Interesting Facts about Oak Ridge

The Oak Ridge area is a fascinating place to visit. Whether you plan to stay for a couple days or a couple weeks the "must sees" of the area give you an opportunity to experience our rich history and scenic beauty.

DID YOU KNOW?

During WWII, Oak Ridge was the 5th largest city in Tennessee, had the 6th largest bus transit system in the U.S., utilized thirteen percent of the nations electricity and few people knew it existed.
The original 60,000 acres purchased by the federal government in 1942 was populated by 3,000 persons residing in approximately 1,000 homes scattered throughout the communities of Scarboro, Wheat, Elza and Robertsville.
John Hendrix, an early 20th century mystic, is said to have predicted the building of Oak Ridge 40 years before it happened. His gravesite is located on Hendricks Drive off Lafayette Ave.
The International Friendship Bell was the first monument between a U.S. Manhattan Project city and Japan. The Bell features the dates of the attack on Pearl Harbor as well as the dates of the bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The community was originally called Clinton Engineer Works after the nearby town of Clinton. It was later named Oak Ridge after one of the scenic ridges that surround the city.
The University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge is an official wildlife observation area offering visitors a great place to hike. The Arboretum features 2,500 species of plants that can be accessed through four self-guided walking tours.
The Wheat Community African Burial Ground, near East Tennessee Technology Park, is one of the largest slave cemeteries in East Tennessee with more than 90 unmarked graves. Don't miss the beautiful monument dedicated to those who gave their lives in bondage.
K-25 in East Tennessee Technology Park was the largest building in the world when it was built during the Manhattan Project. It is approximately one mile in length and has 44 acres under one roof.
There are more than 90 historic cemeteries in Oak Ridge.
The Oak Ridge Community Playhouse is the longest continuously running theater in the Southeast.
The mural painted on the outside of the Oak Ridge Art Center represents Oak Ridge's beginning from Atomic Energy to the future.
Twice the federal government moved the family of John Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia. First for the building of Norris dam and second for the construction of Oak Ridge.
The American Museum of Science and Energy opened in 1949 on the day the gates came down in Oak Ridge. It was originally called the Atomic Energy Museum.
Oak Ridge did not appear on a map until 1949.
Jackson Square Historic Park was the original townsite of Oak Ridge built during the Manhattan Project. It still has a 1940s feel to it today.
Greenwich Village, a home to unique shops and the popular Soup Kitchen today, was originally a bowling alley.
The Bleu Hound Grille, offering a great selection of wood-grilled cuisine, was originally a gas station.
Houses were constructed every 30 minutes at the height of the Manhattan Project. One early resident recalls getting lost on their way home because rapid construction had so altered their neighborhood.
The original cemesto houses built during the Manhattan Project were only supposed to last seven years. Built with some of the best materials available at the time, many residents live in them today.
Cemesto's were appropriately named for the mix of cement and asbestos that comprised the building material that was introduced in the 1940s.
The average age in Oak Ridge during WWII was 27.
More than 200 species of birds, including 100 migratory, have been documented on the Oak Ridge Reservation.
The Alexander Inn/Guest House was the residence stopover for many of the world's leading scientists and executives during the early years of the Manhattan Engineering District, including Enrico Fermi, J. Robert Oppenheimer and Secretary of War Henry Stimson.
The Oak Ridge unit of the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, founded in 1952, is one of only 30 studios across the nation and the only one located in Tennessee.
Oak Ridge Associated Universities was started in 1946 when University of Tennessee professor William G. Pollard saw the need to share valuable scientific resources developed in Oak Ridge as part of the Manhattan Project with regional universities lacking access to such high-tech equipment.
Oak Ridge was not incorporated as a City until 1959 and Bissell Park where the Civic Center is located was named after the City's first mayor, A.K. Bissell.
The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool is one of the largest spring-fed pools in the nation and has a surface area of 1.5 acres and holds 2.1 million gallons of water.
Grove Center is in the heart of the Robertsville community, which was founded in 1804 by Collins Roberts. Roberts is buried in the old Robertsville Baptist Cemetery near Willowbrook School.
Methodist Medical Center, a major regional medical facility serving five counties, was constructed during the Manhattan Project as a 50-bed unit. Methodist Medical Center now has 170 plus full-time physicians and more than 30 specialty areas.
It is rumored that General Leslie Groves, the person in charge of the Manhattan Project, would check in to the maternity ward at the hospital to catch up on sleep.
Robert Norris, author of the book 'Racing for the Bomb', wrote that General Groves never used profanity. One original Oak Ridger disagreed saying she heard him curse one time. When referring to the 90 plus historic cemeteries in the area Groves said, 'What are we going to do with all these damn cemeteries?'
Outdoor tennis court dances were popular in Oak Ridge during WWII because the courts offered some of the only paved places in the City.
Big Ed's Pizza is nationally known and was recently named Best Restaurant Outside of Knoxville in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
During WWII, secrecy demands of the Manhattan Project saw Oak Ridge High School teams play only away games. No rosters were ever given to the opposing team.
Oak Ridge has 23 tennis courts, 14 athletic fields, nine neighborhood playgrounds, a skate park and three golf courses.
Oak Ridge has 1,282 acres of parkland or 46 acres per 1,000 people. In addition, the city has more than 1,300 acres of greenbelt, which are left in their natural state.
Greenways Oak Ridge has dedicated 11 greenways with more planned for the future. The ultimate goal is a system of paths, walkways and bike trails that link Oak Ridge's centers of interest and outermost borders.
The Oak Ridge Rowing Course on Melton Hill Lake is one of the top three courses in the United States. Oak Ridge is one of three cities to host the USRowing Nationals.
Some of the reasons the course is rated so highly include: Straight course that can be fully buoyed for seven lanes, permanently measured and marked for split timing, virtually no power boat traffic, unobstructed waterway for ten miles in either direction, sheltered embayment for easy launch, TVA regulated flow to less than .06 meters per second and hill protection on both sides.
As many as 6,000 rowers from all over the U.S. and Canada visit for Spring Training and a variety of regattas with an estimated economic impact of more than $1 million annually.
TVA's Bull Run Fossil Plant, which went into operation on June 12, 1967, is the largest generator in the world in terms of volume of steam produced.
Haw Ridge Park is home to more than 20 miles of mountain biking and horseback riding trails as well as the Life Development Center.
The state record striped bass was caught in Melton Hill Lake.
More than 1,500 of the best archers in the nation visit Oak Ridge annually to compete for $80,000 in the Realtree Tennessee Pro/Am tournament at the Oak Ridge Sportsman Association. The event is also one of two qualifying events for the ESPN Great Outdoor Games.
During WWII more than 25,000 trains brought supplies into Oak Ridge annually, but nothing was brought out of the City. Visitors can experience the importance of trains by riding the Secret City Scenic Excursion Train.
The Children's Museum of Oak Ridge is located in an original Manhattan Project schoolhouse. Don't miss the Child-size Dollhouse Room or the Rainforest Room.
Oak Ridge has more than 70 restaurants and 700 hotel rooms.
Oak Ridge is 92 square miles compared to Knoxville, which is 96 square miles. 2/3 of the City is the Department of Energy's reservation.
The City is located between two major interstates, I-75 and I-40, and within a day's drive of _ the U.S. population.
Oak Ridge has an orchestra, symphony, children's show choir, community band, chorus, ballet, playhouse, junior playhouse and a population of 27,000 residents.
Edgar Meyer, a Grammy Award winning bassist, is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School.
Offspring Magazine honored the Oak Ridge Public School system as one of the top 100 school districts in the United States. Additionally, the system was rated number 2 in the Southeast.
Approximately 80% of Oak Ridge High School graduates are college bound.
The Oak Ridge Public Library contains more than 10,000 volumes and is home to the Oak Ridge Story Room, which holds documents and photographs from the city's history.
Oak Ridge has four moderate seasons with an average annual temperature of 56.5o F and average humidity of 70%.