Newcomers Resources

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Looking for a safe and

vibrant community with top-rated STEM schools, year-round farmers markets, an extensive park and greenway system, and even a national park?

Oak Ridge, located at the center of the Oak Ridge Corridor, has all you could want to live, work, and play. With its rich history and continuing significance to our country, there’s always more to learn and explore in Oak Ridge. Visit us online at www.oakridgetn.gov.

You’ll find no shortage of shopping and dining options on your visit to Oak Ridge. The latest mixed-use development is the city center, called Main Street Oak Ridge, which replaces the mall concept with individual store fronts and is anchored by retailers including JCPenney, Belk, Burkes, Dick’s Sporting Goods, PetSmart, TJMaxx, HomeGoods, Old Navy, Ross, Five Below, Electronic Express, Ulta, Rack Room Shoes, Maurices, American Shaman, World Finance, Spa Lounge and Nail Salon, and Rue 21.

Dozens of casual dining options are nearby with more coming as Main Street Oak Ridge continues to grow.

Another popular destination, Jackson Square, is the original townsite of Oak Ridge. Today, it features quaint and unique shopping, local restaurants, monthly Arts & Antiques in the Square, festivals, and first-class live theater and entertainment. Grove Center, located off Randolph Road, features several local eateries and shops – truly something for everyone.

The City of Oak Ridge is proud to host both summer and winter farmers markets, giving residents, visitors, and neighbors an opportunity to shop local year-round. The Winter Farmers Market, operated by Grow Oak Ridge, is open most Saturdays from December to February inside the gym at St. Mary’s School on Vermont Avenue. The Summer Farmers Market, operated by the East Tennessee Farmers Association for Retail Marketing, is held across from Historic Jackson Square on Saturday mornings during the spring, summer and fall months.

Oak Ridge was built under a cloak of secrecy by the United States government during World War II as a major site of the Manhattan Project, the massive wartime effort that produced the world’s first atomic weapons. In 1942, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers bought an estimated 60,000 acres of rural farmland to construct a “temporary” city and three facilities to develop technology that ended the war. Afterwards, Oak Ridge transitioned from a “temporary” military town into

CITY OFFICIALS Mayor .................... Warren Gooch Mayor Pro Tem .......Rick Chinn, Jr. Council Members: Kelly Callison, Jim Dodson, Chuck Hope, Ellen Smith, Derrick Hammond City Manager Mark Watson................425-3550 City Attorney Tammy Dunn ............... 425-3555 City Clerk Beth Hickman ..............425-3411 CITY PHONE NUMBERS City Administration ......425-3550 Animal Shelter ............425-3423 Fire Department (business) ...................425-3520 Police Department (dispatcher) ................425-4399 Oak Ridge Library.........425-3455 Recreation and Parks Department .......425-3450 Information Services Department .................425-3546 UTILITIES Gas – Oak Ridge Utility District ...............425-1377 Solid Waste – Waste Connections.......482-3656 Billing – (electric, water, sewer, tax) ...................425-3400 DEMOGRAPHICS Population .......................31,402 Median Age..........................41.3 Median Household Income ..........................$55,230 Total Households..............12,008 Total Housing Units ..........14,678 Avg. Household Size ..................3

Source: 2020 Census www.oakridgetn.gov

a progressive city and became self-governing in 1959.

Oak Ridge is in the eastern part of the state approximately 22 miles northwest of Knoxville. The city occupies a southern portion of Anderson County and an eastern portion of Roane County. It borders the Clinch River’s navigable waterway for 42 miles along the shores of Watts Bar and Melton Hill Lakes.

The city is home to a wide variety of recreational activities, including golf, swimming, soccer, biking, hiking, basketball, summer camps, rowing, tennis, pickleball, disc golf, billiards, softball, and baseball. Seventeen beautiful parks and fourteen greenways are strategically located throughout the city to be within one-half mile of each residential area and are open yearround from dawn until dusk. More information can be found by visiting the Recreation and Parks department at (865) 425-3450 or the Explore Oak Ridge website at exploreoakridge.com.

Oliver Springs

Oliver Springs was founded in 1821 as Winter’s Gap. It was named for its first permanent settler of European descent, Major Moses Winters, who had settled in the area before 1799.

Before that time, the area around Oliver Springs had been used by Native Americans as a hunting ground and campsite. Natural mineral springs and abundant wildlife on Windrock Mountain encouraged Native Americans to stay. The springs, whose reputation for miraculous medicinal properties lasted until the 20th century, were called Tah-hah-lehaha, which meant “healing waters” in the Cherokee language.

The land remained unexplored by European settlers until 1761. At this time, a long hunting expedition led by Elisha Walden explored much of the Clinch and Powell River valleys. However, settlement in the area did not begin in earnest until the 1790s, and growth remained slow.

In 1826, Richard Oliver became the town’s first postmaster. The town was renamed Oliver’s Springs in his honor. The town’s name was briefly changed to Poplar Springs, and then to Oliver Springs. Oliver provided mail service from his 35-room mansion, which also served as an inn. He was the first to develop the commercial potential of the mineral springs. He would transport his guests between the springs and the inn. During the Civil War, the inn was used as a hospital by both sides.

Joseph Richards bought Oliver’s land in 1873. He built the first resort hotel, and in 1894 replaced this first structure with a 150room hotel with then-modern amenities. Oliver Springs became a popular resort town. The Oliver Springs Hotel catered to wealthy guests, who came from all over the U.S. and Europe to drink the waters and bathe in the springs. In 1888, the railroad came to Oliver Springs and brought thousands of visitors to the springs. The hotel burned in 1905. The town decided to cover the springs rather than rebuild the hotel. Evidence of water conduits and reservoirs can still be seen on the site.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the area became dependent on the coal industry. According to historian Keith Glass, the Windrock Coal and Coke Company, a subsidiary of the Bessemer Coal, Iron and Land Company of Birmingham, began operating a coal mine near Oliver Springs circa 1904.

In the late 1990s, the movie October Sky was filmed in nearby coal mining areas as well as the city’s downtown area. Currently, the local economy is centered on the mountains, which are very popular among all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riders.

The Oliver Springs Historic Society remodeled the Abston/ Daugherty building, built in 1922, located on the corner of Winter Gap & Kingston Ave. This building is used as a museum, meeting rooms and theater. Another renovation was completed at the depot. The Town of Oliver Springs renovated the building which serves as the Oliver Springs Public Library. A new roof, rebuilding of the cupolas, stabilization and new paint brought this historic gem back to life in 2018.

Come visit us during the “October Sky Festival” in October and see all the great things going on in Oliver Springs! CITY OFFICIALS Mayor:.................................................... Omer Cox Aldermen: Robert Miller, Jeff Bass, Kenneth Brown, Rusty Phillips, Terry Holland, Don Shillings City Manager:.................................. Thomas McCormick City Judge/Recorder: ........................... Joseph VanHook Police Chief:........................................David Laxton Fire Chief:........................................... Justin Bailey Utility Office Manager: .................................... BJ Runyan

CITY PHONE NUMBERS City Hall .................................................435-7722 Fire Department (business) ......................435-7778 Police Department (business) ...................435-7777 Parks and Recreation ..............................435-7725 Oliver Springs Public Library .....................435-2509

UTILITIES Water – Town of Oliver Springs .................435-7722 Gas – Powell Clinch Utility District ............426-2822 Electric – Clinton Utilities Board ...............457-9232 Sewer – Town of Oliver Springs.................435-7722

DEMOGRAPHICS Population....................................................3,386 Median Age ....................................................45.4 Avg. Household Income .............................$62,177 Total Households..........................................1,403 Avg. Household Size........................................2.41 Homeownership Rate ................................... 67.6%

Source: 2021 Esri Forecast

717 Main Street Oliver Springs, TN 37840 865-435-7722 www.oliversprings-tn.gov