Welcome to community of Oxford, New York. Junction of Highway #220 - West to the Bowman Lake State Park and Lake McDonough. Bowman Lake State Park: Scenic park roads wind through evergreen and hardwood forests to shady campsites. There is a sandy lakefront for swimmers and sunbathers with several picnic areas nearby. Nearby State Parks and sites, Gilbert Lake State Park Hunt's Pond State Park Oquaga Creek State Park Chenango Valley State Park Glimmerglass State Park A state of the northeast United States. It was admitted as one of the original Thirteen Colonies in 1788. First explored by Samuel de Champlain and Henry Hudson, the region was claimed by the Dutch in 1624 but fell to the English in 1664–1667. The building of the Erie Canal and railroad lines in the 1820s and 1830s led to development of the western part of the state and great economic prosperity, establishing New York City as the financial center of the nation. Albany is the capital and New York City the largest metropolis.