The Oxford Courthouse Square Historic District is a
historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
located in
Oxford, Mississippi, which is the
county seat of
Lafayette County. The district has existed since the city's incorporation in 1837, and was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1980. It serves as the cultural center of
Oxford, which also contains the
University of Mississippi. Several notable residents have lived in Oxford whose images contribute to the popular culture of the square, such as writer
William Faulkner, whose works set in the
Lafayette county-inspired
Yoknapatawpha
Yoknapatawpha County () is a fictional Mississippi county created by the American author William Faulkner, largely based upon and inspired by Lafayette County, Mississippi, and its county seat of Oxford (which Faulkner renamed "Jefferson"). Faulk ...
prominently feature the square. The current standing courthouse was constructed in 1871 after an original temporary one was destroyed by
union troops during the
American Civil War in 1864.
Architecture
The architectural structure of the district is reflective of the city's existence during the
American Civil War. Physically, it has retained two-story
brick
A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
and
stucco
Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...
walled buildings that include
balconies and
cast-iron columns. The district serves as the commercial, political and cultural center of Oxford, and also includes several churches. Notable structures include the statues of
William Faulkner at Oxford City Hall and a
confederate
Confederacy or confederate may refer to:
States or communities
* Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities
* Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between ...
memorial statue in front of the south-facing side of the courthouse.
External links
* http://visitoxfordms.com/about-oxford/the-square/
http://www.oxfordms.net/courthouse-square-preservation-commission* http://oxfordms.com/live-in-oxford/oxford-culture/historic-oxford-square/
Buildings and structures in Oxford, Mississippi
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi
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