1945

In 1945, the new city was crowded, with all 90 dorms for singles full and family housing scarce, and in May its population peaked at 75,000. Y-12 had 22,400 workers, K-25 had 11,000, and X-10 had 1,500. Plant workers were urged to work harder than ever, though most had little idea that their work that spring was nearing its climax. After Germany surrendered in May, attention shifted to the Pacific, where fighting for the islands was fierce. President Truman met Churchill and Stalin at Potsdam, Germany, and issued a final ultimatum to the Japanese government to end the war or face prompt and utter destruction. The first atomic bomb on August 6 did not bring peace, but the second did. Oak Ridgers were thrilled to learn that their urgent and secret work had helped finally bring peace to a hurting world, and even Knoxville, once skeptical of the strangers in its valley, was at last proud of them. Journalists at the next turn of the century would rank this as the top news story of the 20th century.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee · United States