Atlas Portland Cement Company

The Atlas Portland Cement Company was based in Northampton, Pennsylvania, a center for this manufacturing because of the limestone in the area. Based in Northampton in 1895, Atlas operated here until 1982, when it was bought out. It was one of the largest cement companies in the world. It manufactured Portland cement, the most common type of cement in the world.

In the early 20th century, the Atlas Portland Cement Company produced 8 million barrels for the construction of the Panama Canal (1903-1914); its product was the majority of cement used on that project.[1] Some 151,000 barrels of Atlas cement were used in construction of the Empire State Building in New York City,[1] completed in 1931.

Atlas was among the dozens of cement companies that operated in this area of Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Changes in technology and automation mean that in the 21st century, 150-200 workers can do the work that used to take thousands of employees in the plants. The company's legacy is remembered and interpreted in the Atlas Cement Memorial Museum, which was founded in 1997 by Edward Pany, a former employee at the company and a history teacher.[1]