Las Vegas

Las Vegas, often called Vegas, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nevada. It is also the center of Clark County. With over 600,000 people, it is one of the biggest cities in the United States.

The area around Las Vegas is home to about 2.4 million people, making it a large place to live.

Las Vegas is famous for its big resort hotels, especially those on the Las Vegas Strip. Many people visit Las Vegas each year for fun, good food, and special events. It is also a popular place for business meetings and conventions.

Las Vegas started as a small settlement in 1905 and became an official city in 1911. Since then, it has grown very quickly, especially since the 1960s. Today, it is an important part of the U.S. travel and hospitality industries, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Toponymy

In 1829, a trader named Antonio Armijo passed through an area that later became Las Vegas. His group stopped at a place with natural water, now called the Las Vegas Springs. The springs had many plants and trees, like grasses and mesquite trees. This area was important to the Southern Paiute people, who lived there in winter and moved higher in summer. The name "Las Vegas" comes from Spanish and means "the meadows," describing the green, low lands near the springs. Over time, this name became the name of the settlement.

History

Main article: History of Las Vegas

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Las Vegas.

See also: Las Vegas in the 1940s and Las Vegas in the 1950s

Long ago, people called Paleo-Indians visited the Las Vegas area 10,000 years ago. After them, Ancient Puebloan and Paiute tribes lived there.

In 1829, a scout named Rafael Rivera was the first non-Native American to see the valley. Trader Antonio Armijo led a group to Los Angeles, California, that same year. In 1844, John C. Frémont arrived and wrote about the area. Las Vegas's Fremont Street is named after him.

In 1905, Las Vegas became a city when land near the Union Pacific Railroad tracks was sold. It became an official city in 1911.

The year 1931 was important for Las Vegas. Nevada made casino gambling legal and made it easier to get a divorce. That year, construction began on the Hoover Dam. Many workers and families came to Las Vegas. The dam was finished in 1935.

In 1941, a military airfield was built and later became Nellis Air Force Base, home to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team.

After World War II, Las Vegas became famous for its hotels, casinos, and entertainers.

In 1951, nuclear weapons testing began at the Nevada Test Site, about 65 miles from Las Vegas. The city was called the "Atomic City" during this time. People could see the clouds until 1963 when tests moved underground.

In 1955, the Moulin Rouge Hotel opened and became the first hotel and casino in Las Vegas where everyone was welcome.

In 1995, the Fremont Street Experience opened downtown. This area has bright lights and music each evening.

In 2012, many new projects opened downtown, including a performing arts center, a children’s museum, and a museum about old police cars.

Geography

Las Vegas is in the Mojave Desert. It is surrounded by mountains. The land is rocky and dry, with desert plants and animals. The city is about 2,030 feet (620 meters) above sea level.

Las Vegas has a hot desert climate. Summers are very hot and winters are mild. The city gets lots of sunshine and very little rain. Summer temperatures often go above 100°F (38°C). Winter days are usually mild but nights can be cool. Snow is rare in the city but can fall in the nearby mountains.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census showed that Las Vegas had 644,883 people living in 244,429 households. The city's racial makeup was mostly white, with many Hispanic or Latino people, black, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native. Some people were from two or more races.

About half of the people were women. Many homes were owned, and the median value of an owned home was $395,300. The median monthly rent was $1,456.

The median household income was $70,723, and the per capita income was $38,421. About 14.2% of people lived below the poverty line.

Most people over 25 had a high school diploma, and many had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Many people spoke a language other than English at home. Some residents were born outside the United States.

Most homes had a computer and broadband internet.

Ethnicity

See also: Clark County, Nevada § Demographics

The biggest ancestry groups in the Las Vegas Valley/Clark County were Mexican, German, Filipino, English, Irish, and Italian. There were also many Native Hawaiians in the area.

Religion

According to the Pew Research Center, most people in the Las Vegas Valley/Clark County are Christian. Many are Catholics, with others belonging to evangelical, mainline Protestant, and historically Black Protestant groups. Some people belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Some people are agnostic or atheist. Other groups such as Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism also have a presence.

Marriage and divorce

See also: Las Vegas weddings

Las Vegas has had high divorce rates because people from other states with stricter divorce laws often came here to divorce. Nevada also has easy marriage rules, leading to many marriages.

2010 census

According to the 2010 Census, Las Vegas had a population of 583,756. The racial makeup was mostly white, with many Hispanic or Latino people, black, Asian, and Native American or Alaska Native.

2000 census

According to the 2000 census, Las Vegas had 474,434 people. The racial makeup was mostly white, with many Hispanic or Latino people, black, Asian, and Native American or Alaska Native.

Economy

Las Vegas' economy is mainly driven by tourism, gaming, and conventions. These activities also help grow the retail and restaurant industries.

Tourism

Las Vegas is famous for its casinos and hotels, though new attractions have been added in recent years. Most downtown casinos are located on Fremont Street, with The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod being one of the exceptions. Fremont East is an area next to the Fremont Street Experience, designed to attract visitors with bars placed closer together, similar to the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.

Downtown casinos

Main article: Downtown (Nevada gaming area)

The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino is the oldest hotel and casino in Las Vegas, opening in 1906. Other notable early casinos include Binion's Horseshoe, run by Benny Binion. Today, Boyd Gaming operates several downtown casinos like the California Hotel & Casino and the Fremont Hotel & Casino. Recent renovations have refreshed places such as the Golden Nugget Las Vegas and The D Las Vegas. In 2020, Circa Resort & Casino opened, marking the first new hotel-casino on Fremont Street since 1980.

Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip, located outside the city in Paradise and Winchester, is home to some of the largest casinos and entertainment venues.

Welcome signs

In 1929, Las Vegas installed a welcome arch over Fremont Street, which was replaced in 1931. The famous 25-foot-tall Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was placed at the south end of the Strip in 1959. A smaller replica was installed within the city in 2002 but was destroyed in 2016. In 2020, new neon arches called the Gateway Arches were completed, standing 80 feet tall and lighting up at night. Nearby, giant neon showgirls were added in 2018 and later replaced with taller versions in 2022.

Development

See also: List of tallest buildings in Las Vegas

When The Mirage opened in 1989, it began a trend of building large resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, which drew tourists away from downtown. However, recent projects have helped bring more visitors back to the downtown area. City leaders have worked to bring in new industries like health care and technology. The Fremont Street Experience, opened in 1995, has been very popular in attracting tourists to downtown.

In 2000, Las Vegas made a deal to get land for a big project called Symphony Park. This area now includes the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Discovery Children's Museum, and many homes. The World Market Center, opened in 2005, hosts furniture trade shows twice a year.

Other industries

Las Vegas has attracted many new industries in recent years. Zappos.com, now part of Amazon, moved its headquarters to downtown Las Vegas in 2013. Allegiant Air, a budget airline, began in 1997 and is based near Harry Reid International Airport. Planet 13 Holdings opened a very large shop in Las Vegas.

Effects of growth on water supply

As Las Vegas grows, it uses more water. Even with efforts to save water, people in Las Vegas use more water than those in some other big cities. Leaders are working on plans, including building tunnels and buying water rights, to make sure there is enough water for everyone.

Culture

Main article: Las Vegas Valley § Culture and the arts

See also: List of Las Vegas landmarks

"Las Vegas culture" redirects here. For the ancient Ecuadorian civilization, see Las Vegas culture (archaeology).

Las Vegas has many interesting places to visit, like museums. Some of these include the Neon Museum, where you can see old signs from the city's past, The Mob Museum, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, and the Discovery Children's Museum.

The city has a special area called the Downtown Arts District where you can find art galleries and enjoy events like the Las Vegas Film Festival. Every first Friday of the month, there is a celebration called "First Friday" with art, music, food, and more in the downtown area. The evening before, known as "Preview Thursday," shows new art in the galleries.

There is also a special school called the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts that focuses on arts and has won a Grammy award. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Symphony Park downtown holds many plays and performances.

Las Vegas is famous for its many big casinos, and it has more top-rated hotels than any other city in the world.

Sports

Main article: Sports in the Las Vegas metropolitan area

See also: Nevada § Sports

Las Vegas has several big sports teams. The Vegas Golden Knights play hockey and started in 2017. The Las Vegas Raiders play football and moved to Las Vegas in 2020. The Las Vegas Aces are a women's basketball team. Soon, a baseball team called the Athletics will play in Las Vegas by 2028.

There are also smaller teams, like the Las Vegas Aviators who play baseball, and Las Vegas Lights FC who play soccer. Las Vegas is famous for hosting many exciting fights, including boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is based here and holds many fights in the city.

North of Las Vegas, there is a big race track called the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where car races happen each year. Since 2023, Las Vegas has also hosted a Formula One race on the streets of the city.

List of teams

Major professional teams

Minor professional teams

Semi-pro and amateur teams

College teams

Parks and recreation

Las Vegas has many places for people to enjoy the outdoors and have fun. The city has parks of different sizes, from big ones to small neighborhood spots. There are also public swimming pools, recreation centers, and places for older adults.

You can find many other fun places too, like playgrounds, sports fields, and special parks for dogs. There are also skate parks, community centers, and golf courses to explore.

Government

Las Vegas has a council-manager style of government. The mayor is part of the city council and leads the council meetings. If the mayor cannot lead, the Mayor pro tempore takes over until the mayor comes back. The city manager takes care of the city's daily services and works with other government levels.

Many people live in areas near Las Vegas that are not inside the city. Las Vegas shares its police with Clark County. This police department started in 1973 when two older police groups joined together.

Politics

Las Vegas City Presidential Election Results

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Main article: Clark County School District

Kids in Las Vegas go to school in the Clark County School District. This district runs public schools from kindergarten through high school.

Public higher education

Las Vegas has several public colleges and universities. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a big university with schools for medicine and law. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is a community college with many students and campuses. Other schools include Nevada State University (NSU) and the Desert Research Institute (DRI).

Private higher education

There are also private schools in the area, such as Touro University Nevada in Henderson. This school focuses on training doctors. Other private schools offer programs like cooking and career training.

Media

Main article: Media in Las Vegas

Newspapers

• The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the biggest newspaper, is published every morning. It started in 1909.
• The Las Vegas Sun, based in nearby Henderson, is another daily newspaper. It has been running since 1950.
• The Las Vegas Weekly, based in Henderson, is a free newspaper that covers arts, entertainment, culture, and news.

Broadcast

Las Vegas has 10 television stations and 46 radio stations.

Magazines

• Desert Companion
• Las Vegas Weekly
• Luxury Las Vegas

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Las Vegas

RTC Transit is a public bus system that serves Las Vegas and nearby areas. Other buses go to nearby cities. Amtrak does not stop in Las Vegas, but special buses go to train stations in California and Los Angeles.

Construction started in 2024 on a new high-speed rail line called Brightline West. It will connect Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the famous Strip.

Silver Rider Transit has bus routes to towns like Laughlin and Mesquite. The Union Pacific Railroad brings freight trains to the city.

In 2016, most people in Las Vegas drove to work alone. Some shared rides or used public transportation. A few walked, rode bikes, or took taxis. Some worked from home.

Las Vegas has many streets in a grid pattern. Big highways like I-15 and US 95 connect the city to places such as Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix.

Harry Reid International Airport is the main airport for Las Vegas. It handles flights from inside and outside the country. Smaller airports serve private planes and cargo flights.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Las Vegas

Las Vegas has been home to many famous people. Some well-known individuals grew up there or lived there for a long time. These people have become famous in different areas like entertainment and sports.