The historic downtown area is now more than ever the nucleus of all forms of activity. For example, at nationally acclaimed Square Books, there are weekly reading and signings. It is common to run into such writers as Barry Hannah or John Grisham, just next-door is Southside Gallery. The gallery hosts numerous forms of art, from high art to folk-art. An evening walk around Oxford will present a unique atmosphere with families strolling, bike riding, coeds jogging through the square, and observing balconies full of people enjoying live blues or jazz music.
Another unique attraction for visitors, and the cultural and economic hub of Oxford since the town's incorporation in 1837, is the historic Courthouse Square. Devastated during the Civil War when General A.J. "Whisky" Smith and his federal troops burned many of the area's homes and buildings, today it thrives with businesses such as Neilson's, the oldest continuously operating department store in the South and the sixteenth oldest in the nation. Oxford also offers a variety of restaurants and upscale clothing boutiques. The downtown square in Oxford has remained the center of economic and cultural life in this vibrant university town for over 150 years.
Each fall, Oxford doubles in size for nine months of the year when University of Mississippi students enroll in classes. Thousands of fans travel to Oxford, to see exciting SEC football as the Ole Miss Rebels take the field. In addition to its nationally recognized athletic program, the University of Mississippi houses the Blues Archive, the world's largest collection of blues recordings, as well as the University Museums whose exhibits include rare Greek and Roman antiquities and 19th century scientific instruments.
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