Empire, Nevada

Empire is a census-designated place (CDP) and ghost town in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 217 at the 2010 census.[1] It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area; before the 2010 census, it was part of the Gerlach–Empire census-designated place. The nearest town, Nixon, is 60 miles (97 km) to the south on a reservation owned by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

Empire, Nevada
Census-designated place & Ghost town
Location of Empire, Nevada
Coordinates: 40°34′32″N 119°20′28″W
CountryUnited States
StateNevada
Area
 • Total5.1 sq mi (13.3 km2)
 • Land5.1 sq mi (13.3 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total217
 • Density42/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
89405
Area code(s)775
FIPS code32-23700
Downtown Empire

Empire was a company town for United States Gypsum Corporation, and once had a population of more than 750 people. United States Gypsum closed the mine and the town in 2011; it was bought in 2016 by Empire Mining Co.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Empire CDP has a total area of 5.1 square miles (13.3 km2), all land.[1] Its elevation is 4,040 feet (1,230 m) above sea level.

Economy

The economy of Empire focuses on tourism in the nearby Black Rock Desert, and hunting. Gypsum mining was the historic staple of the local economy until 2011. Empire was the classic company town of the United States Gypsum Corporation (USG). All residents of Empire worked for USG, and USG owned the properties and buildings. The Empire gypsum mine was one of the longest continually operating mines in the US, operating for 88 years from 1923 to 2011. While many mines were shut down during World War II as resources were diverted to the war effort, gypsum was determined to be an "essential" resource and the mine was never closed during that period. The town had a church, a public pool, a 9-hole golf course, a post office (89405), and Empire Airport for light planes. There was also a day-care facility for the employees of Empire, and a convenience store with a gas station—the only store for more than 50 miles (80 km).

Since 1991, Burning Man, a week long countercultural festival with 51,454 participants (as of 2010), has been held nearby. The event is responsible for around 20% of the sales at the few commercial establishments in the area, which include the closest permanent fuel and grocery stops to the event site. The Black Rock Desert is also the site of many other recreational activities, organized and otherwise, throughout the year.[2] After the closure of the town in 2011, the grocery store remained the only source of provisions within 100 miles of the Black Rock Desert.[3]

History

Empire was founded in 1923; in that year miners formed a tent city while mining a claim originally established by the Pacific Portland Cement Company in 1910.[4] U.S. Gypsum had owned the town since 1948,[5] which reached a maximum population of 750 in the early 1960s.

Amid a recession, the gypsum plant in Empire closed its doors on January 31, 2011, eliminating 95 jobs.[6][7] Residents with children were allowed to continue inhabiting their company homes through June 20, 2011, the end of the school year. After that date, Empire effectively became a ghost town. In response, the local ZIP Code, 89405, was also discontinued. Two USG employees remained to maintain the property.

In mid-2016, United States Gypsum sold the town and the mine to Empire Mining Co.[3][8] It has been partially reopened.[9]

Transportation

Primary highway access to Empire is provided by State Route 447.

Empire Airport is a dirt airfield suitable only for light planes.[10][11]

Climate
Climate data for Empire, Nevada (Elevation 3,980ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)		 68
(20)		 75
(24)		 82
(28)		 97
(36)		 103
(39)		 102
(39)		 102
(39)		 104
(40)		 89
(32)		 74
(23)		 64
(18)		 104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 43.1
(6.2)		 48.2
(9.0)		 54.6
(12.6)		 64.3
(17.9)		 74.4
(23.6)		 83.7
(28.7)		 92.7
(33.7)		 90.4
(32.4)		 85.5
(29.7)		 70.2
(21.2)		 54.1
(12.3)		 44.1
(6.7)		 67.1
(19.5)
Average low °F (°C) 21.5
(−5.8)		 24.8
(−4.0)		 29.2
(−1.6)		 35.7
(2.1)		 43.3
(6.3)		 50.2
(10.1)		 57.6
(14.2)		 54.0
(12.2)		 48.0
(8.9)		 37.4
(3.0)		 26.7
(−2.9)		 22.1
(−5.5)		 37.5
(3.1)
Record low °F (°C) −3
(−19)		 −1
(−18)		 12
(−11)		 20
(−7)		 23
(−5)		 30
(−1)		 37
(3)		 41
(5)		 32
(0)		 16
(−9)		 7
(−14)		 −6
(−21)		 −6
(−21)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.96
(24)		 0.52
(13)		 0.64
(16)		 0.61
(15)		 0.74
(19)		 0.54
(14)		 0.14
(3.6)		 0.12
(3.0)		 0.20
(5.1)		 0.62
(16)		 0.35
(8.9)		 1.12
(28)		 6.56
(167)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.4
(6.1)		 1.8
(4.6)		 1.1
(2.8)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.6
(4.1)		 7.0
(18)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[12]

In the 2020 film Nomadland the main character, played by Frances McDormand, is from Empire. The film starts off with a brief history of Empire.[13]

References
  1. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Empire CDP, Nevada". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  2. Fulbright, Leslie (August 28, 2005), "A warmer welcome, Residents of small Nevada town profit from annual counter cultural festival", San Francisco Chronicle
  3. "Cherished Burning Man pit stop - Empire Store - in limbo". San Francisco Chronicle. AP. July 12, 2020.
  4. Tingley, J. V.; Quade, J (September 1, 1985). A mineral inventory of the Paradise-Denio -- and Sonoma-Gerlach Resource Areas, Winnemucca District, Nevada (Report). Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. p. 57. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  5. "Empire Gypsum Plant Is Sold". Nevada State Journal. May 1, 1948. p. 14. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  6. "Empire, Nevada Completely Wiped Out By Recession". Huffington Post. June 22, 2011.
  7. Bruder, Jessica (June 11, 2011). "Slump in construction industry creates a Sheetrock ghost town". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved June 12, 2011 – via Yahoo! News.
  8. Kane, Jenny (2016-06-03). "Gypsum mine, town of Empire sold for $10.25M". Reno Gazette Journal.
  9. Kane, Jenny (August 27, 2016). "Empire Mining Co. plans to pump new life into Nevada ghost town". Las Vegas Review-Journal. AP.
  10. 2008–2009 Nevada Airport Directory & Pilot's Guide. Nevada Department of Transportation. pp. 32–33.
  11. Grant, Ney (February 16, 2018). "Empire Nevada: A Modern Ghost Town". West Coast Flying Adventures.
  12. "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  13. Brady-Brown, Annabel. "Nomadland sets Frances McDormand to shine against landscape of American West in grey nomad tale". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
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