The City of Oxford has officially annexed an area of approximately 12 square miles, following a Sept. 10 decree from Judge Glenn Alderson.

Oxford city limits have officially expanded from 16 square miles to 28 square miles, providing a population increase of 3,600 people.

The news was announced during Tuesday’s meeting of the Oxford Board of Aldermen, with Alderman Ulysses Howell presiding while Mayor Robyn Tannehill is in Washington, D.C. this week.

“The annexation will go into effect on Sept. 20, 2018,” Howell said on Tannehill’s behalf. “A letter will be going out this week to all citizens in the newly annexed area, letting them know about our City services in the hopes of answering questions they may have.”

Residents in newly annexed areas will have access to City utilities, including water and sanitation services. Solid waste disposal services will transfer sometime in November, and water and sewer will be added in a “reasonable time,” according to court records.

Oxford Police Department will absorb the area into its jurisdiction, tweeting Tuesday afternoon that they would begin patrolling the areas at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

During the Aug. 27 annexation hearing, OFD Chief Mark Heath also testified that fire ratings for those in annexed areas may improve, which would equate to lower home insurance premiums.

The one factor that remains unchanged is the boundaries of Oxford and Lafayette County school districts. Students at both schools will continue to attend school according to pre-annexation boundaries.

Area 1 of the proposed annexation area includes West Oxford Loop extended, portions of Old Sardis Road leading to FNC Park and Lakeway Gardens; Area 2, in the northeast area of Oxford, takes in a portion of Highway 30 and part of Old Highway 7 North; Area 3 takes in portions of Highway 6, where the new Lafayette County Business Center is being built, Lafayette County School District campus and Brittany Woods; Area 4, in the southern part of Oxford down South Lamar, will take in Southpointe and Twin Gates subdivisions; Area 5 off Highway 6 takes in Thacker Heights and Royal Oaks and Area 6 which takes in property east of Highway 6 north of the Wellsgate subdivision.