Located less than a mile north of Galena on the other side of Short Creek, the townsite of Empire City was established on 120 acres that was formerly a farm owned by J. Nichols. This tract, along with 580 more acres were purchased by the West Joplin Lead & Zinc Company for mining operations and a "company town."  Solon. Cheeney, Pat Murphy, and former Kansas governor, Samuel Crawford.

The townsite was laid off in the spring of 1877 and in May, 200 lots were sold. The building of the town immediately began, as a rival of nearby Galena. On May 25, `1877, a large multipurpose building was completed which held a saloon, restaurant, town company office, and hardware store

As in the case of Galena, the excitement engendered by the lead discovery, produced an immense in pouring of people, wishing to secure their fortunes in these new fields of mineral wealth. As a natural result, the advancement of the town, both in its population and business, was extremely rapid. Long rows of houses, and blocks of business, went up simultaneously.

Empire City was incorporated as a city in June, 1877, a post office was established in July, and by the end of the summer, the town boasted some 3,000 people.

It's growth was so quick that it inspired the Topeka Daily Commonwealth to comment:

"Such a motley collection of houses, men and women... The town looked as though it had been heaved up by volcanic convulsions. Houses had been erected with no regard to architectural beauty, regularity of line or locality. The streets are as crooked as illicit distilleries, and from morning till 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."

During its boomtown days, Empire City was not only noted for its growth, but also for its seedier side. The thoroughfare, called Red Hot Street,  that ran between Empire and Galena was dotted with innumerable saloons, gambling halls, and brothels, spawning 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."