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Empire was established in 1923 by the Pacific Portland Cement Company to mine local gypsum deposits. A short industrial line ran approximately six to seven miles north from the Empire quarry and plant to connect with the mainline (historically the Western Pacific, now operated via Union Pacific connections) at Gerlach, Nevada. Early operations utilized industrial switchers, including equipment historically tied to lines like the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, to haul processed gypsum and materials out of the remote desert site. Modern Status: While the historic local industrial line has evolved, freight traffic from the northern Nevada gypsum operations near Empire continues to connect regionally through the Union Pacific network via Gerlach.

Each morning, Brandy Wilber wakes up to a sweeping view of the desert and the sound of gypsum being crushed at the plant. This is life in Empire. "It might not seem like much to other people, but this is our home. It's a lot more than just home: It's home, it's work, it's family," said Wilber, who manages the general store in town. In recent weeks, the town of Empire has been made famous by "Nomadland," a film that won best picture and best director at the Golden Globes Awards on Sunday. The film is now in theaters and streaming on Hulu. Wilber, who stars in the movie briefly with her daughters as a friend of the main character, acted as a town liaison for the crew. Like many of the film's cast, Wilber is one of the Northern Nevada locals that starred as herself. The director, Chloe Zhao, is known for blending fiction with reality in her films. "Nomadland" is no different. Empire serves as the home in the rearview mirror of the main character, Fern, played by actress Frances McDormand. As the movie opens, Fern is setting out on a journey to find a new lifestyle and purpose after the company town she lived in with her late husband is shutdown. Fern is fictional, though both her story and Empire's are rooted in truth. Empire is located about 145 kilometres (90 miles) north of Reno, just south of the Black Rock Desert where the Burning Man arts festival takes place. Today, the town is home to a general store, a gas pump, a storage business and the gypsum mining operations, which - true to the movie’s plot - closed in 2011. The operations resumed in 2016, but not to the level of their heydays in the 20th century. Travelers can best mark their arrival in Empire when they see the company factory. The plant "rises like a giant white frosted cake from the desert," a journalist from the Nevada State Journal wrote in 1953. In the early 1920s, the Pacific Portland Cement Company operated the gypsum quarry and mine. Gypsum is commonly used for plaster board, or Sheetrock, used in construction. Empire was said to be home to one of the "finest gypsum deposits in the world," the Nevada State Journal reported at the time, and the US Gypsum Company bought the operation for more than $2 million in 1948. By 1950, the town was booming with workers mining around the clock, the Journal reported, and adding housing to support about 200 people, including workers and their families. The town of Gerlach, best known today as the last stop before Burning Man, was just a few miles north. Gerlach townspeople called Empire simply "the camp." "Nearby Gerlach is experiencing a small boom of its own as a result of the growth of Empire, as is reflected in the advent of electric power and neon signs in that community during the last year," the Journal reported in 1950. "Gerlach is Empire's play town to some extent, although it is probable if things go on as they are now that Empire will be bigger than Gerlach soon." At the time, neither community had telephone service still, but residents were said to love life in Empire. They described a tight knit community where the kids ran free and swam all summer in the community pool. The parents enjoyed golf at the course in town and tennis at the courts. The entire community would gather for basketball tournaments, and the children would go rabbit hunting after school since the desert was only "five feet 5 feet (1.5 meters) from our backyards," a former resident, Steven Lambert, once told the Reno Gazette Journal.

USG shut down all operations, both mining and Sheetrock production, in early 2011 after the economic downturn tanked the construction industry. At the time, USG employed about 100 people and ran the town of Empire, which had about 300 residents when it closed.

Lost its zip code

In years past, the town's population was as many as 800, but with an evaporated population, Empire lost its zip code: 89405. The school in Gerlach struggled to keep enough students to stay open. Enrollment in recent years has hovered between 10 and 40 students, depending on the year. The town of Empire lost much of its charm as well. While surrounded by a chain link fence, the facilities suffered neglect. Two llamas -- named Tony Llama and Llama Bahama -- were placed inside the perimeter to keep the weeds at bay. Bushes entirely engulfed basketball hoops, swing sets and laundry lines left behind by the former residents. Inside the homes, many which were left unlocked, walls had the faint outline of frames that once hung. Bedrooms still had glow-in-the-dark stars, murals and kitten-shaped light switch covers left behind. "Some of the old mill offices, if you go over there, the calendar is still on that date, the day that it shut down in 2011," said David Hornsby, president and chief operating officer of Empire Mining Co. when he moved to the site in 2016. "Still half-full coffee cups, all their files still on their desk. It's kind of like a bomb just went off and they all evacuated. It's pretty weird." Empire Mining Co., based in Las Vegas, bought the town, plant and mine in 2016 for nearly $11.4 million. Unlike USG, Empire Mining Co. does not have manufacturing on-site. The gypsum is today shipped to companies that make fertilizer and cement. Today, the town is home to about 70 residents altogether, including workers and their families. While many of the facilities have not reopened, about two dozen houses have been remodeled. Wilber said, though the town still might look abandoned from afar during the winter, it regains some of its vitality in the summer. No matter the season, though, the llamas still roam the town and greet her each morning at her window for oats. She’s nicknamed them Mo and Jo. The company last year additionally purchased the Empire Market, formerly known as the Empire Store.

"I would have loved to have seen the town back in the day, but I think a lot of people that live in Empire now have that same feeling: We love this place," Wilber said.

Empire, Nevada Unincorporated community Country United States State Nevada Population (2020) • Total 47 ZIP codes

89405

Empire is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada, United States, 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 area. 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.

History

In 1907, Alex Ranson discovered gypsum near what later became Empire. In late 1909, Alex Ranson, Nick Curnow, E. H. Cowles and James Raser filed a patent for a selenite placer mining claim. In 1911, the mine was sold to unnamed buyers, rumored to be the plaster or gypsum trust from the eastern U.S. The sale was for between $50,000 (equivalent to $1,730,000 in 2025) and $100,000 (equivalent to $3,460,000 in 2025). In 1922, the Pacific Portland Cement company started construction of a mill at what is now known as Empire. In 1924, the Pacific Portland Cement company completed the move of their mill to the current location of Empire from a location near Mound House, Nevada near what was then known as Empire and the Carson River mills. The company called the new plant Empire. U.S. Gypsum bought the town in 1948. Empire reached a maximum population of 750 in the early 1960s. Amid a slump in the construction industry, the gypsum plant in Empire closed its doors on January 31, 2011, eliminating 95 jobs. 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 had empty homes and a large shuttered plant that made it seem almost like a ghost town. The ZIP Code, 89405, was also discontinued. During the years that the mill and town were both closed (2011-2016), U.S. Gypsum first erected a large fence around the entire town and plant complex; it then retained two employees to patrol and maintain the property. It also brought two llamas onto the property to keep the grass trimmed.

In mid-2016, U.S. Gypsum sold the town and the mine to the Empire Mining Company, thus workers began to move back into the town to work under the new mine owners. Since 2016, both the mine and the town have been partially reopened by the new owners of the mine, with a total population of 65 (2021).

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). When EMC partially reopened the town in 2016, the store and gas station were transferred to new management. 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), 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.

Transportation

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

Empire Airport is a dirt airfield suitable only for light planes.

About

Empire Nevada was a company-owned town with a large gypsum mine that failed to make it through the 2008-2010 recession. Think wall-boards for all the construction that wasn't happening. The last 95 employees were laid off in January 2011, down from a peak of 270 employees that had use of a school, pool, golf course, ball park and two churches.

Empire in the center of photo near white spot (gypsum). Black Rock desert in the distance. The town was shuttered and a chain link fence put up to keep out vandals, squatters and tumbleweeds. The post office was closed and the town zip code was cancelled. Interestingly, the Empire store on highway 95 stayed open, partly because of nearby Burning Man (and the year-round Burning Man employees that live nearby). A few employees were kept on to patrol the town. Someone's been taking good care of the runway ! It was freshly rolled. Back behind the town is the airport, with one old Navion aircraft on jacks. The airport was my ticket into the town, as I thought I would walk through the town and if stopped just say I was walking from the airport to the store which I was. As it turns out I didn't run into anyone. Tumbleweeds in a zombie-like mass attack on the town It is amazing how homes desperately need caring homeowners or they rapidly deteriorate. Seven years doesn't seem like a terribly long time, but many of the homes are already beyond repair. To be fair, it is really a semi-ghost town. The town, mine and plant were sold for $10mm in 2016 and it was obvious the plant was running when I was there. It looked like a pocket of inhabitants live on the south end, but then there are a few random residents throughout (except for the most rundown section). It looks like the boss said, "You want a home while you are here ? Go find one, sweep out the rodent crap, push the tumbleweeds onto the lot next door, and its yours." After a nice walk through the town an afternoon wind started to pick up, so I got back in the plane for the one hour flight back home. Very interesting. Didn't know there were any "full time" employees for burning man near the actual location. That $25 million budget takes away from the desired vibe, as far as I'm concerned. How long has it been since you've been to Sierra hot springs, and that airport? Also curious if you ever do any airplane camping at any of the 8-10 airstrips in the Siskiyou mountains from Gravelly Valley to Hayfork to Happy Camp? Good times. How was the runway at empire? My brother (a professional photographer) is trying to convince me to take im there in my Bonanza.

The runway was fantastic. Best dirt runway I've landed on. Someone rolled it and smoothed it out not long before I got there. Unfortunately you'll need to tell your brother that the best photos have already been taken there.

Cement, California Country United States State California County Solano

Established 1902

Cement is a mining and manufacturing ghost town in Solano County, California, United States now enveloped within the boundaries of the city of Fairfield. Cement was established as a company town at the turn of the 20th century and it quickly became a boomtown. It was founded and owned by the Pacific Portland Cement Company, which produced Portland cement that was bagged and labeled under the company's "Golden Gate" trademarked brand. It was shuttered in 1927, structures and equipment were auctioned off, and its remains are now in ruins or were moved away.

History

The town of Cement was established in 1902 by the Pacific Portland Cement Company and was originally named after the large deposits of high-quality limestone rock deposits found in the area. This limestone was ideal for the lime that was needed for the production of Portland cement produced by the company at Cement. Enormous conveyors, rock crushers, tube cement mills, and rotary kilns were created to process the raw quarried limestone. The town also had its own open pit clay and gypsum mines with clay and gypsum being necessary components in the finished Portland cement the plant produced. The establishment of the cement industry in Cement brought a large influx of workers to the area, and the town quickly grew into a thriving community of people with a strong economy. It became more populous than the three nearest cities combined - Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City.

The cement industry was the lifeblood of Cement for many years, and the town prospered as a result. The population of the town grew steadily to 500 people, and businesses and services were established to support the needs of the growing community. This included the three-story Golden Gate Hotel, hospital, restaurant, bar, livery stable, post office, telephone exchange, park, baseball diamond, general store, fire station, churches, and a grade school.

Railway

The town owners constructed a single-track standard-gauge steam railway to get products and supplies to and from Cement and Tolenas which were 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) away from each other. The company had a total of 6.3 miles (10.1 km) of track including yard and side tracks. The railway's name was Cement, Tolenas & Tidewater Railroad Company.

Decline

The prosperity of Cement was not to last. As the limestone deposits were depleted, the industry in Cement began to decline, and the town's economy began to suffer. Over time, the population of Cement continued to drop, and many of the town's businesses and services were forced to close. The town was finally sold off in 1927 for only a few thousand dollars. The once-thriving town became a shadow of its former self, and today it is a ghost town. The ruins of the town, including remnants of the old cement mill and the foundations of abandoned homes and buildings, stand as a testament to the once-prosperous community that was a center of the cement industry in California. The most prominent and visible concrete ruin on Cement's hillside is large and referred to locally as "The Castle." The Castle can be seen all the way from Interstate 80 in Fairfield.

Present day

Despite its demise, Cement is an important part of California's history and culture. The remaining ruins serve as a reminder of the impact that the cement industry had on the region and the lives of its residents. Cement still interests people wondering about the history of the cement industry, the American West, the ghost town, and its past.

Cement is privately owned land and the owner's permission is required to visit the property that is approximately 600 acres (240 hectares).

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