AT A GLANCE

What was likely once a footpath for Native Americans evolved into a farming community named after the oak trees running along the highest ridge in Guilford County. Oak Ridge gained fame as a place of higher learning when in 1852 citizens “desirous of promoting the cause of education” established Oak Ridge Institute, which in 1971 became Oak Ridge Military Academy; it is now the oldest private military school in North Carolina. In 1998 Oak Ridge residents voted to incorporate their community to have a say in how their town was governed and how it would be residentially and commercially developed. Besides the appeal of a rural landscape, a small but thriving commercial district, a 10-minute drive to Piedmont Triad International Airport, and easy access to I-40, I-73 and Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem provides Oak Ridge residents with the bonus of convenience.

Across from Oak Ridge Town Hall on Linville Road lies the town’s “crown jewel,” an 80-acre community park that features athletic fields, a concession stand and restroom facilities, picnic shelters, walking trails, a playground, dog park and an amphitheater.

In 2018 the town acquired “the Whitaker property,” consisting of 60 acres of open land that abuts Oak Ridge Town Hall on Linville Road, with frontage on N.C. 150. This spring the town hopes to start developing the property, which has been named “Heritage Farm Park,” as an expansion of its existing park. Heritage Farm Park will initially offer two lighted multi-purpose fields, a trail, a playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, a parking lot and a site to honor veterans while preserving scenic views.

Oak Ridge entered into a contract with Envirolink in July 2021 to establish and operate a municipal water system, a long-term goal since the town’s incorporation 24 years ago. In 2019 the state legislature had distributed equally among Oak Ridge, Summerfield and Stokesdale the remaining $3.4 million that had been earmarked for a regional water system study, contingent upon each of the municipalities using the funding for waterrelated projects. Oak Ridge officials are evaluating whether to use the town’s $1.15 million share and nearly $3.3 million in federal pandemic relief funds to build infrastructure, including an elevated water tank. The municipal water system will initially serve new subdivisions with 30 or more houses.

Incorporation date: 1998 Size: approx. 15 square miles

Property tax rate: 8¢ per $100 of property value (town), 73¢ per $100 (county), 9.77¢ per $100 (fire department)

Sales tax rate: combined 6.75% (2% for Guilford County; 4.75% for North Carolina)

EDUCATION (age 25 and over)

High school graduate (or higher) 99.1% Bachelor’s degree or higher ............................................................................ 53.4%

Households with broadband internet subscription: 96.3%

Housing

Median value of owner-occupied housing unit: $406,300

Estimated number of households: 2,513;

Estimated number of family members per household: 2.97

Income

Median household income: $132,298

Families with income in last 12 months below poverty level: 3.8%

Residents without health insurance (under age 65): 3.2%

Race And Hispanic Origin

Budget

Town Fiscal Year

July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

Operating/Capital budget: $7,357,979

Projected revenue

Property taxes................................... $1,113,600 (8 cents per $100 property value)

VETERANS: 433

Data obtained from U.S. Census Bureau/2021 Quick Facts and N.C. Office of State Budget and Management

Voter Statistics

6,181 Oak Ridge residents were registered to vote as of January 2023. Of these, 2,730 were registered as Republicans; 1,133 were registered as Democrats; 2,284 were unaffiliated with a political party; and 34 were registered as Libertarians.

Data provided by Guilford County Board of Elections

Town Hall

8315 Linville Road, P.O. Box 374 Oak Ridge, NC 27310 (336) 644-7009

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

For committee meeting schedules and other town information, visit www.oakridgenc.com or the Town of Oak Ridge’s Facebook page.

COMMITTEES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

Board of Adjustment

Finance Committee

Historic Preservation Commission

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Committee

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

Planning and Zoning Board Special Events Committee

Want to serve on a town committee or board? Email ssmith@oakridgenc.com or call Town Hall at (336) 644-7009.

Sales tax $397,712

ABC store profit sharing $225,000

Intergovernmental revenue ............ $292,700 (utility and other taxes collected by the state and distributed to local governments)

Excise Tax Receipts $32,000

Interest/Investment earnings $22,000

Parks and Recreation $58,300

Planning & Zoning fees $20,000

Fund Balance Transfer ....................$1,473,565

Veterans Memorial Donations $50,000

Grants $2,473,051

Debt Proceeds $1,200,000 Miscellaneous $51

TOTAL projected revenue $7,357,979

Projected expenses

ADMINISTRATION

Salaries/benefits/taxes for administrative employees $476,658

Professional services $230,000

Contracts for accounting, legal services, consulting, animal control and tax collection

Town committees and boards ......... $43,050

Dues and subscriptions $32,000

Other operating expenses $58,300

TOTAL administrative expenses $840,008

BUILDING/GROUNDS

Town Hall $39,660 (includes maintenance, furnishings and utilities)

PARKS & REC

Salaries/benefits/taxes for Parks & Rec employees ............ $385,600

Operations/maintenance $167,700

Special Events $24,500

Misc. Parks & Rec expenses $16,500

Oak Ridge Youth Assoc. stipend $30,000

TOTAL Parks & Rec $624,300

CAPITAL EXPENSES

Land, Improvements, ROW $5,519,500 Park land $305,511

Computer equipment $29,000

TOTAL Capital Expenses $5,854,011

TOTAL projected expenses $7,357,979