Careers, Jobs and Education Resources for: Oxford, MS
Oxford is a city and the county seat of Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract. The population is about 19,000, due to the city's recent annexation of five square miles of Lafayette County in all directions. Oxford is the home of the University of Mississippi, founded in 1848, also known as "Ole Miss." Oxford has been named by USA Today as one of the top six college towns in the nation. It is included in The Best 100 Small Towns in America. Lafayette County consistently leads the state rankings in the lowest unemployment rate per quarter. Both Oxford city and Lafayette County school systems are consistently ranked as "5-star" sys... (from wikipedia)Mississippi Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location...: The state of Mississippi is located in the Southern region of the United States.
Cities: Jackson is the state capital and largest city; other large cities include Gulfport and Biloxi.
Behind the Name: The state’s name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary. Mississippi is nicknamed the “Magnolia State’ in honor of the beauty of the state’s namesake trees.
A Closer Look: Mississippi still boasts historic antebellum mansions that have been widely preserved, as the state endeavors to maintain the memory of the Old South. In contrast to the urbanized growth of much of the nation, Mississippi is still primarily composed of small towns and rolling farmlands.
Did You Know? Mississippi suffered the largest percentage of people who died in the Civil War of any Confederate State.
Mississippi Careers and Employment:
Population: 2,938,618 (3.3% increase since 2000) - 51.6% Female, 48.4% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 42nd in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) retail trade; (3) health care and social assistance; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) construction.
Taxes: Income Tax, 3.0% to 5.0% and Sales Tax, 7% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 97.0 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 43rd of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 44.21; Apr: 62.90; July: 80.73; Oct: 63.70 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 50th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Mississippi Economics:
In General: While agriculture was once the most important contributor to the Mississippi economy, other industries such as manufacturing and services have since moved to the forefront. The majority of Mississippi’s workforce is employed in the service industry, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, or government and military services.
Service Industry: Community, business and personal services, such as private health care, hotels, law firms, repair shops and casino gaming, are Mississippi’s leading services group.
Agriculture: In terms of revenue generated Mississippi’s top five agricultural products are broilers, cotton, soybeans, aquaculture (farm raised catfish), and cattle and calves. Mississippi’s most valuable crops are cotton and soybeans; Mississippi ranks as a leading cotton-producer across the nation.
Manufacturing: Processed foods are Mississippi’s most important manufactured products, with meatpacking (poultry processing plants), beverages and dairy products of particular importance. The state is also one of the leaders in the production of upholstered products.
Mining: Mississippi’s key mined products are petroleum and natural gas.
Fishing: Mississippi is a leading shrimp producing state, while also serving as the leading national producer of farmed catfish.
Did You Know? We bet you didn’t know that casino income in Mississippi ranks third in the nation, behind only Nevada and New Jersey.
Mississippi Education:
In General: Mississippi is making great progress in its effort to overcome the historic stigma that the state provides a poor public education. With 26 public and 14 private institutions of higher learning, Mississippi offers a variety of choices to students.
In the Rankings:
Online Education: There are myriad accredited online universities offering degrees in the state of Mississippi.
A Closer Look: Mississippi was the first state in the nation to have a planned system of junior colleges.
Did You Know? In 1963 the world’s first human lung transplant occurred at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which also hosted the world’s first heart transplant surgery on January 23, 1964.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.