Oak Ridge Town in North Carolina is home to the historic Old Mill of Guilford, the last fully functional gristmill in the county. Located in Beaver Creek, the mill and the building housing it continue to churn corn grits, whole grain and wheat products since 1776, surviving wars and economic turmoil.
The town of Oak Ridge was a sleepy tobacco farm and milling community until 1998, when it was incorporated as a town
Oak Ridge Town in North Carolina is home to the historic Old Mill of Guilford, the last fully functional gristmill in the county. Located in Beaver Creek, the mill and the building housing it continue to churn corn grits, whole grain and wheat products since 1776, surviving wars and economic turmoil.
The town of Oak Ridge was a sleepy tobacco farm and milling community until 1998, when it was incorporated as a town. Unlike the old mill, other milling estates and farmlands did not survive, giving way to housing projects, malls and other retail development. These changes attracted new residents lured by jobs and business opportunities in education, banking, retail and other services. Despite urbanization, the town's beautiful, hilly terrains on its 14.7 square miles of land remain as it was hundreds of years ago, the pride of some 6,185 resident that now call Oak Ridge their home.
A move to Oak Ridge is quite easy with various transportation access. State Highways 150 and 220 pass into the town, along with convenient Amtrak service. The town prides itself with its very own airport, the Ds Butler Farm And Airfield Airport on West Harrell Road.
You can enjoy a humid, subtropical climate in Oak Ridge with the distinct four seasons giving their share of hot, humid, temperate, and cold to chilly days. It is best to schedule your move-in date in the milder summer and autumn than at the peak of the heat or the in the depths of winter.
Also, skip the last week of May if you can when planning your move to avoid the crowd attending the annual Ridgefest, a major town event organized by the Merchants Association of Oak Ridge which draws flocks of visitors from all over North Carolina. The 3-day revelry features carnival rides, street and beachfront games, classic car exhibits, food concessionaire programs, a corn hole tournament and a battle of the bands competition.
If you came from a big city, this may sound unfamiliar: Oak Ridge does not have public water system. Households use their own well systems while some subdivisions utilize shared community wells. Also, the town does not have its own public works department. Some services, like snow removal, are the responsibility of North Carolina's Department of Transportation.
Whether you're looking for a 2 bedroom apartment to rent, an apartment complex, or more floorspace in rentals homes in Oak Ridge, you're up for an exciting rental property hunt in the town.
Make your search fast and easy by organizing your tenant application documents, such as proof of income and your credit history. Supplement these papers with a character reference preferably from a past landlord or an employer who can vouch that you're a responsible person.
With various subdivision developments from former farmlands, there are ample apartment rentals in Oak Ridge and a 2 bedroom apartment for rent is most common. Homes rent as well as ranch-style properties are also available. The town is divided by the Oak Ridge Road intersection running east to west and Route 68 running north to south.
A quick note here: if you want to live just within the town limits of Oak Ridge, be aware that there is an Old Oak Ridge Road in nearby Greensboro City (about 3.3 miles from Oak Ridge), which is actually a considerable distance from Oak Ridge town's own Oak Ridge Road.
Oak Ridge Road: This is a busy neighborhood anchored on the town's commercial district and accessible via Highway 68. It's more likely to find an all bills paid apartment here than in other Oak Ridge areas. The neighborhood vibe is conducive for fast-paced living with quick service shops and rows of fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Wendy's and Subway.
West Oak Ridge: This neighborhood is located far from downtown and includes the patch around Benbow Merrill Road, Merriman Farm Road, Benson Road and William Road. The area is accessible via State Highway 150. Mid-size, 3-bedroom rental homes can be found here. Although it has very few stand-alone shops, a saving grace is the Bistro 150 Restaurant on Highway 150 and Route 68, famous for its selection of local brewery beverages and bottled micro brews.
Gumwood: This is a predominantly ranch neighborhood on the eastern end the town, near Beaver Creek and between Gumwood Road and Bunch Road. Ranch-style properties for rent can be found here. While there are no shopping and dining conveniently close, residents enjoy refreshing sights of nearby lakes and creeks. Also, Oak Ridge's famous miniature horses can be seen grazing on some ranches.
The town center is located on Linville Road and Lisa Drive, where the town hall, town park and playground, the dog park aptly called Bark Park, the post office and other town department offices are all located. While the penchant for smoking locally grown tobacco remains, public amenities like parks are strictly no-smoking zones in an effort to make these open spaces more health-friendly to everyone.
A short distance away from Linville is the town's commercial district which is the long stretch of the Oak Ridge Road. People converge here for dining and shopping. The Rio Grande Grill and Cantina Restaurant is a landmark in the area, serving authentic Buffalo-style wings and fish tacos. A major crowd drawer here is the Oak Ridge Commons shopping mall and the many retails shops and specialty stores on the site of the old Oak Ridge Mall.
Aside from the Oak Ridge Military Academy which was built in 1852 (the third oldest military school in the US), Oak Ridge Road is also the site of various historical structures in Guilford County. A tour of the old town starts with the Oakhurst, the grand Queen Anne-style 19th century home of the Hicks-Holt family who worked in the old military school.
There's also the Charles Benbow house with vintage machinery for tanning and brick-making. The two-story Jesse Benbow frame house is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture built near his father's estate. The Old Mill of Guilford is another historical structure a bit farther up on Route 68.
There are no museums in Oak Ridge but cultural cravings are satisfied in nearby Greensboro City, with its Children's Museum on North Church Street, Science Center on Lawndale Drive and the Tannenbaum Historic Park on New Garden Road.
