Manhattan Project locations-
Oak Ridge was the biggest and most expensive of all of the project locations. Just to even buy the land set aside for research, the US government had to pay a hefty $3.5 million for a staggering 56,000 acres of land. The final price per acre of Oak Ridge was $47/acre. Once a residential community of about 13,000 people, Oak Ridge had to undergo some serious changes to withhold 1000's of families.The population of Oak Ridge soon expanded well beyond the initial plans, and peaked at 75,000 in May 1945. By this time 82,000 people employed at the Clinton Engineer Works, and 10,000 by Roanne- Anderson.
Oak Ridge was the biggest and most expensive of all of the project locations. Just to even buy the land set aside for research, the US government had to pay a hefty $3.5 million for a staggering 56,000 acres of land. The final price per acre of Oak Ridge was $47/acre. Once a residential community of about 13,000 people, Oak Ridge had to undergo some serious changes to withhold 1000's of families.The population of Oak Ridge soon expanded well beyond the initial plans, and peaked at 75,000 in May 1945. By this time 82,000 people employed at the Clinton Engineer Works, and 10,000 by Roanne- Anderson.
Los Alamos-
On Oppenheimer's recommendation, the search for a suitable site for Project Y was narrowed to the vicinity of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Oppenheimer owned a ranch. In October 1942, Major John H. Dudley of the Manhattan Project was sent to survey the area, and he recommended a site near Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Because it was a secret, Los Alamos was referred to as "Site Y" or "the Hill. All birth certificates of babies born Los Alamos during the war were listed as 1663. Los Alamos was not as big as Oak Ridge, but yet still was a massive project site.
Argonne-
The Met Lab built Chicago Pile-1, the world's first nuclear reactor, under the stands of a University of Chicago sports stadium. Considered unsafe, in 1943, CP-1 was reconstructed as CP-2, in Red Gate Woods. Being in a forest, the site was code named "Argonne", after the Forest of Argonne in France. Other activities were added to "Argonne" over the next five years. On July 1, 1946, the "Metallurgical Laboratory" was formally re-chartered as Argonne National Laboratory for "cooperative research in nucleonics." At the request of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, it began developing nuclear reactors for the nation's peaceful nuclear energy program. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the laboratory moved to a larger location in Lemont, Illinois, and established a remote location in Idaho, called "Argonne-West," to conduct further nuclear research.
On Oppenheimer's recommendation, the search for a suitable site for Project Y was narrowed to the vicinity of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Oppenheimer owned a ranch. In October 1942, Major John H. Dudley of the Manhattan Project was sent to survey the area, and he recommended a site near Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Because it was a secret, Los Alamos was referred to as "Site Y" or "the Hill. All birth certificates of babies born Los Alamos during the war were listed as 1663. Los Alamos was not as big as Oak Ridge, but yet still was a massive project site.
Argonne-
The Met Lab built Chicago Pile-1, the world's first nuclear reactor, under the stands of a University of Chicago sports stadium. Considered unsafe, in 1943, CP-1 was reconstructed as CP-2, in Red Gate Woods. Being in a forest, the site was code named "Argonne", after the Forest of Argonne in France. Other activities were added to "Argonne" over the next five years. On July 1, 1946, the "Metallurgical Laboratory" was formally re-chartered as Argonne National Laboratory for "cooperative research in nucleonics." At the request of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, it began developing nuclear reactors for the nation's peaceful nuclear energy program. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, the laboratory moved to a larger location in Lemont, Illinois, and established a remote location in Idaho, called "Argonne-West," to conduct further nuclear research.
above is the first drawing of what the Chicago Pile-1 would look like.
Hanford-
By December 1942 there were concerns that even Oak Ridge was too close to a major population center (Knoxville) in the unlikely event of a major nuclear accident. This concern would eventually lead to the establishment of the Hanford project location.Under Secretary Patterson gave his approval on 9 February, allocating $5 million for the acquisition of 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of land in the area. The federal government relocated some 1,500 residents of White Bluffs and Hanford, and nearby settlements. By July 1944, some 1,200 buildings had been erected and nearly 51,000 people were living in the construction camp. Hanford also operated a fleet of over 900 buses, more than the city of Chicago.
Hanford-
By December 1942 there were concerns that even Oak Ridge was too close to a major population center (Knoxville) in the unlikely event of a major nuclear accident. This concern would eventually lead to the establishment of the Hanford project location.Under Secretary Patterson gave his approval on 9 February, allocating $5 million for the acquisition of 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of land in the area. The federal government relocated some 1,500 residents of White Bluffs and Hanford, and nearby settlements. By July 1944, some 1,200 buildings had been erected and nearly 51,000 people were living in the construction camp. Hanford also operated a fleet of over 900 buses, more than the city of Chicago.