Mississippi town keeps racking up awards in national contests. Could it just be the ‘best’ place in Mississippi period?

Published 6:04 am Sunday, April 21, 2024

It’s beginning to look like if there was an award for best all-around place in Mississippi in which to live, work and play, Oxford might just be that place.

The home of Faulkner and the Ole Miss Rebels just won another award in USA Today’s series of 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award categories. Winning in the contest, which relies on votes from online readers, has become a regular announcement for Oxford residents.

Last week, USA Today announced that Oxford secured the No. 1 spot as the “Best Small College Town” and the No. 4 spot as the “Best Small Town Food Scene.”

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This week, The Oxford Eagle announced that the town was named the second-best Public Square in the United States by the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards from USA Today.

Oxford was one of 10 public squares nominated by an expert panel and then voted on by USA Today readers. Voters chose the best squares based on aesthetics as well as historical significance and communal importance, according to USA Today.

On the Best10 list website, Oxford Square is described as having “well-preserved architecture, and it hosts diverse boutiques, art galleries, and local shops, including the oldest department store in the South, and is renowned for its dining options from down-home Southern cooking to haute cuisine. The Square is also a cultural hub, hosting special events and festivals.”

Campus Martius Park in Detroit, Michigan took the No. 1 spot.