Nestled less than a mile north of Galena, Kansas, across the meandering Short Creek, lies the historic site of Empire City, Kansas. This once-thriving boomtown emerged from the rich lead and zinc discoveries of the late 19th century, sparking a brief but intense period of growth, rivalry, and eventual absorption into its larger neighbor. The story of Empire City, Kansas, encapsulates the raw energy and lawlessness of the Kansas mining frontier.
The townsite of Empire City was formally established on 120 acres, formerly part of a farm owned by J. Nichols. In a strategic move to capitalize on the burgeoning mineral wealth, the West Joplin Lead & Zinc Company acquired this tract, along with an additional 580 acres, intending to develop both mining operations and a designated “company town.”
The Explosive Genesis of a Mining Camp
The spring of 1877 witnessed the rapid laying out of the townsite, and by May, an impressive 200 lots had been sold. Construction commenced immediately, fueled by an undeniable ambition to rival the nearby settlement of Galena. By May 25, 1877, a substantial multipurpose building stood complete, housing essential services such as a saloon, a restaurant, the town company office, and a hardware store.
Mirroring Galena’s experience, the promise of lead discovery ignited an enormous influx of prospectors and entrepreneurs, all eager to carve out their fortunes in these new, lucrative fields. This natural surge in population and business activity propelled the town’s advancement at an unprecedented pace. Long rows of dwellings and entire blocks of commercial establishments sprang up almost simultaneously, painting a vivid picture of rapid expansion.
Incorporated in June 1877, Empire City quickly secured a post office in July. By the close of that eventful summer, its population had swelled to approximately 3,000 residents. The town’s astonishing growth did not go unnoticed, prompting the Topeka Daily Commonwealth to observe with a blend of fascination and bewilderment: “Such a motley collection of houses, men and women…The town looked as though volcanic convulsions had heaved it up. Houses had been erected with no regard to architectural beauty, the regularity of line, or locality. The streets are as crooked as illicit distilleries; from morning to night, they are filled with people and teams. Saloons and gambling houses are the most frequent objects. Gambling quarters are in such great demand that several members of the profession are compelled to conduct their operations in the open streets.”
Red Hot Street and Frontier Lawlessness
Beyond its rapid development, Empire City gained notoriety for its wild and untamed character during its boomtown zenith. The thoroughfare connecting Empire City and Galena, famously known as Red Hot Street, became densely populated with an array of saloons, gambling halls, and brothels. Its reputation prompted the Kansas City Star to comment: “The principal thoroughfare was known as Red Hot Street. It became so true to the name that all legitimate businesses withdrew and left the street to saloons, gamblers, and dance halls. For several months the orgies that held sway on Red Hot Street were perhaps never exceeded in any other frontier mining camp.” This vivid description underscores the extreme nature of the frontier life and the challenges of maintaining order in these burgeoning settlements.
The Bitter Rivalry with Galena: The Stockade War
For a considerable period, a fierce rivalry consumed both Empire City and Galena, with each striving relentlessly to outpace the other. However, Galena possessed a crucial natural advantage: the richest lead fields lay directly beneath and in close proximity to its townsite. As this geographical reality became apparent, Galena began to assert its dominance over Empire City, a development that caused significant consternation among Empire’s residents, who labored arduously to reverse the trend and avoid being completely absorbed.
Amidst the escalating friction, maintaining peace and order in these two competitive mining camps proved increasingly difficult. The animosity reached a critical point when Empire City, in a desperate attempt to halt its population from migrating to Galena, resolved to construct a stockade. On the night of July 25, 1877, the Empire City Council passed a resolution ordering the construction of an eight-foot-high stockade, half a mile in length, along the southern boundary of their city. If completed, this barrier would effectively sever all communication between the two cities and impede public travel, specifically enclosing the south end of Columbus Street and the vital bridge over Short Creek.
As construction of the stockade commenced, it generated significant public uproar, necessitating police protection for the workmen. Galena residents vehemently protested the action, petitioning their city council, which, in turn, appealed to the U.S. Government to prevent the closure of a public highway and the disruption of U.S. mail routes. However, with the gap rapidly closing and federal intervention proving too slow, the Mayor of Galena, acting under the authority of his city council, organized a posse of 50 citizens. In the early hours of August 15, 1877, at 4:00 a.m., this posse launched a surprise attack, successfully tearing down and burning a substantial portion of the wall. Empire City, unprepared for such an audacious move, could only offer minimal resistance, resulting in only a few exchanged shots and limited bloodshed.
Growth, Decline, and Amalgamation
Despite the violent clashes and ongoing illicit activities, Empire City continued to develop, with most of its businesses concentrated along Columbus Street. The Mining Echo newspaper was founded in the fall of 1877, although its circulation would cease after three years. Educational provisions also improved, with the first school opening in the winter of 1877-78, followed by the construction of a three-room, one-story frame building in 1879. Two religious congregations emerged, the Presbyterians and Catholics, building their respective churches in 1879 and 1881.
By the early 1880s, Empire City boasted a population of just over 1,000 residents, and its burgeoning school served more than 300 students. However, the town’s fortunes began to wane. By 1886, the population had declined, leading to the temporary closure of its post office in June, though it reopened the following March. By the close of the 19th century, the once-plentiful ore deposits were largely depleted, causing mining interests to dwindle, and with them, the town’s population.
The longstanding dispute between Galena and Empire City eventually moved from the streets to the courts. After a protracted period of litigation, a truce was finally declared, marking a pivotal shift where the two cities began to cooperate, united by a common goal to build one of the world’s premier mining camps. This era of cooperation ultimately led to the official integration of Empire City into Galena.
On July 9, 1907, the formal surrender of Empire City’s rights as an incorporated city to Galena was met with widespread jubilation. Citizens from both settlements marked the occasion by taking pieces of the old stockade as souvenirs, symbolizing the end of a contentious era. In 1910, Empire City was officially annexed into Galena, becoming its Fifth Ward. The town’s post office, a symbol of its former independence, closed its doors permanently in October 1913, sealing the fate of a once-vibrant community.
Legacy of a Lost Boomtown
Today, Empire City, Kansas, no longer exists as an independent municipality. Yet, its legacy endures through the scattered homes and a few surviving historical buildings that stand as silent testaments to a dynamic period in Kansas history. The story of Empire City serves as a powerful reminder of the ephemeral nature of boomtowns, driven by the lure of mineral wealth, and the complex human drama of ambition, conflict, and eventual assimilation that shaped the American West.
