10/04/2024
Special Places East Tennessee
Know your Tennessee!
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has a unique and fascinating history that is deeply intertwined with one of the most significant events of the 20th century: the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Known as the "Secret City," Oak Ridge was established as part of the Manhattan Project and played a pivotal role in shaping modern science and technology.
Oak Ridge was created in 1942 by the U.S. government as a secret city to support the Manhattan Project, a top-secret effort to develop the world’s first atomic bomb during World War II. The location was chosen for its remote setting, access to abundant water from the Clinch River, and proximity to railways and utilities, making it ideal for a large, clandestine industrial complex. At the time, the site was called the "Clinton Engineer Works."
Thousands of acres of land were quickly acquired by the federal government, displacing about 3,000 families from the rural area. Construction began rapidly, and by the end of 1943, Oak Ridge had grown into a bustling city of over 75,000 people, many of whom had no idea what they were working on due to the high level of secrecy.
Today, Oak Ridge is known for its contributions to a wide range of scientific fields, from nuclear energy to supercomputing, biology, and materials science. The ORNL continues to be one of the country’s premier research facilities, home to one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, and a leader in cutting-edge energy research.
