Oak Ridge was established in 1942 as a production site for the Manhattan Project—the massive U.S., U.K. and Canadian operation that developed the atomic bomb. Scientific development still plays a crucial role in the city's economy and culture in general.
Manhattan Project
In 1942, the United States federal government chose the area as a site for developing materials for the Manhattan Project. Maj. Gen. Leslie Groves, military head of the Manhattan Project, liked the area for several reasons. Its relatively low population made acquisition affordable, yet the area was accessible by both highway and rail, and utilities such as water and electricity were readily available due to the recent completion of Norris Dam.
Finally, the project location was established within a 17-mile-long (27 km) valley, and the valley itself was linear and partitioned by several ridges, providing natural protection against disasters between the four major industrial plants—so they wouldn't blow up "like firecrackers on a string."
Source: Wikipedia
