The rural town of red brick buildings and uptown businesses is not just a home to thousands of college students, but to retirees as well.
Oxford was recently ranked No. 4 on TopRetirements.com in a list for the best cities for retirement in the United States.
Oxford, described by the retirement Web site as one of the undiscovered college town treasures in the United States, received its rating based on hit counts from users that viewed each town's description page. Although not a formal survey, the Web site allows viewers to see the towns that are ideal for retirement.
The anonymous survey was conducted by John Brady, the Web site's president.
Oxford Vice Mayor Prue Dana said she believes Oxford is a city conducive to retirement. She also said that Oxford offers a rich variety of arts and music events that draw senior citizens to the city-from Midday Music festivals to events sponsored by the arts and music departments at Miami University.
Other Oxford staples like the Community Park, Miami's Recreational Sports Center and Lane Library offer residents an array of healthy and intellectual activities, Dana said.
"This study says something special about the town," Dana said. "It says that people who went to Miami remember it fondly and remember the sense of community Oxford has."
Oxford resident Drena Bowerman, 60, who grew up in the town, said Oxford has a great deal to offer.
"I love the town," Bowerman said. "I think it has the best of both worlds because it is tranquil and has a relatively low crime rate. At the same time it offers the art and culture of a university environment."
She mentioned that the traffic is relatively light, aside from the brief holdup that she experiences as students cross on their way to class, what she referred to as a "rush minute" rather than rush hour. She also enjoys the fact that one can get to where he or she needs to be within five minutes.
Her husband, Bruce Bowerman, a current professor in the Farmer School of Business, has been retired from full-time work since spring 2007. He is currently teaching part-time at the university and will retire fully in the next two years.
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Drena Bowerman said that her and her husband are still deciding where they want to live when they officially retire.
The Knolls of Oxford, one of the city's retirement communities, offers a great environment for retired living, Dana said.
The Knolls of Oxford has an official affiliation agreement with Miami University, and is a sponsor of the Athletic Department, said Tim McGowan, executive director at the Knolls. Residents frequently attend football, basketball, and hockey games each season as well as performing arts series events. This affiliation to university life is something that sets itself apart from other retirement communities, according to McGowan.
He said that the social activity director also plans trips for residents to dine at the Alexander House uptown and to Cincinnati to see the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
"The residents are very socially and intellectually active," McGowan said. "We have a very young community out here."
Dana did comment that there are things that are lacking in Oxford, such as a public transportation system.
She feels that if a transportation system were formed, more seniors would be able to enjoy the town, including the uptown district.
However, Dana also said she thinks there is a nice diversity of ages in Oxford.
"Whenever you have a mix of ages it is a healthy thing," Dana said. "There is a mixture of people together here (in Oxford), and that is an attractive thing that the city offers."
The top three cities above Oxford on Top Retirement's list were Asheville, N.C., Paris, Tenn., and Old Saybrook, Conn.
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