Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about 25 miles (40 km) west of downtown Knoxville. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 31,402 people, and it is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. The city has several nicknames including the Atomic City, the Secret City, and the City Behind a Fence.

In 1942, the U.S. government bought nearly 60,000 acres (240 km²) of farmland in the Clinch River valley to build a new planned city that could support 75,000 residents. The city was built with help from the architectural and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill between 1942 and 1943. Oak Ridge was created as a key site for the Manhattan Project, the big effort by American, British, and Canadian scientists to develop the atomic bomb.

Today, Oak Ridge is still home to important scientific places such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. The city continues to be a center for science and technology. In 2016, a new element called tennessine was named after Tennessee to honor the work done by Oak Ridge and other institutions in the state in discovering it.

History

The Oak Ridge area has been home to people for thousands of years. During the Woodland period, around 1000 BC to 1000 AD, people built mounds for ceremonies. Later, after European settlers arrived, small farming communities grew in the area.

Oak Ridge became well-known during World War II because the government chose it as a secret location for the Manhattan Project. This was a big scientific effort to build the first atomic bombs. The government quickly built factories and houses, and many people moved there to help with the work. The town grew very fast from just a few thousand people to about 75,000 by 1945.

After the war, Oak Ridge continued to grow as a center for science and technology. Today, it is home to important research labs and still plays a big role in energy and science in the United States.

Main article: Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Geography

Oak Ridge is a city in the eastern part of Tennessee, about 25 miles west of Knoxville. The city sits near the Clinch River, which flows nearby and creates interesting shapes around the area. Oak Ridge has many natural ridges and valleys that give the landscape its special look.

The city also has lakes nearby, such as Melton Hill Lake and Watts Bar Lake, which are great spots for outdoor fun like biking and picnics. Oak Ridge experiences a warm climate with hot summers and mild winters, typical for this part of the United States.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Oak Ridge had a population of 31,402 people. Most of the residents lived in urban areas, and about a quarter of households had children under the age of 18. The city had many housing units, and about one in five people were 65 years or older.

In 2010, the city had a population of 29,330. The racial makeup was mostly White, with smaller groups of African American, Asian, and others. Many families lived comfortably, though some people were below the poverty line.

Economy

Federal government projects are still important for jobs in Oak Ridge, and they are one of the biggest employers in the Knoxville metropolitan area. The Department of Energy, including its Office of Science and Office of Environmental Management, owns many sites and has a big office in the city. Some important companies work with the government, like Consolidated Nuclear Security, UCOR led by Amentum, and UT–Battelle.

The city is also home to research centers and science programs, such as the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which works with many government agencies. There are also companies that make and test new technologies, including those that work with special materials and energy. Oak Ridge continues to grow with new projects, like a big new facility for processing uranium that will be built in the future.

Arts and culture

Oak Ridge has many interesting places to visit. The American Museum of Science and Energy lets you learn about science and energy. The Children's Museum of Oak Ridge is a fun place for kids to explore. You can also visit the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, where important history happened. Other spots include the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee Arboretum, where you can see beautiful plants.

Sports

Oak Ridge has a special place for rowing on Melton Hill Lake where important U.S. Rowing events happen, like the US Rowing Youth Summer National Championship. The city has also been a place for cycling events for USA Cycling, such as the USA Cycling Individual Time Trial National Championships.

In the past, Oak Ridge had baseball teams. The Oak Ridge Pioneers played at Ridgeview Park for one season in 1954, and the Oak Ridge Bombers played for a short time in 1948 before moving away.

Government

Oak Ridge uses the council-manager government system, which started in 1959 when the city was officially created. The city is led by a group of seven people, including the mayor and six other members.

Oak Ridge’s leaders are also part of bigger groups that make rules for the whole state. In the Tennessee House of Representatives, Oak Ridge is represented by John Ragan and Kent Calfee, who are both from the Republican party. In the Tennessee Senate, the city is represented by Randy McNally, who is also the Lieutenant Governor, and Ken Yager. Both of them are also Republicans. At the national level, Oak Ridge is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Chuck Fleischmann from the 3rd congressional district.

Education

Oak Ridge has a preschool and several schools for children from kindergarten through 12th grade. The city's school district was rated very highly in Tennessee, and its high school was one of the top schools in the state.

The city also has a large college campus and many other groups that help adults keep learning and growing.

Media

Oak Ridge has a daily newspaper called The Oak Ridger. For many years, it was also home to an AM radio station named WATO.

Notable people

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has been home to many interesting people. Some of them became well-known in science, sports, music, and more.

Notable people from Oak Ridge include Jennifer Azzi, a basketball player who won an Olympic gold medal, and William Shepherd, an astronaut who was part of the first crew on the International Space Station. Others include Megan Fox, a famous actress, and Clifford Shull, a physicist who won a Nobel Prize. The city has also inspired names, like The Oak Ridge Boys, a famous music group.

Sister cities

Oak Ridge has two sister cities. These are cities in other countries that work together with Oak Ridge to share ideas and help each other.

The sister cities of Oak Ridge are:

• Naka, Japan
• Obninsk, Russia