 The Atlas Portland Cement Company, based here from 1895 to 1982, was the world's largest cement company at one time, and one of dozens in the area.It produced some 8 million barrels of cement for construction of the Panama Canal, most of what was used on the project.Atlas was bought by another company in 1980 and ceased operation here in 1982; its last smokestack here was demolished in 1993.