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. 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 land to build a new city. Oak Ridge was built to help scientists develop the atomic bomb as part of the Manhattan Project.

Today, Oak Ridge is home to important scientific places such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. The city remains a center for science and technology. In 2016, a new element called tennessine was named after Tennessee to honor the work done there.

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 for a secret science project. The government built factories and houses quickly, and many people moved there to help. The town grew fast from just a few thousand people to about 75,000 by 1945.

After the war, Oak Ridge kept growing as a place for science and technology. Today, it has important research labs and 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 eastern Tennessee, about 25 miles west of Knoxville. The city is near the Clinch River, which flows nearby and creates interesting shapes in the land. Oak Ridge has many natural ridges and valleys that give the area its special look.

The city also has lakes nearby, such as Melton Hill Lake and Watts Bar Lake. These are great places for outdoor fun like biking and picnics. Oak Ridge has 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 people lived in urban areas, and about a quarter of households had children under 18. The city had many homes, 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

The federal government still provides many jobs in Oak Ridge. It is one of the biggest employers in the Knoxville metropolitan area. The Department of Energy owns many sites and has a large 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 is growing 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 helps 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 is a great place for rowing on Melton Hill Lake. Important U.S. Rowing events happen there, like the US Rowing Youth Summer National Championship. The city has also hosted 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. This system started in 1959 when the city was created. The city is led by a group of seven people. This group includes 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. They are both from the Republican party. In the Tennessee Senate, the city is represented by Randy McNally 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 schools for children from kindergarten through 12th grade. The city's school district is one of the best in Tennessee, and its high school is one of the top schools in the state.

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

Media

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

Notable people

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

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