Oak Ridge, TN: What you need to know

Superb amenities adding up to an excellent quality of life may be the best-kept secret these days in “the secret city” of Oak Ridge, which earned that name due to its top-secret development by the U.S. government in 1942 as a primary Manhattan Project site.

After the war ended, its appeal stuck with many of these people, who incorporated the city in 1959. The city, located approximately 20 miles from Knoxville in both Anderson and Roane counties, today has a high-quality, strategically developed parks system resulting in each residential area being within a half-mile of at least one.

Melton Hill Lake offers boating, fishing and rowing, plus beautiful views for those using the 12 miles of greenways alongside it. The city's popular spring-fed outdoor pool dates to 1944, and residents can enjoy an indoor pool facility during cold weather months.

Oak Ridge is still home to internationally significant science and technology research and development, as the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory continue to be the largest employers. Students consistently exceed educational standards, and there are more cultural offerings than one might expect for the city's size.