Oak Ridge in Roane County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Wheat Community

Photographed by Donald Raby

1. The Wheat Community Marker

Inscription. The Wheat Community was settled during the middle of the 19th century and took its name from the first postmaster, Frank Wheat. The area had originally been known as Bald Hill. Roane College, a liberal arts college, operated here from 1886-1908. Wheat was one of four area communities acquired by the federal government in 1942 for the Manhattan Project.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1F 38.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 35° 56.145′ N, 84° 22.306′ W. Marker is in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in Roane County. It is on Blair Road near Tenn. 95, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oak Ridge TN 37830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Poplar Creek Seminary (a few steps from this marker); Building K-1000 (approx. 1.1 miles away); BNFL, Inc. (approx. 1.3 miles away); To Have a Job (approx. 1.4 miles away); K-25 Plant (approx.

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1.4 miles away); The Wheat Colony (approx. 1.4 miles away); Happy Valley (approx. 1.4 miles away); S-50 Thermal Diffusion Plant (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Ridge.

More about this marker. This marker was relocated to Blair Road from nearby Tenn. 95. It was in the location of the new marker for Poplar Creek Seminary.

Additional keywords. Oak Ridge

Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2015, by Donald Raby of Knoxville, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,268 times since then and 66 times this year. Last updated on April 22, 2025, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photo 1. submitted on September 11, 2015, by Donald Raby of Knoxville, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.