Oak Ridge’s unique and distinct neighborhoods join together to make a great community for relocating families.
Once known as “the Secret City” for its role in the top-secret Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is now a city focused on home and family, with a nationally ranked school system, a vibrant cultural arts community, a world-renowned rowing venue, scenic vistas, beautiful residential communities, and plentiful parks and greenways. From a closed and secret city to an open and welcoming community of neighborhoods, Oak Ridge has grown into a top-notch place to live, work, and play. Time and again, sources cite the community’s warmth as the tie that has bound the city’s residents to their home.
Oak Ridge’s neighborhoods often possess distinctive character and appeal. The Woodland neighborhood is recognizable for the unique flattop, pre-fab homes that were constructed by the U.S. government during WW II to house families who had come to work as part of the Manhattan Project. The houses feature a distinctive straight roof and are such an iconic part of Oak Ridge history that the American Museum of Science and Energy restored one to display, receiving a 2010 Historic Preservation Award for the effort. Many in the Woodland neighborhood have been well maintained to keep their historic look.
Oak Ridge’s tradition of building neighborhoods, rather than just clusters of houses, continues today. Parker Hardy, president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, says the current national trend in residential planning hearkens back to a more traditional look and feel, with features like front porches and community-building amenities. Oak Ridge, founded and planned with this principle, continues to embrace this movement.
“Some of our new residential developments are deliberately designed to build community,” said Hardy. “Grove Park Commons and Rarity Ridge are two. At Willow Place, traditional homes are also being built and are selling really well.”
Willow Place, with homes ranging in size from 1,200 square feet to 1,500 square feet, is a Charleston-style neighborhood based on the architecture of the 1920s. The Willow Place community is also centrally located near shopping areas, an elementary school, and several churches. Meanwhile, Rarity Ridge on the west end of Oak Ridge offers lakefront views and homes with traditional architecture ranging in size from 2,100 square feet to 4,700 square feet. Amenities include 100 acres of parks and trails, a health club, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a traditional commons.
Oak Ridge’s unique and scenic landscape also plays a role in building neighborhoods, giving residents a choice of surroundings ranging from hillsides to valley settings. But no matter the backdrop or the neighborhood, it’s the neighbors that are Oak Ridge’s biggest strength. The city’s hospitable reputation is the primary factor that’s drawing new residents to the community. Gerald Boyd, manager for the Department of Energy-Oak Ridge Operations Office, says he experienced Oak Ridgers’ warm welcome even before moving to the area.
“Previously, I’d lived in several different places, but Oak Ridge was unique,” he said. “Even before our move here, people from Oak Ridge contacted me to get me introduced to the community: schools, churches, and so on. Then, once we got here, the community rallied around us and helped us get to know the kinds of things we might want to participate in.”
Oak Ridge, TN
