American Potash and Chemical Company
| Company type | Subsidiary (before acquisition) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Chemical manufacturing |
| Fate | Acquired by Kerr-McGee in 1967; restructured into Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation around 1970 |
| Headquarters | Trona , United States |
| Products | Borax, potash, ammonium perchlorate, chemicals |
Number of employees | 1600 (1948) |
| Parent | Kerr-McGee (from 1967) |
History
The American Potash and Chemical Company (AMPOT) initially focused on extracting borax and potash from Searles Lake located in Trona, California. By the year 1948, it had become the second-largest employer in San Bernardino County, employing approximately 1,600 individuals within a community of 5,000 residents. Throughout World War II, AMPOT expanded its chemical manufacturing capabilities and continued to grow during the 1950s by acquiring Eston Chemicals, Western Electrochemical, and Lindsay Chemical Company, thereby diversifying its range of products.
During the Cold War period, AMPOT emerged as a principal provider of ammonium perchlorate for various U.S. missile initiatives such as Falcon, Hawk, Minuteman, Nike Zeus, Pershing, Polaris, Scout, Sergeant, and Tartar. The company also pursued global expansion by securing a major ownership interest in Compagnie des Potasses du Congo throughout the 1960s.
In 1967, AMPOT was purchased by Kerr-McGee, which restructured it around 1970 into the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation (KMCC). This division was eventually separated to form Tronox in 2006. Through the acquisition of Lindsay Chemical, AMPOT also gained control of the Rare Earths Facility situated in West Chicago, Illinois.