Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge sits in Anderson and Roane counties, spreading across wooded hills and wide streets lined with residential neighborhoods and research centers west of Knoxville. The city follows no typical grid pattern but adapts to the terrain, with parks and greenways separating office complexes and laboratories.

The federal government founded the city in 1942 as a production site for enriched fuel during World War II, seizing land from farming families in Tennessee. After the war it remained under government control until 1959, when homes were sold to residents.

The American Museum of Science and Energy presents exhibits about nuclear science, while the Manhattan Project National Historical Park preserves the city's wartime legacy.

Several sports facilities and recreation centers are spread across the city, offering fields for soccer, baseball, and tennis as well as swimming pools. Many parks have walking trails that wind through wooded areas and provide shade during summer.

The population swelled to 75,000 residents between 1942 and 1945, yet almost no one outside knew what work happened here. Even inside the site, most work areas were strictly separated, so employees often had no idea what their neighbors were producing.

Location: Anderson County

Location: Roane County

Inception: 1942

Elevation above the sea: 259 m

Website: http://cortn.org

GPS coordinates: 36.01333,-84.26250

Latest update: December 15, 2025 09:53