Oxford first settled in 1686 by Huguenots who left France due to religious persecution, Oxford today is a thriving community of nearly 14,000 residents. The historic Huguenot Fort site and monument can be visited on Fort Hill Road. Oxford is the birthplace of Clara Barton (1821), founder of the American Red Cross; the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Oxford is also the birthplace of Elliot Joslin, the first doctor in the United States to specialize in diabetes and founder of today's Joslin Diabetes Center. Recreation opportunities in Oxford include hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross country skiing along the French River and Hodges Village Dam. The Buffumville Lake recreational area features an 18-hole disc golf course and a 7-mile Lake Shore Trail.
