Empire, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Empire, Nevada
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Empire, Nevada
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.1 sq mi (13.3 km2) |
| • Land | 5.1 sq mi (13.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Population
(2021)
|
|
| • Total | 65 |
| • Density | 12.66/sq mi (4.89/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
89405
|
| Area code(s) | 775 |
| FIPS code | 32-23700 |
Empire is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada, with a population estimated at 65 (2021). 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.
For 63 years, from 1948 to 2011, Empire was a company town of the US Gypsum Corporation, a manufacturer of gypsum based construction sheetrock, and once had a population of more than 750 people. US Gypsum closed the mine and the town in 2011; the mine and town were bought in 2016 by the Empire Mining Company (EMC), a manufacturer of gypsum based agricultural and construction additives. In 2016, the town again became a company town under the new auspices of EMC. Since that date both the town and the mine have been partially reopened by the new owners.
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. Its elevation is 4,040 feet (1,230 m) above sea level.
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. U.S. Gypsum has owned the town since 1948, which reached a maximum population of 750 in the early 1960s. But when the recession forced the company to shut the plant in 2011, the town was unable to survive.
On June 3, 2016, it was reported that the town and the mine were sold for $10.25 million.
Transportation
Primary highway access to Empire is provided by State Route 447.
Empire Airport is a dirt airfield suitable only for light planes.
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 | |||||||||||||
Economy
Gypsum mining is the staple of Empire's economy. After the recent reopening of the town, Empire has returned to being a classic company town, though smaller than before. Once again, all residents of Empire are associated with the mining operations of the town. Until its temporary closure in 2011, the Empire gypsum mine was one of the longest continually operating mines in the U.S., 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.
During its heyday under U.S. Gypsum, the town had a church, a public pool, a nine-hole golf course, an airport, and a post office. 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 EMC reopened the town in 2016, the store and gas station have been re-opened by EMC. The Catholic Church of Empire also holds services on a monthly basis.
The economy of Empire includes serving tourists heading to the nearby Black Rock Desert and hunting. Since 1991, Burning Man, a week-long experimental festival with 78,850 participants (as of 2017[update]), 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 throughout the year. After the closure of the plant in 2011, the grocery store remained the only source of provisions within 100 miles (160 km) of the Black Rock Desert.
Education
Washoe County School District is the area school district. Gerlach K-12 School is the local school. It includes a branch of the Washoe County Library System.
Ernest M. Johnson Elementary School in Empire opened in 1958. Circa 2000 it had 62 students. By 2000 the school's address was already in Gerlach. The school moved to an addition at the Gerlach High School site in Gerlach in 2001. In 2011 Gerlach High was converted into the Johnson Elementary School for K-12.
