The Secret City: The Story of Oak Ridge
The Birthplace of the Atomic Age
Nestled in the rolling hills of East Tennessee, Oak Ridge is unlike any other city in America. Known as The Secret City, its story is one of innovation, patriotism, scientific discovery, and transformation. What began as a quiet farming community became one of the most closely guarded secrets of World War II and ultimately changed the course of world history.
A City Built in Secret
In 1942, during the height of World War II, the United States government selected a rural area in Anderson and Roane Counties for one of the most ambitious scientific and engineering projects ever undertaken—the Manhattan Project. The goal was to develop the world's first atomic bomb before Nazi Germany could.
The location was chosen for several reasons:
- Abundant electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
- Access to rail transportation
- Plenty of available land
- A naturally secluded landscape created by East Tennessee's ridges and valleys
To make way for the project, the federal government acquired approximately 59,000 acres of land. More than 3,000 families were required to leave their homes, farms, churches, and businesses with little notice. Entire communities disappeared almost overnight as construction crews arrived to build what would become Oak Ridge.
The REAL ESTATE Office | Provided By: Kimberly Bell, REALTOR® (865) 851-5578
Your Community & Culture matter from your Oak Ridge TOP REALTOR®
