Empire, California

2025-11-02T05:23:08Z

2600:1700:8F91:A10:C825:A3D9:5A81:2438:

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Empire
| other_name =
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| settlement_type = [[Unincorporated Community]] [[Census Designated Place]]
| motto =

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| image_map = Stanislaus_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Empire_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 250x200px
| map_caption = Location in [[Stanislaus County, California|Stanislaus County]] and the state of [[California]]
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| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|California}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in California|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Stanislaus County, California|Stanislaus]]
| subdivision_type3 =
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| established_title = Empire City
| established_date = 1850
| established_title2 = Empire
| established_date2 = 1896
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3 =

| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = US
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi = 1.168
| area_land_sq_mi = 1.168
| area_water_sq_mi = 0
| area_total_km2 = 3.026
| area_land_km2 = 3.026
| area_water_km2 = 0
| area_water_percent = 0
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| population_as_of = 2020
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| population_total = 4202
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
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| timezone = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
| utc_offset = -8
| timezone_DST = PDT
| utc_offset_DST = -7
| coordinates = {{coord|37|38|39|N|120|54|27|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 36
| elevation_ft = 118

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 95319
| area_code = [[Area code 209|209]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 06-22622
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 1658501
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Empire''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Stanislaus County, California|Stanislaus County]], [[California]], United States. The population was 4,202 at the 2020 census, up from 4,189 at the 2010 census. It is part of the [[Modesto, California|Modesto]] [[Modesto metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. Influenced by the [[Mexican culture]], Empire is agriculturally active, and is home to the new [[Empire Community Park]].

==History==
{{see also|Empire City (California)}}

In 1854, the town of Empire City was founded on the south bank of the
[[Tuolumne River]], one mile south of present-day Empire. It was reputedly named after New York City, the "Empire City". However, some sources indicate that the town was founded as early as 1850. The town shows on the 1852 Gibbes map as Empire. It is alleged to have been almost destroyed and deserted twice, in 1852 and 1855. The town served as the head of navigation for [[steamboats]] on the Tuolumne River. Empire City became the [[county seat]] of [[Stanislaus County]], and was flooded in the [[Great Flood of 1862]]. In 1896, the town relocated one mile north of the river, and was renamed '''Empire''' for the [[Santa Fe Railroad]]. (Part of the [[San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad]] line which the Santa Fe acquired in 1898.)

==Downtown==
Downtown Empire is situated in the second town layout. It includes a small [[post office]], a [[Church of the Brethren]] [[church (building)|church]], and the [[Empire Community Park]] with the [[Empire City (California)|Empire City Historic Landmark]].

==Geography==
Empire is located at {{coord|37|38|39|N|120|54|27|W|type:city}} (37.644298, -120.907592).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|1.2|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, Empire has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], ''Csa'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=837540&cityname=Empire%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Empire, California]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000=3903
|2010=4189
|2020=4202
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref> 1860–1870<ref name=1870CensusCA1>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref name=1870CensusCA2>{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1880-1890<ref name=1890CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1900<ref name=1900CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1910<ref name=1910CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1920<ref name=1920CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1930<ref name=1930CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1940<ref name=1940CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1950<ref name=1950CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1960<ref name=1960CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1970<ref name=1970CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1980<ref name=1980CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 1990<ref name=1990CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
2000<ref name=2000CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusCA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 
}}

Empire first appeared as a [[census designated place]] in the [[2000 U.S. census]].<ref name=2000CensusCA/>

===2020===
The [[2020 United States census]] reported that Empire had a population of 4,202. The population density was {{convert|3,597.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Empire was 44.7% [[White Americans|White]], 1.4% [[African Americans|African American]], 2.6% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 1.2% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.4% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 34.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 15.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 60.5% of the population.<ref name=DP1>{{cite web |title=Empire CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0622622 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 20, 2025}}</ref>

The census reported that 97.3% of the population lived in households, 2.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 1,312 households, out of which 38.1% included children under the age of 18, 41.1% were married-couple households, 13.6% were [[cohabitation|cohabiting]] couple households, 24.5% had a female householder with no partner present, and 20.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 20.9% of households were one person, and 8.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.12.<ref name=DP1/> There were 916 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (69.8% of all households).<ref>{{cite web |title=Empire CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0622622 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 20, 2025}}</ref>

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.2% aged 18 to 24, 27.8% aged 25 to 44, 26.2% aged 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 36.5{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 107.4 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 1,345 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,151.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 1,312 (97.5%) were occupied. Of these, 47.9% were owner-occupied, and 52.1% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $48,990, and the [[per capita income]] was $20,817. About 25.5% of families and 28.7% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Empire CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0622622 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=June 20, 2025}}</ref>

===2010===
The [[2010 United States census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0622622|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715024727/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0622622|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Empire CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Empire had a population of 4,189. The population density was {{convert|2,679.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Empire was 2,274 (54.3%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 22 (0.5%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 56 (1.3%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 59 (1.4%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 8 (0.2%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1,500 (35.8%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 270 (6.4%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2,275 persons (54.3%).

The Census reported that 4,037 people (96.4% of the population) lived in households, 152 (3.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,215 households, out of which 570 (46.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 585 (48.1%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 244 (20.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 103 (8.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 98 (8.1%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 11 (0.9%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 204 households (16.8%) were made up of individuals, and 71 (5.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.32. There were 932 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (76.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.74.

The population was spread out, with 1,227 people (29.3%) under the age of 18, 428 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 1,097 people (26.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,024 people (24.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 413 people (9.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

There were 1,328 housing units at an average density of {{convert|849.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 724 (59.6%) were owner-occupied, and 491 (40.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 10.5%. 2,375 people (56.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,662 people (39.7%) lived in rental housing units.

==Government==

The Empire Municipal Advisory Council is the town's council, along with the library, sheriff's office, and health center, it receives help from Stanislaus County.

In the [[California State Legislature]], Empire is in {{Representative|casd|4|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|22|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final Maps {{!}} California Citizens Redistricting Commission |url=https://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/final-maps/ |access-date=August 28, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In the [[United States House of Representatives]], Empire is in California's 13th Congressional District, represented by Congressman [[Adam Gray]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Stanislaus County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Stanislaus County, California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1896]]

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Empire, California