New Oxford, Pennsylvania

New Oxford is located at 39°51′48″N 77°3′23″W (39.863208, -77.056475).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.

New Oxford was originally platted in 1792 for Henry Kuhn by James Bolton and identified as "Oxford town" due to the presence of a nearby stream ford and a local establishment named "Dutch Frederick's stand" with the head of an ox on the front of the building.[4] This was changed again in 1822 by the town's first postmaster, Dr. Pfeiffer to "New Oxford".[5] New Oxford was incorporated as borough on August 20, 1874, and Joseph S. Gitt was elected as its first president and then served as secretary through 1891.[6][7] In 1886, the population was 209, with 67 horses,40 cattle, 65 "pleasure carriages", and 14 gold watches.[4]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 1,696 people, 678 households, and 448 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,700.7 people per square mile (1,039.4/km²). There were 725 housing units at an average density of 1,154.5 per square mile (444.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.45% White, 1.36% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 4.42% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.96% of the population.

There were 678 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $36,991, and the median income for a family was $43,036. Males had a median income of $30,203 versus $22,455 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,065. About 7.3% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Within New Oxford are several large manufacturing plants. Among these are Winter Gardens, which manufactures products such as chicken salad; Yazoo Mills, which manufactures paper products; Pilgrim's Pride, which processes turkeys; and Aero Energy, which refurbishes propane and C0₂ containers for Blue Rhino. The Chamber of Commerce sponsors an annual antiques and crafts show on the third Saturday in June.

Map of Adams County, Pennsylvania public school districts Showing Conewago Valley School District

Residents of New Oxford may attend the local, public schools operated by Conewago Valley School District which provides full day kindergarten through 12th grade. In 2016, Conewago Valley School District's enrollment declined to 3,815 students.[11] In 2010, Conestoga Valley School District enrollment was 4,024 pupils.[12] The District's enrollment was 3,795 pupils in 2005–06.[13] Conewago Valley School District operates five schools: New Oxford High School (9th-12th), New Oxford Middle School (7th-8th), Conewago Valley Intermediate School (4th-6th), Conewago Township Elementary School (K-3rd) and New Oxford Elementary School (K-3rd). The high school, middle school, intermediate school and New Oxford Elementary are all located in New Oxford.

In 2016, Conewago Valley School District's graduation rate was 90.88%.[14] In 2016, the Pittsburgh Business Times ranked Conewago Valley School District 160th out of 494 public schools for academic achievement of its pupils.[15] In 2012, Conewago Valley School District declined to Warning Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status, due to lagging academic achievement.[16] High school aged students can attend the taxpayer funded Adams County Tech Prep, which is operated by the Gettysburg Area School District, for training in the building trades, auto mechanics, culinary arts, allied health careers and other areas.

New Oxford residents may also apply to attend any of the Commonwealth's 13 public cyber charter schools (in 2015) at no additional cost to the parents. The resident's public school district is required to pay the charter school and cyber charter school tuition for residents who attend these public schools.[17][18] The tuition rate that Conewago Valley School District must pay was $8,823.31 in 2015. By Commonwealth law, if the District provides transportation for its own students, then the District must provide transportation to any school that lies within 10 miles of its borders. Residents may also seek admission for their school aged child to any other public school district. When accepted for admission, the student's parents are responsible for paying an annual tuition fee set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. There are also several private school available to residents including: Adams County Christian School, Oxford Christian Academy in New Oxford and Delone Catholic High School.

The Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12 provides a wide variety of services to children living in its region which includes New Oxford. Early screening, special education services, speech and hearing therapy, autistic support, preschool classes and many other services like driver education are available. Services for children during the preschool years are provided without cost to their families when the child is determined to meet eligibility requirements. Intermediate units receive taxpayer funding: through subsidies paid by member school districts; through direct charges to users for some services; through the successful application for state and federal competitive grants and through private grants.[19]

Higher education

Early College Academy is offered to 11th and 12th graders at Conewago Valley School District by Harrisburg Area Community College. Students may take two courses a semester.[20] Students pay tutiton fees to the college. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in Shippensburg, PA. It is one of the 14 state universities that make up the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). The credits earned are transferable to many other Pennsylvania universities through the state's TRAC system.

Libraries

New Oxford community members have access to the Adams County public libraries. Adams County libraries include: New Oxford Area Library, Littlestown Community Library, and Adams County Law Library. Through these libraries Pennsylvania residents have access to all POWER Library online resources. By state law the school district is required to open its libraries at least once a week to residents.[21][22]

• Erik Harris, NFL safety for the Oakland Raiders and a 2008 graduate of New Oxford High School

• New Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
• Conewago Valley School District
• New Oxford Area Library