Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge

General Information
Name	Oak Ridge
Native Name
Other Names
Settlement Type	City
Transliteration
Language 1
Type 1
Info 1
Location
Coordinates	36°01 N°84
Map
Population
Total	31,402
Density	per km²
Area
Total	232.0 km²
Land	225.8 km²
Water	6.2 km²
Government
Type
Leader
Time Zone
Standard	UTC-5
DST	UTC-4

Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Oak Ridge's population was 31,402 at the 2020 census.

History

Oak Ridge was established in 1942 as a production site for the Manhattan Project—the massive American, British, and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb. As it is still the site of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex, scientific development still plays a crucial role in the city's economy and culture in general.

Geography

Oak Ridge is located in the eastern part of Tennessee, approximately 25 miles west of Knoxville. The city is situated in a valley between the Cumberland Plateau and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Economy

The economy of Oak Ridge is largely driven by scientific research and development. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest multiprogram science and technology laboratory in the United States Department of Energy system. The Y-12 National Security Complex is a key facility for nuclear weapons processing and materials storage.

Education

Oak Ridge is home to several educational institutions, including the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the University of Tennessee's Oak Ridge campus. The city is known for its high-quality public school system.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Oak Ridge had a population of 31,402. The city has a diverse population with a mix of different ethnic and racial groups.

Culture

Oak Ridge has a rich cultural scene with several museums, including the American Museum of Science and Energy, which showcases the history of the Manhattan Project and the development of nuclear energy.

See also

• Manhattan Project
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Y-12 National Security Complex

External links

• Official website of Oak Ridge
• Manhattan Project National Historical Park