About Oxfordshire (abb. Oxon):
Oxfordshire, in south-east England, borders on the counties Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. The abbreviation of 'Oxon' derives from the from the Latinised form 'Oxonia'.
Oxfordshire is divided into five local government districts: Oxford, Cherwell, Vale of the (Uffington) White Horse, West Oxfordshire and South Oxfordshire.
The county has a major tourism industry. It is well-known for the motorsport companies and facilities. Oxford University Press has headed a number of print and publishing firms; the university is also linked to a number of local biotechnology companies.
The main centre of population is the city of Oxford. Other significant settlements are Bicester, Banbury, and Chipping Norton to the north of Oxford; Witney to the west; Thame and Chinnor to the east; and Abingdon, Wantage, Didcot and Henley-on-Thames to the south. Future population growth in the county is hoped to be concentrated around Banbury, Bicester, Didcot and Witney, near the South Midlands growth area.
The highest point of the county is Whitehorse Hill, in the Vale of White Horse, reaching 856 feet (261m).
The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century. Historically the area has always been important for the valuable agricultural land resting between the main southern cities and containing the prestigious settlement at Oxford (whose name was 'Oxenaford' meaning "ford for oxen" in Anglo-Saxon times). The area was Ignored by the Romans and it was not until the formation of a settlement at Oxford that the area grew in importance.
Historical bullet points:
- Alfred the Great was born in Wantage.
- The University of Oxford was founded in 1096.
- The area was part of the Cotswolds wool trade from the 13th century.
- The Great Western Railway reached Didcot in 1839.
- Morris Motors was founded in Oxford in 1912 and MG in Abingdon in 1929.
- The importance of agriculture as an employer has declined rapidly in the 20th century; currently under one percent of the county's population are involved.
- In 1808 the county had fourteen hundreds (county divisions): Bampton, Banbury, Binfield, Bloxham, Bullingdon, Chadlington, Dorchester, Ewelme, Langtree, Lewknor, Pyrton, Ploughley, Thame and Wootton.
Cities, towns and villages in Oxfordshire (abb. Oxon):
- Abingdon
- Banbury
- Bicester
- Burford
- Carterton
- Chipping Norton
- Didcot
- Faringdon
- Henley-on-Thames
- Oxford
- Thame
- Wallingford
- Wantage
- Witney
- Woodstock
