Empire, Nevada

Empire, Nevada
Empire, Nevada
Location of Empire, Nevada
Empire, Nevada
Empire, Nevada (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°34′32″N 119°20′28″W / 40.57556°N 119.34111°W / 40.57556; -119.34111
CountryUnited States
StateNevada
Area
 • Total
5.14 sq mi (13.30 km2)
 • Land5.14 sq mi (13.30 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
4,036 ft (1,230 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
47
 • Density9.2/sq mi (3.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
89405
Area code775
FIPS code32-23700
GNIS feature ID2583921

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.