In the early 1800's, Josiah Chambers purchased 6,000 acres. His son, Josiah Chambers, Jr., upgraded the property, built a race track, and developed transportation links via roads, bayou navigation, and railroad, eventually expanding it to almost 10,000 acres, of which 2,500 were improved. Oakland was a diversified plantation and included 46 horses, 53 working oxen, 119 asses and mules, 330 head of cattle, 300 sheep, and 440 swine. Oakland produced annually 750 bales of cotton, 678 hogsheads of sugar, 20,000 bushels of corn, 700 pounds of wool, 600 bushels of beans, 600 bushels of Irish potatoes, and 3,500 bushels of sweet potatoes.