Named by USA Today as one of the United States' top six college towns, Oxford is a Southern arts center defined, in part, by its past -- a past that ranges from the greatness of William Faulkner to the turbulence of integration in the 1960s.

Faulkner's hometown is one of America's greatest

These days, Oxford has been named one of the "Best 100 Small Towns in America" and is known for its good schools and "The Square," the downtown geographic and cultural center of the city. The downtown area is filled with great restaurants, bookstores and the South's oldest documented store. Home to a thriving music scene, the city has been the setting for numerous movies. It also has several historic sites, including Barnard Observatory, the LQC Lamar House and Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner. Oxford is a fun, thriving town with an energy in the air that visitors and residents enjoy.