Living: Oxfordshire (632.000 inhabitants) is a vibrant county in the heart of England where a thriving economy is able to blend successfully with a high quality environment. Steeped in history, it is South East England's most rural county, with over two thirds of its area devoted to agriculture. Today the area's fame stretches beyond academic excellence to the pivotal role it plays in international publishing, bio-technology, car manufacture and motorsport. The county has consistently low unemployment and is one of Europe's most prosperous regions. Despite this, almost 75% of the county remains designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an Area of High Landscape Value, or Green Belt.
Oxford (180.000 habitants) is the most important city in Oxfordshire. The county town of Oxford is famous the world over, traditionally for its ancient university.

Past: Oxfordshire has a rich history stretching back to Saxon times. It was a significant location for the Romans, who developed a successful pottery industry around the abundance of Oxford’s clay, sand and fuel. In 849AD King Alfred the Great was born in Wantage and made Faringdon become capital of Wessex.
William the Conqueror crossed the River Thames at Wallingford in 1067 and built a large castle. Oxford's university began teaching in 1096 and as it developed so too did trade. By the time the wool industry began to establish itself in the 13th and 14th centuries the county had become extremely prosperous. Wealthy landowners established ‘new’ towns such as Henley and extended existing villages such as Banbury and Witney to increase their revenues from rents and market dues. The burgeoning wool trade of the Cotswolds enriched many of the county’s churches.
Industrial enterprise thrived as the turnpike road system and new canals resulted in faster and more efficient transfer of coal, stone, wood and agricultural produce to the Midlands. The transport network was further strengthened in 1841 with the opening of Brunel’s Great Western Railway. Didcot became a major railway centre. In 1912 William Morris, later Lord Nuffield, opened Morris Motors at Cowley in Oxford. In the same year the first Morris car was produced and Morris’s company quickly expanded. Pressed Steel followed and began its production of car bodies, while MG opened in Abingdon. Quickly, as industry grew and thrived 'Town' began to achieve an equal footing with 'Gown'. The county prospered even during the slump of the 1930s. The ever-expanding market for cars meant that there was little unemployment.

The county today: Oxfordshire is an appealing mix of old and new, where the commercial, social, cultural, educational and environmental needs of both residents and visitors are well ballanced.
Tourism contributes over £300 million to the county's economy and is a major growth industry. Commercially the county is increasingly being recognised as a dominant player in hi-tech industries. It has the greatest concentration of performance car development testing and manufacturing in the world, and is known as 'Motorsport Valley'. The BMW Group has invested over £500 million in its Oxford site, where the new Mini is being manufactured. The county also has the largest concentration of printing and publishing companies in the UK, outside London, and is at the forefront of the country's medical and biotech industries. The county has thriving sports, arts, cultural and leisure facilities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy and is a near self-contained economy, with 87% of its residents working within the county. It is one on England's most popular business relocation destinations geared as it is towards high skilled, high value-added occupations. It has the country's highest concentration of graduates in its workforce. The county's spectacular buildings and scenery attract film makers from all over the world. Oxfordshire County Council is working hard to support the continued prosperity of the county's economy while protecting its environment, character and natural resources. Four main areas have been identified as the sites for preferred future development, namely Banbury, Bicester, Didcot and Witney. By limiting new developments elsewhere it is hoped Oxfordshire's smaller towns, villages and countryside will be protected.

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