Welcome To KEY TO THE CITY's Page For
Oak Ridge
Anderson County and Roane County, Tennessee
ZipCodes
37830
Motto
America's Secret City
The Atomic City
Page Contents for Oak Ridge, Tennessee
History & History-related items
Chamber of Commerce.
Community news
Organizations, Churches, and Sports.
Statistics & Facts
The Tennessee state capital is Nashville.
The population of Oak Ridge is approximately 27,638 (2006), 29330 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 13,417 (2000), 12772 (2010).
The amount of land area in Oak Ridge is 221.579 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Oak Ridge is 85.5 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 11.325 sq kilometers.
The distance from Oak Ridge to Washington DC is 460 miles.
The distance to the Tennessee state capital is 141 miles. (as the crow flies)
Oak Ridge is positioned 35.96 degrees north of the equator and 84.29 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Oak Ridge elevation is 875 feet above sea level.
Oak Ridge per capita income is $ 24,793 (2000).
Oak Ridge median income is $ 42,600 (2005).
The Oak Ridge median home price is $ 116,000 (2005).
The average low temperature is 46 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 69 degrees F.
Location
about 24 miles from Knoxville in east-central Tennessee. Other nearby communities include Walden Ridge, Oliver Springs, Hardin Valley, Farragut, Coalfield, Concord, New River and Lenoir City.
Here is a map page for Oak Ridge.
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Climate
moderate with four seasons represented. Though low or high temperatures may occur during the year, they usually don't last for too long of a period of time.
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Weather
moderate. Here is a current weather page for Oak Ridge.
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History & History Related Items
Local Native Americans were in the area for thousands of years, some leaving mound sites near here. Several small communities were developed here during the 1800s. In the late 1800s, a local man, John Hendrix, claimed to see the future as far as Oak Ridge was concerned. He had visions and described what the area would be like in the future, even down to helping to win a great war.
Oak Ridge was established in the early 1940s as a base for the Manhattan Project— the U.S. government operation that developed the atomic bomb. As such, scientific development still plays a crucial role in the city's economy and culture in general. The area was chosen because of a smaller population which made acquisition of land more affordable and accessibility of transportation and utilities was relatively available. Once the project began, the government basically kept the town a secret, not even letting the name appear on maps. The town wasn't officially named until 1949. Until that time it was known as the Clinton Engineering Works (CEW). There was a huge increase in population once the project began with the area growing from about 3,000 residents to over 75,000 people, who were mostly employees of the project. The town was formulated by the Skidmore, Owings and Merrill architecture firm. Many of the buildings were prefabricated type so the town took shape rather quickly.
Once the war was over, the town was given over to civilian control. In 1959, Oak Ridge was incorporated with a City manager and city council governing rather than a federal controller. Tours of the remaining facilities are available during the summer. It is such a popular tour that there is a waiting list to attend.
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Attractions
Besides America's Secret City, Oak Ridge has several other nicknames, among them are the Atomic City, The Ridge and the City Behind the Fence
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Operated by the Department of Energy
P.O. Box 2008
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Phone: 865-574-4160
American Museum of Science & Energy
300 S. Tulane Ave.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
PHone: 865-576-3200
Explore, experiment and discover energy in all its forms and uses. The museum also holds live scientific demonstrations and has many interctive exhibits. Please call for hours and details.
University of Tennessee Arboretum
This 250 acre site has trails, over 2,500 native and exotic woody plant specimens that are viewable all year.
Phone: 865-483-3571
Children's Museum of Oak Ridge
461 W. Outer Dr.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: 865-482-1074
A hands-on cultural and educational center focusing on art, history and science.
One of the largest swimming pools in the USA - the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool
Centennial Golf Course (very nice course opened in 1998)
Historical Jackson Square
The Friendship Bell (to symbolize peaceful relations between Oak Ridge and Nagasaki and Hiroshima, since Oak Ridge contributed to the making of the bomb
during the war.)
Located on Badger Avenue
Read these interesting facts about Oak Ridge.
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Oak Ridge City Government
City of Oak Ridge200 S. Tulane Ave.
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
City Clerk: 865-425-3411
Oak Ridge Historical Events
1940sOak Ridge was the home of the Manhatten Project that built the atom bomb in the 1940's
Oak Ridge Chamber
Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: 865-483-1321
Oak Ridge Community News
The OakRidger - a daily newspaper since 1949Oak Ridge Organizations
Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: 865-483-1321
Oak Ridge Schools
Oak Ridge SchoolsP.O. Box 6588
Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Oak Ridge
Miscellany
The population of Oak Ridge was:1942 - 3,000
1945 - 75,000
1990 - 27,310
2000 - 27,387
2006 - 27,638
The number of housing units was:
1990 - 12,694
2000 - 13,417
Median age:
2000 - 43.4
Median household income:
2000 - $ 41,950
2005 - $ 42,600
Median house value:
2000 - $ 98,200
2005 - $ 116,000
Oak Ridge is located in the Eastern Time Zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.
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