rock-crushing plant, starting the gravel era.
On November 30 a shooting at Oxford High School kills four students and wounds seven other people.
07 / People
Population and area are Census Bureau figures (Oxford charter township). The figures cover all of Oxford Township.
Change since 2020, per the Census Bureau estimate: +2.9 percent.
