Las Vegas

Las Vegas, often called Vegas, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the center of Clark County. With over 600,000 people, it ranks as the 24th-most populous city in the United States. The area around Las Vegas is home to about 2.4 million people, making it the 29th-largest metropolitan area in the country.

Known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is famous for its large resort hotels, especially those on the Las Vegas Strip. The city is a top destination for visitors, attracting over 40 million people each year. People come to Las Vegas for its entertainment, dining, and special events, as well as for business meetings and conventions.

Las Vegas began as a small settlement in 1905 and became an official city in 1911. Since then, it has grown quickly, especially since the 1960s. Today, it plays an important role in the U.S. travel and hospitality industries, drawing tourists from all over the world.

Toponymy

In 1829, a trader named Antonio Armijo traveled through an area that would later become Las Vegas. His group stopped at a place with natural water sources, now called the Las Vegas Springs. These springs had lots of plants and trees, like grasses and mesquite trees. The area was important to the Southern Paiute people, who lived there in the winter and moved to higher places in the 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 known as Paleo-Indians visited the Las Vegas area 10,000 years ago, leaving behind drawings called petroglyphs. After them, Ancient Puebloan and Paiute tribes lived there at least 2,000 years ago.

In 1829, a young Mexican scout named Rafael Rivera was the first person who was not a Native American to see the valley. Trader Antonio Armijo led a group of people along the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, California, the same year. In 1844, John C. Frémont arrived and wrote about the area, which helped attract pioneers. Las Vegas's Fremont Street is named after him.

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

The year 1931 was very important for Las Vegas. Nevada made casino gambling legal and made it easier to get a divorce. That same year, construction began on the Hoover Dam, which brought many workers and families to Las Vegas and helped the city during a tough economic time called the Great Depression. 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 beautiful hotels, casinos, and famous entertainers.

In 1951, nuclear weapons testing started at the Nevada Test Site, about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The city was called the "Atomic City" during this time. People could see the mushroom 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, no matter their background.

In 1995, the Fremont Street Experience opened downtown. This area has lots of 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 located in a basin on the floor of the Mojave Desert, surrounded by mountain ranges. The landscape is rocky and arid, with desert plants and animals. The city sits at an elevation of about 2,030 feet (620 meters) above sea level, though the surrounding peaks are much higher.

Las Vegas has a hot desert climate, with very hot summers and mild winters. The city gets plenty of sunshine throughout the year and receives very little rainfall. Summer temperatures often soar above 100°F (38°C), while winter days are usually mild with cool nights. Snow is rare in the city but can occur 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 49.2% white, 11.9% black, 1.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 6.9% Asian, with 34.1% being Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 16.2% from two or more races. About 40.8% were non-Hispanic white.

About 5.8% of the people were under five years old, 22.8% were under eighteen, and 15.6% were over 65. Women made up 50.0% of the population.

Between 2019 and 2023, Las Vegas had around 244,429 households, with an average of 2.63 people per home. About 55.7% of homes were owned, and the median value of an owned home was $395,300. The median monthly rent was $1,456 (in 2023 dollars).

From 2019 to 2023, the median household income was $70,723, and the per capita income was $38,421 (in 2023 dollars). About 14.2% of people lived below the poverty line.

Over 25 years old, 85.8% had a high school diploma, and 27.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

About 33.0% of people aged 5 and older spoke a language other than English at home. Around 20.9% of residents were born outside the United States.

The average time it took for people aged 16 and older to get to work was about 25.8 minutes from 2019 to 2023. Most homes had a computer (95.6%), and many had broadband internet (89.1%).

Ethnicity

See also: Clark County, Nevada § Demographics

The biggest ancestry groups in the Las Vegas Valley/Clark County were Mexican (23.2%), German (7.4%), Filipino (6.8%), English (6.8%), Irish (6.2%), and Italian (4.5%). As of 2023^[update], there were about 22,000 Native Hawaiians in the area, the largest group outside Hawaii. This has earned Las Vegas the nickname "the ninth island of Hawaii."

Religion

According to the Pew Research Center, most people in the Las Vegas Valley/Clark County are Christian, with Catholics making up the largest group (22%), followed by evangelical (19%), mainline Protestants (9%), and historically Black Protestant churches (6%). About 6% belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons).

Agnostic people make up 10%, and Atheists 3%. Together, those not tied to any religion are 34% of the population. Other groups such as Judaism (1%), Islam (2%), and Buddhism (1%) make up about 5% of the population.

Marriage and divorce

See also: Las Vegas weddings

A study from 2004 found that Las Vegas had one of the highest divorce rates in the United States. This was partly because people from states with stricter divorce laws came to Nevada, especially Las Vegas, to divorce. By 2022^[update], Nevada had the highest divorce rate in the country, with 4.4 divorces for every 1,000 marriages. This number has dropped from 11.4 in 1990 and reflects a national trend of fewer divorces.

Nevada also has easy marriage rules, leading to high marriage rates, with many marriage licenses given to people living outside the area.

2010 census

According to the 2010 Census, Las Vegas had a population of 583,756. The racial makeup was 47.91% White alone (non-Hispanic), 10.63% Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic), 0.41% Native American or Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic), 5.93% Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.53% Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.19% Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), and 2.91% Mixed race or Multiracial (non-Hispanic). Hispanic or Latino people of any race made up 31.50% of the population.

2000 census

According to the 2000 census, Las Vegas had 474,434 people. The racial makeup was 58.52% White alone (non-Hispanic), 10.19% Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic), 0.51% Native American or Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic), 4.72% Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.41% Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.14% Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), and 2.52% Mixed race or Multiracial (non-Hispanic). Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race were 23.81% of the population.

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 learn and explore, such as 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," showcases new art shows 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 is home to several major 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 also play in Las Vegas by 2028.

There are also smaller teams in the area, 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 78 parks of different sizes, from big regional parks to small neighborhood spots. There are also four public swimming pools, 11 recreation centers, and four places just for older adults.

You can find many other fun places too, like 123 playgrounds, sports fields for softball, football, and soccer, and special parks for dogs. There are also skate parks, community centers, and golf courses to explore.

Government

The city of Las Vegas uses a council–manager style of government. The mayor is a member of the city council and leads all council meetings. If the mayor is unable to lead, the Mayor pro tempore takes over until the mayor returns. The city manager handles the daily operations of city services and works with other levels of government.

Many people live in areas around Las Vegas that are not part of the city itself. Las Vegas shares its police department with Clark County. This department was created 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, which takes care of 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 special schools for medicine and law. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is a community college with many students and campuses all over the area. 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, which focuses on training doctors. Other private schools offer programs like cooking and other career training.

Media

Main article: Media in Las Vegas

Newspapers

• The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the largest daily newspaper in the area, is published every morning. It began in 1909 and has a long history. It is one of the top newspapers in the United States.
• The Las Vegas Sun, based in nearby Henderson, is another daily newspaper. It is printed inside the Review-Journal and has been running since 1950. The Sun is known for its liberal views.
• The Las Vegas Weekly, also based in Henderson, is a free newspaper that covers arts, entertainment, culture, and news. It was started in 1992.

Broadcast

Las Vegas has 10 full power television stations and 46 radio stations. It is also served by two weather radio transmitters.

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 bus services connect Las Vegas to nearby cities. Amtrak no longer has trains stopping in Las Vegas, but special bus services link the city to train stations in California and Los Angeles.

Construction began in 2024 on a new high-speed rail line called Brightline West, which will connect Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the famous Strip and is managed by the local convention authority.

Silver Rider Transit offers bus routes to nearby towns like Laughlin and Mesquite. The Union Pacific Railroad provides freight train services to the city.

In 2016, most people in Las Vegas drove to work alone, while some shared rides or used public transportation. A few walked or used other methods like bicycles or taxis. Some people worked from home.

Las Vegas has many streets laid out in a grid pattern. Major 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, handling both international and domestic flights. 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 throughout its history. Some well-known individuals grew up there or spent a lot of time living in the city. These people have made their mark in various fields such as entertainment, sports, and more.