Town of Oxford, Maine

Oxford is a great place to work, live and play! The town is located in Oxford County not far from the Lewiston–Auburn area and includes the villages of Welchville, Oxford Station, Paine Corner, Pratt Corner and Caldwell Corner.

The area was first settled in 1794 and became officially known as Oxford in 1829, named for Oxford in England. Today there are some 4000 happy residents that call Oxford home.

Oxford has a lot to offer its residents and visitors including Oxford Casino and Hotel, Oxford Plains Speedway, an annual county fair, beautiful lakes, antique shopping, and many wonderful local restaurants.

The Oxford school system is one of the largest in Maine! They have 8 community elementary schools, a regional middle school, and a comprehensive academic and technical high school. This is great to know if you’re considering moving into the area.

Oxford Historical Society

The Kay House Museum located at 73 Pleasant St. serves as the headquarters for the local historical society. They have many rooms and a barn with furnishings and items dating all the way back to the 1800s. And they offer a research room for those interested in learning about their family genealogy.

The Congregational Church is another nearby historic building to visit. It was built in 1842 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 252 King St.

Oxford was a farming town in its early days and hay and cattle were plentiful here. Later, mills were established and thrived on the Little Androscoggin River and Thompson Lake because of the water power that these lakes provided.

The 1850s saw the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway and eventually, seasonal tourists found their way to the many inns and hotels along the lakes. These lakes still draw in many visitors each year.

Exploring the Lakes of Oxford, Maine

Thompson Lake is a clean, clear body of water that is spring-fed by the Poland Spring Aquifer. This quiet and peaceful lake is a great place to vacation and swim, fish, and bird watch. There’s also a boat launch and many vacation rentals to choose from.

Pleasant Lake is more developed and populated than Thompson Lake with more residential and seasonal properties. It’s a beautiful lake, a great place to visit and enjoy the water.

The international conflict resolution summer camp, Seeds of Peace, is located here at Pleasant Lake.

Whitney Pond is a much smaller lake but is perfect for fishing. The Maine Inland Fisheries monitors the lakes and stocks them with salmon and trout in the early Spring and Fall.

Popular Local Sites

Oxford Casino and Hotel is Southern Maine’s premiere casino and hotel draws visitors from all over and is a favorite of locals as well. This large lodge-styled casino and hotel is located at 777 Casino Way.

The hotel features deluxe rooms with either queen or king-sized beds for a comfortable stay. And there are three restaurants for your choice and convenience: The Ox Pub offers local flavor in a cozy space; The Oxford Express has grab and go choices such as pizza, desserts, and beverages so that you won’t have to leave your slot machine for long; and The Oxford Casino Grill features a large buffet.

In the casino, you’ll discover more than 1,000 slot machines and table games such as Blackjack, Craps, Jackpot Hold’em, and Mini-Baccarat. If you’re planning a visit, set aside some time to visit and enjoy all that this large casino has to offer.

Oxford Plains Speedway is another popular local place to be! This arena dates back to 1950 is located at 785 Main St. It features a ⅜ mile racetrack and 14,000 spectator seats. They have concession and souvenir stands, private skybox rentals, and free camping for events!

Another fun place to visit is the Oxford County Fair. This annual fair is held each September at the fairgrounds on 68 Pottle Road. It’s a “good ole country fair” and features agricultural shows, contests, and events. There’s also a Demolition Derby, an apple pie contest, live music, and many vendors.

Local Food and Shops

There are many great places in and around Oxford to stop for a bite to eat. Here are a couple of favorites of the locals:

The Lost Gull Fish N’ Chips is a year-round restaurant has some of the best local seafood around. It offers both eat-in or take out.

Oxbow Beer Garden is a restaurant and taproom located at 420 Main St. in a renovated 200-year-old barn. Their specialties are their wood-fired pizza and of course, their brewery. Stop in for a beer and listen to some live music or have your next event here. Bring your skis and try out the Nordic Ski Trail System adjacent to them. You can also rent ski equipment on site.

Daddy O’s is a diner located at 1570 Main St. and is the #1 rated restaurant by locals and visitors. That should prove how yummy their home cooking is! And customers have been bringing in their old license plates for years and having them hung up on the walls. There are now over 2,000 license plates from all 50 states and including 13 countries.

If you’re interested in antiques be sure to check out Main Street in Oxford. There you’ll find plenty of antique shops, including Route 26 Antiques , Kallus Antiques, and more. Happy hunting!

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