Oxford

This article is about the city in England. For the university, see University of Oxford. For other uses, see Oxford (disambiguation).

Oxford
City and non-metropolitan district
Coat of arms of Oxford
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
City of dreaming spires
Motto(s): 
Latin: Fortis est veritas, lit. 'the truth is strong'
Oxford shown within Oxfordshire
Oxford shown within Oxfordshire
Coordinates: 51°45′7″N 1°15′28″W / 51.75194°N 1.25778°W / 51.75194; -1.25778
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionSouth East
CountyOxfordshire
Founded8th century
City status1542
Administrative HQOxford Town Hall
Government
[1]
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district
 • BodyOxford City Council
 • ExecutiveLeader and cabinet
 • ControlNo overall control
 • LeaderSusan Brown (L)
 • Lord MayorMike Rowley
 • MPs
Area
[2]
 • Total
18 sq mi (46 km2)
 • Rank248th
Population
 (2022)[3]
 • Total
163,257
 • Rank126th
 • Density9,300/sq mi (3,580/km2)
DemonymOxonian
Ethnicity (2021)
[4]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[4]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
OX1–4
Dialling codes01865
GSS codeE07000178
Websiteoxford.gov.uk

Oxford (/ˈɒksfərd/ ⓘ)[5][6] is a cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. Founded in the 8th century, it was granted city status in 1542. The city is located at the confluence of the rivers Thames (locally known as the Isis) and Cherwell. It had a population of 163,257 in 2022.[3] It is 56 miles (90 km) north-west of London, 64 miles (103 km) south-east of Birmingham and 61 miles (98 km) north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world;[7] it has buildings in every style of English architecture since late Anglo-Saxon. Oxford's industries include motor manufacturing, education, publishing, science, and information technologies.

  1. ^ "Councillors". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Oxford Local Authority (E07000178)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  5. ^ Upton, Clive; et al., eds. (2001). The Oxford Dictionary of Pronunciation for Current English. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. p. 734. ISBN 978-0-19-863156-9.
  6. ^ Dictionary.com, "oxford" in Dictionary.com Unabridged. Source location: Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/oxford Archived 23 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Available: http://dictionary.reference.com Archived 20 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed: 4 July 2012.
  7. ^ Sager 2005, p. 36.