Empire, Nevada
Empire is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada, with a population estimated at 65 (2021). Prior to the 2010 census it was part of the Gerlach–Empire census-designated place, it is now part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearest town, Nixon, is 60 miles (97 km) to the south on a reservation owned by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
Empire, Nevada | |
|---|---|
Unincorporated community Census-designated place | |
Empire, Nevada Location of Empire, Nevada Empire, Nevada Empire, Nevada (the United States) | |
| Coordinates: 40°34′32″N 119°20′28″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.13 sq mi (13.30 km2) |
| • Land | 5.13 sq mi (13.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,036 ft (1,230 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 47 |
| • Density | 9.16/sq mi (3.54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 89405 |
| Area code | 775 |
| FIPS code | 32-23700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2583921 |
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.