Last updated: April 18, 2026
- Company: Dixie Portland Cement Company
- Plant location: Richard City (adjacent to South Pittsburg)
- Founder: Richard Hardy and associates
- Founded: Early 20th century
Dixie Portland Cement was one of Marion County's major 20th-century manufacturers. The company produced Portland cement for construction markets across the Southeast, and its operations were substantial enough that the surrounding company town, Richard City, named for company principal Richard Hardy, was built to house its workforce. Richard City was later absorbed into South Pittsburg but still shows up as a named locality in Marion County records. Read more about Richard City →
The cement business in Marion County
Cement production in the Tennessee River valley depended on the same geological resources that had earlier fueled the iron and coke industries: rich limestone deposits, abundant water, and good rail access. Dixie Portland used local limestone, burned in rotary kilns, to produce Portland cement that was shipped by rail and barge to construction projects across the region.
Richard Hardy and the company town
The community of Richard City grew up around the plant and the homes of workers and managers. The town was planned along the lines of other industrial-era Marion County settlements: a compact core of worker housing, a commissary, and company facilities, arranged to serve a single dominant employer. After decades of operation, the separate identity of Richard City faded and the area was formally absorbed into South Pittsburg.
Later ownership
Like many regional cement operations, Dixie Portland went through consolidation in the second half of the 20th century as the industry moved toward larger-scale producers and national brands. The historic Dixie Portland name no longer operates as an independent company.
Related
About Richard City →
About South Pittsburg →