Oxford County, Ontario
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| Oxford County | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Incorporated | 1850 |
| Government | |
| - Chair Governing Body |
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| Area | |
| - Total | 2,039.46 km² (787.44 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| - Total | 102,756 |
| - Density | 50.4/km² (130.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4) |
| Website: www.county.oxford.on.ca | |
Oxford County is a regional municipality and census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The regional seat is in Woodstock. Oxford County has functioned as a regional municipality since 2001, despite still containing the word county in its official title.
It includes the following municipalities:
- City of Woodstock
- Town of Ingersoll
- Town of Tillsonburg
- Township of Blandford-Blenheim
- Township of East Zorra-Tavistock
- Township of Norwich
- Township of South-West Oxford
- Township of Zorra
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[edit] History
In 1788, the Hesse District was established within Upper Canada covering the territory of what is today southwestern Ontario. Four years later it became the Western District with the establishment of Norfolk County which included the territory of present-day Oxford County. In 1798, these lands were included into a new London District. The Brock District, containing the Oxford County territory, was then split off from the London District by 1840 as Upper Canada was replaced by the Province of Canada governance.
The boundaries of Oxford county for most of its existence were established in 1850 with the implementation of the Baldwin Act. In 1855, Norwich Township in the county's southeast was divided into North and South townships to accommodate significant population levels in that area. Except for this adjustment, the township boundaries within the county remained intact until the late 20th century.
On 1 January 1975, major revisions to Oxford County's structure took effect when the townships were compressed to the current five under an amalgamation. Three urban municipalities also remained, namely Ingersoll, Tillsonburg and Woodstock. Today's county boundaries also show slight adjustments to include the urban areas of Tavistock in the north and of Tillsonburg in the south.
[edit] Policing
Because of its designation as a regional municipality, Oxford County has a regional-level police force, titled the Oxford Community Police Service. However, a few communities such as Ingersoll and Tillsonburg are patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police Oxford detachment.[1] Recently norwich township opted to remove OCPS from service and now relies upon the OPP.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- County of Oxford, Ontario Canada Official website
- Information Oxford
- Oxford County: History
- DeClutterize Oxford County
- McGill University, The Digital Collections Program: 1880 map of Ontario Counties
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