GetWiki

{{Short description|Largest city in Nevada, United States}}{{About|the city proper in Nevada|the metropolitan area|Las Vegas Valley|other uses}}{{Redirect|Vegas}}{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}{{Pp-move}}{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}

factoids

PUBLISHER=VOA NEWS ACCESS-DATE=JANUARY 29, 2012, “The Entertainment Capital of the World”, “Capital of Second Chances”,HTTPS://WWW.NBCNEWS.COM/ID/34418386 >TITLE=WILL THE REAL LAS VEGAS PLEASE STAND UP? NBC NEWS >LAST=LOVITT DATE=DECEMBER 15, 2009, February 4, 2012, “The Marriage Capital of the World”, “The Silver City”, “America’s Playground“| image_skyline = {{multiple image }}| image_flag = Flag of Las Vegas, Nevada.svg| image_seal = Seal of Las Vegas, Nevada.svg| image_map = {{maplink }}| pushpin_map = Nevada#USA| pushpin_relief = yesList of sovereign states>Country| subdivision_name = United StatesU.S. state>State| subdivision_name1 = NevadaList of counties in Nevada>CountyClark County, Nevada>Clark| government_type = Council–managerList of mayors of Las Vegas>MayorCarolyn Goodman (Independent politician>I)| leader_title1 = Mayor Pro TemNevada Democratic Party>D)| leader_title2 = City councilbullets=yes {edih}| leader_title3 = City manager| leader_name3 = Jorge Cervantes| established_title = Founded| established_date = May 15, 1905| established_title1 = Incorporated| established_date1 = March 16, 1911| area_total_sq_mi = 141.91| area_land_sq_mi = 141.85| area_water_sq_mi = 0.052020 United States Census>2020| population_footnotes = | population_total = 641903List of North American cities by population>75th in North AmericaList of United States cities by population in the United StatesList of cities in Nevada>1st in NevadaUS: 21st))| population_density_urban_km2 = 1,948.4| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 5,046.3PUBLISHER=UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, August 22, 2021, US: 29th))| population_note = | population_density_sq_mi = 4525.16| population_density_km2 = 1747.17| population_demonym = Las Vegan| demographics_type2 = GDPWEBSITE=FRED.STLOUISFED.ORG, |demographics2_title1 = Las Vegas (MSA)|demographics2_info1 = $160.7 billion (2022)Pacific Standard Time Zone>PST| utc_offset = −08:00Pacific Daylight Time>PDT| utc_offset_DST = −07:00| postal_code_type = ZIP Codes| postal_code = 89044, 89054, 891xxArea code 702>702 & 725363011511region:US-NV_type:city(642,000)|display=it}}| elevation_ft = 2001| elevation_m = 610lasvegasnevada.gov}}Federal Information Processing Standard>FIPS code| blank_info = 32-40000Geographic Names Information System>GNIS feature ID| blank1_info = 847388| footnotes = | unit_pref = ImperialPUBLISHER=UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, September 19, 2022, | area_total_km2 = 367.53| area_land_km2 = 367.40| area_water_km2 = 0.14| pop_est_as_of = | pop_est_footnotes = | population_est = }}Las Vegas,({{IPAc-en|US|l|É‘:|s|_|ˈ|v|eɪ|É¡|É™|s}} {{respell|lahss|_|VAY|gÉ™ss}}; {{ety|es|las vegas|the meadows}}) often known simply as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-largest in the Southwestern United States.WEB,www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx, June 7, 2011, Find a County, National Association of Counties, BOOK, Brunn, S.D., Zeigler, D.J., Hays-Mitchell, M., Graybill, J.K., Cities of the World: Regional Patterns and Urban Environments, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2020, 978-1-5381-2635-6,books.google.com/books?id=_5_LDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA29, March 23, 2023, 29, Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife, with most venues centered on downtown Las Vegas and more to the Las Vegas Strip just outside city limits. The Las Vegas Valley as a whole serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for Nevada. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had 641,903 residents in 2020,WEB, QuickFacts: Las Vegas city, Nevada,www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lasvegascitynevada/POP010220, August 22, 2021, United States Census Bureau, with a metropolitan population of 2,227,053,WEB, Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Las Vegas city, Nevada,www.census.gov, March 9, 2012, United States Census Bureau, making it the 25th-most populous city in the United States.The city bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its luxurious and extremely large casino-hotels. With over 2.9 million visitors as of 2019, Las Vegas is the sixth-most visited city in the U.S., after New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Francisco.“America’s 10 most visited cities”, World Atlas, September 23, 2021 It is a top-three destination in the U.S. for business conventions and a global leader in the hospitality industry, claiming more AAA Five Diamond hotels than any other city in the world.NEWS,www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2013/08/21/top-50-destinations-for-meeting-planners/2681695/, USA Today, Charisse, Jones, Top convention destinations: Orlando, Chicago, Las Vegas, August 21, 2013, NEWS,www.usatoday.com/story/dispatches/2014/01/17/aaa-five-diamond-hotels-restaurants/4496183, AAA chooses Five Diamond hotels, restaurants for 2014, Nancy, Trejos, January 17, 2014, USA Today, January 10, 2015, WEB,www.hcareers.com/us/resourcecenter/tabid/306/articleid/1175/default.aspx, Top 5 Cities to Get Hired in Hospitality, Hcareers, January 10, 2015, January 14, 2016,www.hcareers.com/us/resourcecenter/tabid/306/articleid/1175/default.aspx," title="web.archive.org/web/20160114083450www.hcareers.com/us/resourcecenter/tabid/306/articleid/1175/default.aspx,">web.archive.org/web/20160114083450www.hcareers.com/us/resourcecenter/tabid/306/articleid/1175/default.aspx, dead, Las Vegas annually ranks as one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.WEB, Overseas Visitation Estimates for U.S. States, Cities, and Census Regions: 2013, International Visitation in the United States, US Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, US Department of Commerce, May 2014,tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2013_States_and_Cities.pdf,tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2013_States_and_Cities.pdf," title="wayback.archive-it.org/all/20181113062611tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2013_States_and_Cities.pdf,">wayback.archive-it.org/all/20181113062611tinet.ita.doc.gov/outreachpages/download_data_table/2013_States_and_Cities.pdf, dead, November 13, 2018, December 14, 2014, mdy-all, MAGAZINE, November 10, 2014,www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-visited-tourist-attractions/7, World’s Most-Visited Tourist Attractions, Travel + Leisure, January 10, 2015, The city’s tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment had earned it the nickname “Sin City”,MAGAZINE,www.forbes.com/sites/davidschwartz/2018/12/10/why-las-vegas-is-still-americas-most-sinful-city/, Schwartz, David G., December 10, 2018, Why Las Vegas Is Still America’s Most Sinful City, Forbes, August 27, 2019, and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature, films, television programs, and music videos.Las Vegas was settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911. At the close of the 20th century, it was the most populated North American city founded within that century (a similar distinction was earned by Chicago in the 19th century). Population growth has accelerated since the 1960s and into the 21st century, and between 1990 and 2000 the population nearly doubled, increasing by 85.2%. As with most major metropolitan areas, the name of the primary city (“Las Vegas” in this case) is often used to describe areas beyond official city limits. In the case of Las Vegas, this especially applies to the areas on and near the Strip, which are actually in the unincorporated communities of Paradise and Winchester.NEWS, Vegas not alone in wanting in on .vegas, Joe, Schoenmann, Joe Schoenmann, Las Vegas Sun, February 3, 2010,www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/03/vegas-not-alone-wanting-vegas/, PRESS RELEASE, Clark County 100 in 2009,Announces Plans,files.clarkcountynv.gov/clarknv/Parks%20&%20Recreation/Museum/Clark%20County%20Museum/Centennial/news/news-cc100in2009announcesplans.pdf,web.archive.org/web/20220528143146/https://files.clarkcountynv.gov/clarknv/Parks%20&%20Recreation/Museum/Clark%20County%20Museum/Centennial/news/news-cc100in2009announcesplans.pdf, May 28, 2022, live, Clark County, Nevada, October 22, 2008, May 28, 2022, The Las Vegas Strip is in unincorporated Clark County and not in any city., Over time and influenced by climate change, droughts in Southern Nevada, already one of the driest regions in the United States, have been increasing in frequency and severity,WEB,www.lasvegassun.com/news/2022/feb/15/west-megadrought-worsens-to-driest-in-at-least-120/, West megadrought worsens to driest in at least 1,200 years, Las Vegas Sun, February 15, 2022, March 5, 2022, putting a further strain on Las Vegas’s water security.

Toponymy

The area was named Las Vegas, which is Spanish for “the meadows”, as it featured abundant wild grasses, as well as the desert spring waters needed by westward travelers.WEB,www.lasvegasnevada.gov/FactsStatistics/history.htm, City of Las Vegas, History, dead, December 2, 2016,www.lasvegasnevada.gov/FactsStatistics/history.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20140701020216www.lasvegasnevada.gov/FactsStatistics/history.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20140701020216www.lasvegasnevada.gov/FactsStatistics/history.htm, July 1, 2014, The city is often simply called “Vegas”.NEWS, Pelloux, Cécilia, 5 Things To Experience On A Road Trip In West America,www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliapelloux/2018/06/30/5-things-to-experience-on-a-road-trip-in-west-america/?sh=1e4cf00c571a, September 27, 2023, Forbes, June 30, 2018, en, BOOK, Pastras, Philip, Dead Man Blues: Jelly Roll Morton way out West, 2001, University of California Press Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago, 0520236874, 40,books.google.com/books?id=riD73i5wH_sC, September 28, 2023, NEWS, Flaherty, Bryan, Twitter welcomes the NHL’s newest franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, by roasting it,www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/11/22/twitter-welcomes-the-nhls-newest-franchise-the-vegas-golden-knights-by-roasting-it/, September 27, 2023, Washington Post, November 27, 2021, BOOK, Moehring, Eugene P., Las Vegas: A Centennial History, March 16, 2005, University of Nevada Press, 0874176476, BOOK, Merriam Webster’s Geographical Dictionary, 3rd, Merriam-Webster, 1997, 978-0877795469, 633,books.google.com/books?id=Co_VIPIJerIC&pg=PA633,

History

{{For timeline|Timeline of Las Vegas}}{{see also|Las Vegas in the 1940s|Las Vegas in the 1950s}}File:Southern Paiutes.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Southern Paiutes at Moapa wearing traditional Paiute basket hats with Paiute cradleboard and rabbit robe]]Nomadic Paleo-Indians traveled to the Las Vegas area 10,000 years ago, leaving behind petroglyphs. Ancient Puebloan and Paiute tribes followed at least 2,000 years ago.BOOK, Cordell, Linda, 1994, Ancient Pueblo Peoples, St. Remy Press and Smithsonian Institution, 18–19, 0-89599-038-5, A young Mexican scout named Rafael Rivera is credited as the first non-Native American to encounter the valley, in 1829.BOOK, Barbara, Land, Myrick, Land, A Short History of Las Vegas, University of Nevada Press,books.google.com/books?id=Em2VDwAAQBAJ&q=rivera&pg=PT58, March 1, 2004, 4, 978-0874176438, December 18, 2020, Trader Antonio Armijo led a 60-man party along the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, California, in 1829.WEB,www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/public_communications/Pages/faqs.aspx, Clark County, Nevada, FAQs/History, December 4, 2008, December 1, 2010,www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/public_communications/Pages/faqs.aspx," title="web.archive.org/web/20101201213951www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/public_communications/Pages/faqs.aspx,">web.archive.org/web/20101201213951www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/public_communications/Pages/faqs.aspx, dead, WEB, Ponce, Victor Miguel, Las Vegas, how did Las Vegas get its name, groundwater depletion,lasvegas.sdsu.edu/, September 13, 2014, San Diego State University, In 1844, John C. Frémont arrived, and his writings helped lure pioneers to the area. Downtown Las Vegas’s Fremont Street is named after him.Eleven years later, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chose Las Vegas as the site to build a fort halfway between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, where they would travel to gather supplies. The fort was abandoned several years afterward. The remainder of this Old Mormon Fort can still be seen at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue.Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when {{convert|110|acre}} of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area. In 1911, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city.BOOK,dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf,dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20180409171723dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20180409171723dwgateway.library.unr.edu/keck/histtopoNV/Origin_of_Place_Names_Files/1941NevadaOriginofNames-pt1.pdf, April 9, 2018, live, Origin of Place Names: Nevada, Works Progress Administration, Federal Writers’ Project, 1941, 16, File:Fremont Street 1952.JPG|thumb|left|Golden Nugget and Pioneer Club along Fremont StreetFremont Street1931 was a pivotal year for Las Vegas. At that time, Nevada legalized casino gambling and reduced residency requirements for divorce to six weeks. This year also witnessed the beginning of construction on nearby Hoover Dam. The influx of construction workers and their families helped Las Vegas avoid economic calamity during the Great Depression. The construction work was completed in 1935.In late 1941, Las Vegas Army Airfield was established. Renamed Nellis Air Force Base in 1950, it is now home to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team.WEB,afthunderbirds.com/site/, October 25, 2019, Home, United States Air Force Thunderbirds,afthunderbirds.com/site/," title="web.archive.org/web/20191020032655afthunderbirds.com/site/,">web.archive.org/web/20191020032655afthunderbirds.com/site/, October 20, 2019, dead, Following World War II, lavishly decorated hotels, gambling casinos, and big-name entertainment became synonymous with Las Vegas.File:Atomic test seen from Las Vegas.jpg|thumb|right|This view of downtown Las Vegas shows a mushroom cloud in the background. Scenes such as this were typical during the 1950s. From 1951 to 1962, the government conducted 100 atmospheric tests at the nearby Nevada Test Site.JOURNAL,www.americanscientist.org/issues/issue.aspx?y=0&content=true&id=982&css=print&page=6,web.archive.org/web/20140709090729/https://www.americanscientist.org/issues/issue.aspx?y=0&content=true&id=982&css=print&page=6, July 9, 2014, Fallout from Nuclear Weapons Tests and Cancer Risks, Simon, Steven, Bouville, Andre, January–February 2006, 94, 1, American ScientistAmerican ScientistIn 1951, nuclear weapons testing began at the Nevada Test Site, {{convert|65|mi}} northwest of Las Vegas. During this time, the city was nicknamed the “Atomic City”. Residents and visitors were able to witness the mushroom clouds (and were exposed to the fallout) until 1963 when the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty required that nuclear tests be moved underground.In 1955, the Moulin Rouge Hotel opened and became the first racially integrated casino-hotel in Las Vegas.File:Las vegas late 60s.png|thumb|left|Fremont StreetFremont StreetDuring the 1960s, corporations and business tycoons such as Howard Hughes were building and buying hotel-casino properties. Gambling was referred to as “gaming”, which transitioned it into a legitimate business. Learning from Las Vegas, published during this era, asked architects to take inspiration from the city’s highly decorated buildings, helping to start the postmodern architecture movement.In 1995, the Fremont Street Experience opened in Las Vegas’s downtown area. This canopied five-block area features 12.5 million LED lights and 550,000 watts of sound from dusk until midnight during shows held at the top of each hour.Due to the realization of many revitalization efforts, 2012 was dubbed “The Year of Downtown”. Projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars made their debut at this time, including the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, a new City Hall complex, and renovations for a new Zappos.com corporate headquarters in the old City Hall building.NEWS, Zappos’ new landlord is a familiar face,www.reviewjournal.com/business/zappos-new-landlord-is-a-familiar-face-2158031/, Eli, Segall, Subrina Hudson, Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 22, 2020, December 18, 2020,

Geography

(File:Las Vegas at Night.JPG|thumb|Astronaut photograph of Las Vegas at night)File:Las Vegas from Frenchman 3.jpg|thumb|left|Downtown Las Vegas with Red Rock Canyon in the background]]Las Vegas is the county seat of Clark County, in a basin on the floor of the Mojave Desert,WEB,geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/lasvegasgeography.htm, Geography of Las Vegas, Nevada, geography.about.com, February 25, 2014, April 12, 2014,geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/lasvegasgeography.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20140412230717geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/lasvegasgeography.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20140412230717geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/lasvegasgeography.htm, dead, and is surrounded by mountain ranges. Much of the landscape is rocky and arid, with desert vegetation and wildlife. It can be subjected to torrential flash floods, although much has been done to mitigate the effects of flash floods through improved drainage systems.NEWS,www.reviewjournal.com/news/flood-control-a-success/, Flood control a success, Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 28, 2010, September 13, 2014, The city’s elevation is approximately {{convert|2030|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, though the surrounding peaks reach elevations of over {{convert|10000|ft}} and act as barriers to the strong flow of moisture from the surrounding area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of {{convert|135.86|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|135.81|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.03%) is water.After Alaska and California, Nevada is the third most seismically active state in the U.S. It has been estimated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) that over the next 50 years, there is a 10–20% chance of an M6.0 or greater earthquake occurring within {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} of Las Vegas.WEB,data.nbmg.unr.edu/Public/freedownloads/misc/Presentations/earthquakes/lossestimationmodeling23feb06.pdf,data.nbmg.unr.edu/Public/freedownloads/misc/Presentations/earthquakes/lossestimationmodeling23feb06.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20150910054050data.nbmg.unr.edu/Public/freedownloads/misc/Presentations/earthquakes/lossestimationmodeling23feb06.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20150910054050data.nbmg.unr.edu/Public/freedownloads/misc/Presentations/earthquakes/lossestimationmodeling23feb06.pdf, September 10, 2015, live, Loss-Estimation Modeling of Earthquake Scenarios for Each County in Nevada Using HAZUS-MH, 65, February 23, 2006, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology/University of Nevada, Reno, March 27, 2016, “Probability of an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater occurring within 50 km in 50 years (from USGS probabilistic seismic hazard analysis) 10–20% chance for Las Vegas area, magnitude 6”., Within the city are many lawns, trees, and other greenery. Due to water resource issues, there has been a movement to encourage xeriscapes. Another part of conservation efforts is scheduled watering days for residential landscaping. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant in 2008 funded a program that analyzed and forecast growth and environmental effects through 2019.

Climate

File:Majestic Mountain (3841029921).jpg|thumb|Desert scene at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation AreaRed Rock Canyon National Conservation AreaFile:Spring Flowers in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.jpg|thumb|Spring flowers at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation AreaRed Rock Canyon National Conservation AreaLas Vegas has a subtropical hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification: BWh), typical of the Mojave Desert in which it lies. This climate is typified by long, extremely hot summers; warm transitional seasons; and short winters with mild days and cool nights. There is abundant sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 310 sunny days and bright sunshine during 86% of all daylight hours. Rainfall is scarce, with an average of {{convert|4.2|in|abbr=on}} dispersed between roughly 26 total rainy days per year. Las Vegas is among the sunniest, driest, and least humid locations in North America, with exceptionally low dew points and humidity that sometimes remains below 10%.WEB,www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/low-humidity-cities.php, Cities With Low Humidity in the USA, Osborn, Liz, Current Results, December 18, 2020, The summer months of June through September are extremely hot, though moderated by the low humidity levels. July is the hottest month, with an average daytime high of {{convert|104.5|°F|1}}. On average, 137 days per year reach or exceed {{convert|90|°F}}, of which 78 days reach {{convert|100|°F|0}} and 10 days reach {{convert|110|°F|0}}. During the peak intensity of summer, overnight lows frequently remain above {{convert|80|°F|0}}, and occasionally above {{convert|85|°F|0}}.While most summer days are consistently hot, dry, and cloudless, the North American Monsoon sporadically interrupts this pattern and brings more cloud cover, thunderstorms, lightning, increased humidity, and brief spells of heavy rain. Potential monsoons affect Las Vegas between July and August. Summer in Las Vegas is marked by significant diurnal temperature variation. While less extreme than other parts of the state, nighttime lows in Las Vegas are often {{convert|30|F-change|1}} or more lower than daytime highs.THESIS, Observed and Simulated Urban Heat Island and Urban Cool Island in Las Vegas,scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstream/handle/11714/2409/Sauceda_unr_0139M_11689.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y, Daniel O., Sauceda, December 2014, University of Nevada, Reno, December 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20181113062612/https://scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstream/handle/11714/2409/Sauceda_unr_0139M_11689.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y, November 13, 2018, live, The average hottest night of the year is {{convert|90|F|C}}. The all-time record is at {{convert|95|F|C}}.Las Vegas winters are short and generally very mild, with chilly (but rarely cold) daytime temperatures. Sunshine is abundant in all seasons. December is both the year’s coolest and cloudiest month, with an average daytime high of {{convert|56.9|°F|1}} and sunshine occurring during 78% of its daylight hours. Winter evenings are defined by clear skies and swift drops in temperature after sunset, with overnight minima averaging around {{convert|40|°F|1}} in December and January. Owing to its elevation that ranges from {{convert|2,000|to|3,000|ft}}, Las Vegas experiences markedly cooler winters than other areas of the Mojave Desert and the adjacent Sonoran Desert that are closer to sea level. The city records freezing temperatures an average of 10 nights per winter. It is exceptionally rare for temperatures to reach or fall below {{convert|25|°F|0}}.(File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Las Vegas Area, NV(ThreadEx).svg|thumb|right|Climate chart for Las Vegas)Most of the annual precipitation falls during the winter. February, the wettest month, averages only four days of measurable rain. The mountains immediately surrounding the Las Vegas Valley accumulate snow every winter, but significant accumulation within the city is rare, although moderate accumulations occur every few years. The most recent accumulations occurred on February 18, 2019, when parts of the city received about {{convert|1 to 2|in|cm|1}} of snowNEWS,www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-vegas-snow-20190218-story.html, It just snowed in Vegas and likely will again this week. That isn’t normal, David, Montero, Los Angeles Times, and on February 20 when the city received almost {{convert|0.5|in|cm|1}}.TWEET, February 21, 2019, NWSVegas, 1098504698393513985, Las Vegas official snowfall for Feb 20th is 0.5 inches. This breaks a daily snowfall record for this date, NWS Las Vegas, July 20, 2019, Other recent significant snow accumulations occurred on December 25, 2015, and December 17, 2008.NEWS,www.reviewjournal.com/weather/las-vegas-valley-gets-first-touch-of-white-winter, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Michor, Max, Las Vegas Valley gets first touch of white winter, February 23, 2018, July 20, 2019, Unofficially, Las Vegas’s largest snowfall on record was the {{convert|12|in|cm}} that fell in 1909.NEWS,lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/26/snowstorms/, Hansen, Kyle B., August 26, 2011, Photos: Remembering snowstorms in Las Vegas offers retreat from the heat, Las Vegas Sun, July 20, 2019, In recent times, ice days have not occurred, although {{convert|29|F|C}} was measured in 1963. On average the coldest day is {{convert|44|F|C}}.{{convert|117|°F|0}} is the highest temperature officially observed for Las Vegas, as measured at Harry Reid International Airport on July 10, 2021, the last of five occasions. The lowest temperature was {{convert|8|°F|0}}, recorded on two days: January 25, 1937, and January 13, 1963. The highest temperature ever measured within the city of Las Vegas was {{convert|118|°F|0}} on July 26, 1931.WEB,www.currentresults.com/Yearly-Weather/USA/NV/Las-Vegas/extreme-annual-las-vegas-high-temperature.php, Las Vegas NV Highest Temperature Each Year, Current Results, March 28, 2020, The official record hot daily minimum is {{convert|95|°F|0}} on July 19, 2005, and July 1, 2013. The official record cold daily maximum is {{convert|28|°F|0}} on January 8 and 21, 1937.Due to concerns about climate change in the wake of a 2002 drought, daily water consumption has been reduced from {{convert|314|USgal|L}} per resident in 2003 to around {{convert|205|USgal|L}} in 2015.WEB,projects.propublica.org/killing-the-colorado/story/pat-mulroy-las-vegas-water-witch, Las Vegas Water Chief Pat Mulroy Preached Conservation, But Pushed Growth, Lustgarten, Abrahm, June 2, 2015, ProPublica, en, November 18, 2019, {{Weather box|width = autoHarry Reid International Airport (Paradise, Nevada), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn>Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1937–present|single line = Y|collapsed =|Jan record high F = 77|Feb record high F = 87|Mar record high F = 92|Apr record high F = 99|May record high F = 109|Jun record high F = 117|Jul record high F = 117|Aug record high F = 116|Sep record high F = 114|Oct record high F = 103|Nov record high F = 87|Dec record high F = 78|Jan avg record high F = 68.7|Feb avg record high F = 74.2|Mar avg record high F = 84.3|Apr avg record high F = 93.6|May avg record high F = 101.8|Jun avg record high F = 110.1|Jul avg record high F = 112.9|Aug avg record high F = 110.3|Sep avg record high F = 105.0|Oct avg record high F = 94.6|Nov avg record high F = 80.5|Dec avg record high F = 67.9|year avg record high F = 113.6|Jan high F = 58.5|Feb high F = 62.9|Mar high F = 71.1|Apr high F = 78.5|May high F = 88.5|Jun high F = 99.4|Jul high F = 104.5|Aug high F = 102.8|Sep high F = 94.9|Oct high F = 81.2|Nov high F = 67.1|Dec high F = 56.9|year high F = 80.5|Jan mean F = 49.5|Feb mean F = 53.5|Mar mean F = 60.8|Apr mean F = 67.7|May mean F = 77.3|Jun mean F = 87.6|Jul mean F = 93.2|Aug mean F = 91.7|Sep mean F = 83.6|Oct mean F = 70.4|Nov mean F = 57.2|Dec mean F = 48.2|year mean F = 70.1|Jan low F = 40.5|Feb low F = 44.1|Mar low F = 50.5|Apr low F = 56.9|May low F = 66.1|Jun low F = 75.8|Jul low F = 82.0|Aug low F = 80.6|Sep low F = 72.4|Oct low F = 59.6|Nov low F = 47.3|Dec low F = 39.6|year low F = 59.6|Jan avg record low F = 29.8|Feb avg record low F = 32.9|Mar avg record low F = 38.7|Apr avg record low F = 45.2|May avg record low F = 52.8|Jun avg record low F = 62.2|Jul avg record low F = 72.9|Aug avg record low F = 70.8|Sep avg record low F = 60.8|Oct avg record low F = 47.4|Nov avg record low F = 35.2|Dec avg record low F = 29.0|year avg record low F = 27.4|Jan record low F = 8|Feb record low F = 16|Mar record low F = 19|Apr record low F = 31|May record low F = 38|Jun record low F = 48|Jul record low F = 56|Aug record low F = 54|Sep record low F = 43|Oct record low F = 26|Nov record low F = 15|Dec record low F = 11|precipitation colour = green|Jan precipitation inch = 0.56|Feb precipitation inch = 0.80|Mar precipitation inch = 0.42|Apr precipitation inch = 0.20|May precipitation inch = 0.07|Jun precipitation inch = 0.04|Jul precipitation inch = 0.38|Aug precipitation inch = 0.32|Sep precipitation inch = 0.32|Oct precipitation inch = 0.32|Nov precipitation inch = 0.30|Dec precipitation inch = 0.45|year precipitation inch = 4.18|Jan snow inch = 0.0|Feb snow inch = 0.0|Mar snow inch = 0.0|Apr snow inch = 0.0|May snow inch = 0.0|Jun snow inch = 0.0|Jul snow inch = 0.0|Aug snow inch = 0.0|Sep snow inch = 0.0|Oct snow inch = 0.0|Nov snow inch = 0.0|Dec snow inch = 0.2|year snow inch = 0.2|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in|Jan precipitation days = 3.1|Feb precipitation days = 4.1|Mar precipitation days = 2.8|Apr precipitation days = 1.6|May precipitation days = 1.1|Jun precipitation days = 0.4|Jul precipitation days = 2.5|Aug precipitation days = 2.2|Sep precipitation days = 1.8|Oct precipitation days = 1.7|Nov precipitation days = 1.5|Dec precipitation days = 3.0|year precipitation days = 25.8|unit snow days = 0.1 in|Jan snow days = 0.0|Feb snow days = 0.1|Mar snow days = 0.0|Apr snow days = 0.0|May snow days = 0.0|Jun snow days = 0.0|Jul snow days = 0.0|Aug snow days = 0.0|Sep snow days = 0.0|Oct snow days = 0.0|Nov snow days = 0.0|Dec snow days = 0.1|year snow days = 0.2Jan percentsun = 79Feb percentsun = 81Mar percentsun = 85Apr percentsun = 88May percentsun = 89Jun percentsun = 92Jul percentsun = 88Aug percentsun = 88Sep percentsun = 91Oct percentsun = 87Nov percentsun = 80Dec percentsun = 78|year percentsun = 86|humidity colour =|Jan humidity = 45.1|Feb humidity = 39.6|Mar humidity = 33.1|Apr humidity = 25.0|May humidity = 21.3|Jun humidity = 16.5|Jul humidity = 21.1|Aug humidity = 25.6|Sep humidity = 25.0|Oct humidity = 28.8|Nov humidity = 37.2|Dec humidity = 45.0|year humidity= 30.3|Jan dew point C = −5.5|Feb dew point C = −4.6|Mar dew point C = −4.5|Apr dew point C = −4.4|May dew point C = −2.1|Jun dew point C = −0.6|Jul dew point C = 4.8|Aug dew point C = 6.7|Sep dew point C = 2.8|Oct dew point C = −0.9|Nov dew point C = −3.7|Dec dew point C = −5.4|source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)WEB,w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=vef, NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, October 11, 2021, WEB,www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023169&format=pdf, Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, October 11, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20230803055042/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023169&format=pdf, August 3, 2023, WEB,ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT, WMO Climate Normals for LAS VEGAS/MCCARRAN, NV 1961–1990 publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT," title="web.archive.org/web/20230803055030ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT,">web.archive.org/web/20230803055030ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT, August 3, 2023, }}{{Graph:Weather monthly history| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Las Vegas.tab| title=Las Vegas monthly weather statistics}}

Nearby communities

File:SummerlinEntrance.jpg|thumb|The entrance to the community of SummerlinSummerlin

• Boulder City, incorporated
• Enterprise, unincorporated
• Henderson, incorporated
• Lone Mountain, unincorporated
• North Las Vegas, incorporated
• Paradise, unincorporated
• Spring Valley, unincorporated
• Summerlin South, unincorporated
• Sunrise Manor, unincorporated
• Whitney, unincorporated
• Winchester, unincorporated

Neighborhoods

• Downtown
• The Lakes
• Summerlin
• West Las Vegas

Demographics

{{US Census population|1900= 25|1910= 800|1920= 2304|1930= 5165|1940= 8422|1950= 24624|1960= 64405|1970= 125787|1980= 164674|1990= 258295|2000= 478434|2010= 583756|2020= 641903|estyear= 2022|estimate= 656274PUBLISHER=UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAUPopulation History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham, Maryland>Lanham: Scarecrow, 1996, 159.2010–2010}}{| class=“wikitable sortable collapsible mw-collapsed” style="font-size: 90%;”! Historical racial profile !! 2020NEWS, 2020 census,data.statesmanjournal.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/las-vegas-city-nevada/160-3240000/, !! 2010WEB,quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/3240000.html, Las Vegas (city), Nevada, State & County QuickFacts, U.S. Census Bureau, April 20, 2012, dead,quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/3240000.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20090218135531quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/3240000.html,">web.archive.org/web/20090218135531quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32/3240000.html, February 18, 2009, !! 2000WEB,factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?, Race and Hispanic or Latino: 2000, U.S. Census Bureau, dead,webarchive.loc.gov/all/20161025124033/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml, October 25, 2016, November 30, 2018, !! 1990 !! 1970White American>White 46.0% 62.1% 69.9% 78.4% 87.6%Non-Hispanic whites>Non-Hispanic Whites 40.4% 47.9% 58.0% 72.1% 83.1%{{efnFrom 15% sample}}African American>Black or African American 12.9% 11.1% 10.4% 11.4% 11.2%Hispanic and Latino Americans>Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 33.3% 31.5% 23.6% 12.5% 4.6%{{efn|name=“fifteen“}}Asian American>Asian 7.2% 6.1% 4.8% 3.6% 0.7%(File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Las Vegas (5559885507).png|thumb|Map of racial distribution in Las Vegas, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ff0000|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#0000ff|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#00ffaa|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffa600|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffff07|Other}})

2020 census

{{Expand section|examples with reliable citations|date=September 2021}}{| class=“wikitable” style="text-align:center;”Las Vegas, Nevada – Racial and ethnic composition{{nobold>Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.}}!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)!Pop 2000WEB, P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Las Vegas city, Nevada,data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US3240000&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004, United States Census Bureau, January 26, 2024, !Pop 2010WEB, P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Las Vegas city, Nevada,data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3240000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2, United States Census Bureau, January 26, 2024, !{{partial|Pop 2020}}WEB, P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Las Vegas city, Nevada,data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US3240000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2, United States Census Bureau, January 26, 2024, !% 2000!% 2010!{{partial|% 2020}}Non-Hispanic or Latino whites>White alone (NH)|277,704|279,703259,561|58.04%|47.91%40.44%Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans>Black or African American alone (NH)|48,380|62,00879,129|10.11%|10.62%12.33%Native Americans in the United States>Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)|2,405|2,3912,291|0.50%|0.41%0.36%Asian Americans>Asian alone (NH)|22,411|34,60644,995|4.68%|5.93%7.01%Pacific Islander Americans>Pacific Islander alone (NH)|1,935|3,1034,204|0.40%|0.53%0.65%Race and ethnicity in the United States census>Other race alone (NH)|650|1,1013,855|0.14%|0.19%0.60%Multiracial Americans>Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)|11,987|16,98534,040|2.51%|2.91%5.30%Hispanic and Latino Americans>Hispanic or Latino (any race)|112,962|183,859213,828|23.61%|31.50%33.31%|Total|474,434|583,756641,903|100.00%|100.00%100.00%The U.S. Census accounts for race by two methodologies. “Race alone” and “Race alone less Hispanics” where Hispanics are delineated separately as if a separate race.According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) was 46.05% (295,594) White alone, 12.85% (82,485) Black alone, 1.14% (7,318) Native American alone, 7.23% (46,398) Asian alone, 0.73% (4,662) Pacific Islander alone, 16.99% (109,045) Other Race alone, and 15.02% (96,401) Multiracial or Mixed Race.WEB, P1: Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Las Vegas city, Nevada,data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2020.P1?q=p2&g=160XX00US3240000, United States Census Bureau, According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the racial and ethnic makeup (where Hispanics are excluded from the racial counts and placed in their own category) was 40.44% (259,561) White alone (non-Hispanic), 12.33% (79,129) Black alone (non-Hispanic), 0.36% (2,291) Native American alone (non-Hispanic), 4.68% (22,411) Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.40% (1,935) Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.14% (650) Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), 2.51% (11,987) Multiracial or Mixed Race (non-Hispanic), and 23.61% (112,962) Hispanic or Latino.

2010 census

According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Las Vegas was as follows:WEB,www.census.gov, Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS), United States Census Bureau, September 13, 2014,

• White: 62.1% (Non-Hispanic Whites: 47.9%; Hispanic Whites: 14.2%)
• Black or African American: 11.1%
• Asian: 6.1% (3.3% Filipino, 0.7% Chinese, 0.5% Korean, 0.4% Japanese, 0.4% Indian, 0.2% Vietnamese, 0.2% Thai)
• Two or more races: 4.9%
• Native American: 0.7%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.6%

Source:NEWS,www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/NV, Las Vegas, Nevada 2010 Census Profile, USA Today, April 21, 2011, May 1, 2011,www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/NV," title="web.archive.org/web/20110501144344www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/NV,">web.archive.org/web/20110501144344www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/NV, dead, The city’s most populous ethnic group, non-Hispanic Whites, have proportionally declined from 72.1% of the population in 1990 to 47.9% in 2010, even as total numbers of all ethnicities have increased with the population. Hispanics or Latinos of any race make up 31.5% of the population. Of those 24.0% are of Mexican, 1.4% of Salvadoran, 0.9% of Puerto Rican, 0.9% of Cuban, 0.6% of Guatemalan, 0.2% of Peruvian, 0.2% of Colombian, 0.2% of Honduran and 0.2% of Nicaraguan descent.WEB, Nevada – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990, U.S. Census Bureau,www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html, April 20, 2012, dead,www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20120812191959www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html,">web.archive.org/web/20120812191959www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html, August 12, 2012, According to research by demographer William H. Frey, using data from the 2010 United States Census, Las Vegas has the second-lowest level of black-white segregation of any of the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, after Tucson, Arizona.BOOK, Frey, William H., Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics Are Remaking America,books.google.com/books?id=JHUzDwAAQBAJ&q=las+vegasl%3D, July 24, 2018, Brookings Institution Press, Washington, D.C., 978-0-8157-2398-1, 177, Second, December 18, 2020, Of the city’s Asian residents, according to the city’s Asian Chamber of Commerce, Filipinos make up the largest ethnic population within Vegas with over 200,000 in the city.WEB, May 14, 2021, Filipinos are largest AAPI group in Las Vegas,www.ktnv.com/news/bridging-the-divide/filipinos-are-largest-aapi-group-in-las-vegas, October 3, 2023, Channel 13 Las Vegas News KTNV, en, {{Failed verification|date=February 2024}} Native Hawaiians are also a major demographic in the city, with some Hawaiians and Las Vegas residents calling the city the “ninth island of Hawaii” due to the major influx of Hawaiians to Vegas.JOURNAL,stateofthereunion.com/home/season-2-2/las-vegas-nv, Las Vegas: Bright Lights, Big City, Small Town, State of the Reunion, Autumn 2012, July 5, 2013, dead,stateofthereunion.com/home/season-2-2/las-vegas-nv," title="web.archive.org/web/20130602145540stateofthereunion.com/home/season-2-2/las-vegas-nv,">web.archive.org/web/20130602145540stateofthereunion.com/home/season-2-2/las-vegas-nv, June 2, 2013, There is an Ethiopian community in Las Vegas.WEB,lasvegassun.com/news/2019/dec/17/little-ethiopia-seeks-recognition-as-cultural-dist/, Little Ethiopia seeks recognition as cultural district, December 17, 2019, BOOK,books.google.com/books?id=fCyVDwAAQBAJ&q=ethiopians+in+las+vegas, More Peoples of Las Vegas: One City, Many Faces, 9780874178180, Simich, Jerry L., Wright, Thomas C., March 15, 2010, University of Nevada Press, The 2010 census showed the city contained 583,756 people, 211,689 households, and 117,538 families residing.WEB,censusviewer.com/city/NV/Las%20Vegas, Census Viewer, December 18, 2020, Las Vegas, Nevada Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts, November 24, 2020,censusviewer.com/city/NV/Las%20Vegas," title="web.archive.org/web/20201124172819censusviewer.com/city/NV/Las%20Vegas,">web.archive.org/web/20201124172819censusviewer.com/city/NV/Las%20Vegas, dead, The population density was {{convert|4222.5|/sqmi|abbr=on}}. There were 190,724 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1683.3|/sqmi|abbr=on}}.As of 2006, there were 176,750 households, of which 31.9% had children under age 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.20.In the city, the population age distribution was as follows:

• 25.9% under the age of 18
• 8.8% from 18 to 24
• 32.0% from 25 to 44
• 21.7% from 45 to 64
• 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older

The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.The median income for a household in the city was $53,000 and the median income for a family was $58,465.WEB,factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US3240000&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_, Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars): Las Vegas, U.S. Census Bureau, December 18, 2020,factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US3240000&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_," title="archive.today/20200212054817factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US3240000&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_,">archive.today/20200212054817factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=16000US3240000&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_S1901&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_, February 12, 2020, dead, Males had a median income of $35,511 versus $27,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,060. About 6.6% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.According to a 2004 study, Las Vegas has one of the highest divorce rates.WEB,www.citymayors.com/features/us_stresscities.html, Most Stressful US City, City Mayors, January 10, 2004, July 13, 2009, NEWS, Blakeslee, Sandra,www.nytimes.com/1997/12/16/us/suicide-rate-higher-in-3-gambling-cities-study-says.html, Health: Suicide Rate Higher in 3 Gambling Cities, Study Says, The New York Times, December 16, 1997, July 13, 2009, The city’s high divorce rate is not wholly due to Las Vegans themselves getting divorced. Since divorce is easier in Nevada than in most other states, many people come from across the country for the easier process. Similarly, Nevada marriages are notoriously easy to get. Las Vegas has one of the highest marriage rates of U.S. cities, with many licenses issued to people from outside the area (see Las Vegas weddings).

Economy

The primary drivers of the Las Vegas economy are tourism, gaming, and conventions, which in turn feed the retail and restaurant industries.

Tourism

File:Golden Nugget 2008.jpg|thumb|The Golden Nugget Las VegasGolden Nugget Las VegasFile:Night aerial view, Las Vegas, Nevada, 04649u.jpg|thumb|The Las Vegas Strip, primarily located in Paradise ]]File:Las Vegas at night (9118927988).jpg|thumb|A view of the Las Vegas Valley looking north from the Stratosphere TowerStratosphere TowerThe major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and the hotels, although in recent years other new attractions have begun to emerge.Most casinos in the downtown area are on Fremont Street, with The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod as one of the few exceptions. Fremont East, adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience, was granted variances to allow bars to be closer together, similar to the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, the goal being to attract a different demographic than the Strip attracts.

Downtown casinos

The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, downtown along the Fremont Street Experience, is the oldest continuously operating hotel and casino in Las Vegas; it opened in 1906 as the Hotel Nevada.In 1931, the Northern Club (now the La Bayou) opened.NEWS, Heidi Knapp, Rinella, New book raises questions about Silver State, Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 27, 2000, WEB,www.a2zlasvegas.com/fse/fse01.html, Fremont Street Experience Brings Downtown Las Vegas into Next Century, December 8, 2008, Fremont Street Experience, March 10, 2009,www.a2zlasvegas.com/fse/fse01.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20090310095204www.a2zlasvegas.com/fse/fse01.html,">web.archive.org/web/20090310095204www.a2zlasvegas.com/fse/fse01.html, dead, The most notable of the early casinos may have been Binion’s Horseshoe (now Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel) while it was run by Benny Binion.Boyd Gaming has a major presence downtown operating the California Hotel & Casino, the Fremont Hotel & Casino, and the Main Street Casino. The Four Queens also operates downtown along the Fremont Street Experience.Downtown casinos that have undergone major renovations and revitalization in recent years include the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, The D Las Vegas (formerly Fitzgerald’s), the Downtown Grand Las Vegas (formerly Lady Luck), the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, and the Plaza Hotel & Casino.2013 Fiscal Year in Review, city of Las Vegas Economic and Urban Development Projects, “A New Downtown Emerges.”

Las Vegas Strip

The center of the gambling and entertainment industry is the Las Vegas Strip, outside the city limits in the surrounding unincorporated communities of Paradise and Winchester in Clark County. Some of the largest casinos and buildings are there.NEWS,m.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/evolution-worlds-entertainment-capital/, Showtime: How Sin City evolved into ‘The Entertainment Capital of the World’, Koch, Ed, Manning, Mary, May 15, 2008, Las Vegas Sun, March 3, 2019, Toplikar, Dave,

Welcome signs

{{multiple image }}In 1929, the city installed a welcome arch over Fremont Street, at the corner of Main Street.NEWS, Great ‘Welcome’ Arch Planned For Officials,chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86076141/1929-06-13/ed-1/seq-1/, Las Vegas Age, June 13, 1929, December 11, 2023, 1, NEWS, Welcome Arch Material Fund Grows Rapidly,chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86076141/1929-06-15/ed-1/seq-1/, Las Vegas Age, June 15, 1929, December 11, 2023, 1, WEB, Put a Star on It: A Brief History of the Welcome Sign,www.neonmuseum.org/the-collection/blog/put-a-star-on-it, Neon Museum, December 11, 2023, January 2, 2019, It remained in place until 1931.NEWS, Welcome Arch Will be Razed,reviewjournal.newsbank.com/search?text=%22Welcome%20Arch%20Will%20be%20Razed%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=1508AFD0E83DBED6, Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 2, 1931, December 11, 2023, subscription, NEWS, Welcome Arch is Razed Last Eve,reviewjournal.newsbank.com/search?text=%22Welcome%20Arch%20is%20Razed%20Last%20Eve%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=1508AFD0E83DBED6, Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 4, 1931, December 11, 2023, subscription, In 1959, the 25-foot-tall Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was installed at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. A replica welcome sign, standing nearly 16 feet, was installed within city limits in 2002, at Las Vegas Boulevard and Fourth Street.NEWS, The Other Las Vegas,www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-04-Wed-2002/news/20202414.html, Las Vegas Review-Journal, December 4, 2002,www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-04-Wed-2002/news/20202414.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20050908080804www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-04-Wed-2002/news/20202414.html,">web.archive.org/web/20050908080804www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-04-Wed-2002/news/20202414.html, September 8, 2005, NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/garden/13VEGA.html, A Neon Come-Hither, Still Able to Flirt, The New York Times, Patricia Leigh, Brown, January 13, 2005, December 18, 2020, subscription, NEWS, Ask Mr. Sun: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign,www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/nov/25/ask-mr-sun/, December 11, 2023, Las Vegas Sun, November 25, 2008, The replica was destroyed in 2016, when a pickup truck crashed into it.NEWS, Michor, Max, ‘Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas’ sign destroyed by truck,www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/welcome-to-fabulous-downtown-las-vegas-sign-destroyed-by-truck/, December 11, 2023, Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 17, 2016, In 2018, the city approved plans for a new gateway landmark in the form of neon arches. It was built within city limits, in front of the Strat resort and north of Sahara Avenue.NEWS, Akers, Mick, Neon arches to welcome visitors to downtown Las Vegas,lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/18/neon-arches-to-welcome-visitors-to-downtown-las-ve/, December 11, 2023, Las Vegas Sun, May 18, 2018, The project, built by YESCO, cost $6.5 million and stands 80 feet high.NEWS, Akers, Mick, Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch construction to start this month,www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/downtown-las-vegas-gateway-arch-construction-to-start-this-month-1970233/, December 11, 2023, Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 2, 2020, Officially known as the Gateway Arches, the project was completed in 2020. The steel arches are blue during the day, and light up in a variety of colors at night.NEWS, Forgione, Mary, Can Sin City’s new Gateway Arches outshine the Welcome to Las Vegas sign?,www.latimes.com/travel/story/2020-11-19/meet-gateway-arches-newest-landmark-las-vegas, December 11, 2023, Los Angeles Times, November 19, 2020, Also located just north of the Strat are a pair of giant neon showgirls, initially added in 2018 as part of a $400,000 welcome display. The original showgirls were 25 feet tall, but were replaced by new ones in 2022, rising 50 feet.NEWS, Lane, Taylor, 50-foot showgirls coming to north Strip,www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/50-foot-showgirls-coming-to-north-strip-2617126/, December 11, 2023, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 2, 2022, NEWS, Garcia, Tony, Pair of 50-foot-tall showgirls make downtown debut,www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/pair-of-50-foot-tall-showgirls-make-downtown-debut-photos-2632539/, December 11, 2023, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 31, 2022, The originals were refurbished following weather damage and installed at the Las Vegas Arts District.NEWS, 25-foot-tall showgirls relocated to Las Vegas Arts District gateway,news3lv.com/news/local/25-foot-tall-showgirls-relocated-to-las-vegas-arts-district-gateway-city-of-lv-southern-nevada-clark-county-the-strat-casino-center, December 11, 2023, KSNV, March 14, 2023,

Development

{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Las Vegas}}When The Mirage opened in 1989, it started a trend of major resort development on the Las Vegas Strip outside of the city. This resulted in a drop in tourism in the downtown area, but many recent projects have increased the number of visitors to downtown.An effort has been made by city officials to diversify the economy by attracting health-related, high-tech and other commercial interests. No state tax for individuals or corporations, as well as a lack of other forms of business-related taxes, have aided the success of these efforts.WEB,lvrda.org, Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency, City of Las Vegas, December 18, 2020, The Fremont Street Experience was built in an effort to draw tourists back to the area and has been popular since its startup in 1995.The city purchased {{convert|61|acre}} of property from the Union Pacific Railroad in 1995 with the goal of creating a better draw for more people to the downtown area. In 2004, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced plans for Symphony Park, which could include a mixture of offerings, such as residential space and office buildings.Already operating in Symphony Park is the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (opened in 2010), The Smith Center for the Performing Arts (opened in 2012) and the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum (opened in 2013).WEB,downtown.vegas/work/neighborhoods-districts/symphony-park/, Symphony Park, Las Vegas, June 18, 2014, Las Vegas Economic and Urban Development Agency, April 8, 2016, April 15, 2016,downtown.vegas/work/neighborhoods-districts/symphony-park/," title="web.archive.org/web/20160415071310downtown.vegas/work/neighborhoods-districts/symphony-park/,">web.archive.org/web/20160415071310downtown.vegas/work/neighborhoods-districts/symphony-park/, dead, File:World Market Center - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|World Market Center Building A]]On land across from Symphony Park, the World Market Center Las Vegas opened in 2005. It currently encompasses three large buildings with a total of 5.1 million square feet. Trade shows for the furniture and furnishing industries are held there semiannually.Also nearby is the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets. With a second expansion, completed in May 2015, the mall currently offers 175 stores.WEB,www.premiumoutlets.com/lasvegas, Premium Outlets: Las Vegas, Simon Property Group, September 13, 2014, City offices moved to a new Las Vegas City Hall in February 2013 on downtown’s Main Street. The former City Hall building is now occupied by the corporate headquarters for the online retailer Zappos.com, which opened downtown in 2013. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh took an interest in the urban area and contributed $350 million toward a revitalization effort called the Downtown Project.WEB,www.downtownproject.com, Downtown Project – Revitalizing Downtown Las Vegas, Downtownproject.com, September 13, 2014, NEWS, What Happens in Brooklyn Moves to Vegas,www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/magazine/what-happens-in-brooklyn-moves-to-vegas.html, Timothy, Pratt, October 19, 2012, December 18, 2020, subscription, The New York Times Magazine, Projects funded include Las Vegas’s first independent bookstore, The Writer’s Block.NEWS,knpr.org/knpr/2014-12/despite-e-books-independent-bookstore-gambling-downtown-las-vegas, Despite E-Books, Independent Bookstore Gambling on Downtown Las Vegas, Chris, Sieroty, KNPR News, December 18, 2020,knpr.org/knpr/2014-12/despite-e-books-independent-bookstore-gambling-downtown-las-vegas," title="web.archive.org/web/20150530082035knpr.org/knpr/2014-12/despite-e-books-independent-bookstore-gambling-downtown-las-vegas,">web.archive.org/web/20150530082035knpr.org/knpr/2014-12/despite-e-books-independent-bookstore-gambling-downtown-las-vegas, May 30, 2015,

Other industries

A number of new industries have moved to Las Vegas in recent decades. Zappos.com (now an Amazon subsidiary) was founded in San Francisco but by 2013 had moved its headquarters to downtown Las Vegas. Allegiant Air, a low-cost air carrier, launched in 1997 with its first hub at Harry Reid International Airport and headquarters in nearby Summerlin.Planet 13 Holdings, a cannabis company, opened the world’s largest cannabis dispensary in Las Vegas at {{cvt|112,000|sqft|m2}}.NEWS,www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/planet-13-worlds-largest-cannabis-dispensary-opens-in-las-vegas.html, The world’s largest cannabis dispensary just opened in Vegas—and it has an entertainment complex attached, Im, Jimmy, November 3, 2018, CNBC, en, June 25, 2019, JOURNAL,www.theverge.com/2018/11/15/18096082/planet-13-marijuana-dispensary-las-vegas-luxury-marketing-branding-cannabis, We visited the world’s largest cannabis dispensary, Chen, Angela, November 15, 2018, The Verge, December 18, 2020,

Effects of growth on water supply

A growing population means the Las Vegas Valley used {{convert|1.2|e9USgal|L}} more water in 2014 than in 2011. Although water conservation efforts implemented in the wake of a 2002 drought have had some success, local water consumption remains 30 percent more than in Los Angeles, and over three times that of San Francisco metropolitan area residents. The Southern Nevada Water Authority is building a $1.4 billion tunnel and pumping station to bring water from Lake Mead, has purchased water rights throughout Nevada, and has planned a controversial $3.2 billion pipeline across half the state. By law, the Las Vegas Water Service District “may deny any request for a water commitment or request for a water connection if the District has an inadequate supply of water.” But limiting growth on the basis of an inadequate water supply has been unpopular with the casino and building industries.

Culture

{{see also|List of Las Vegas landmarks}}File:The Smith Center for the Performing Arts & DISCOVERY Children’s Museum.jpg|thumb|The Smith Center for the Performing ArtsSmith Center for the Performing Arts File:LasVegasSymphonyPark1.jpg|thumb|Symphony Park in Downtown Las VegasDowntown Las VegasThe city is home to several museums, including the Neon Museum (the location for many of the historical signs from Las Vegas’s mid-20th century heyday), The Mob Museum, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, the Nevada State Museum and the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park.The city is home to an extensive Downtown Arts District, which hosts numerous galleries and events including the annual Las Vegas Film Festival. “First Friday” is a monthly celebration that includes arts, music, special presentations and food in a section of the city’s downtown region called 18b, The Las Vegas Arts District.WEB,www.18b.org, 18b Las Vegas Art District, 18b.org, September 13, 2014, dead,www.18b.org/," title="web.archive.org/web/20140926124536www.18b.org/,">web.archive.org/web/20140926124536www.18b.org/, September 26, 2014, mdy-all, The festival extends into the Fremont East Entertainment District.WEB,www.firstfridaylasvegas.com, First Friday Main Menu, First Friday Las Vegas Network, September 13, 2014, July 15, 2014,www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/," title="web.archive.org/web/20140715152336www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/,">web.archive.org/web/20140715152336www.firstfridaylasvegas.com/, dead, The Thursday evening before First Friday is known in the arts district as “Preview Thursday”, which highlights new gallery exhibitions throughout the district.WEB,www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/arts-culture/preview-thursday-less-hectic-than-first-friday-art-event/, Preview Thursday less hectic than First Friday art event, May 22, 2013, Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts is a Grammy award-winning magnet school located in downtown Las Vegas. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is downtown in Symphony Park and hosts various Broadway shows and other artistic performances.Las Vegas has earned the moniker “Gambling Capital of the World”, as it has the world’s most land-based casinos.WEB,www.vegasmobilecasino.co.uk/las-vegas-gambling-capital-of-the-world, Las Vegas Gambling Capital, August 31, 2016, vegasmobilecasino.co.uk, September 5, 2017,

Sports

{{See also|Nevada#Sports}}File:Allegiantstadiumjune2020.jpg|thumb|Allegiant Stadium is the home of the Las Vegas Raiders NFLNFLThe Las Vegas Valley is the home of three major professional teams: the National Hockey League (NHL)’s Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team that began play in the 2017–18 NHL season at T-Mobile Arena in nearby Paradise,NEWS, Rosen, Dan, Las Vegas awarded NHL franchise,www.nhl.com/news/nhl-expands-to-las-vegas/c-281010682, NHL Enterprises, L.P., NHL.com, June 22, 2016, May 20, 2022, the National Football League (NFL)’s Las Vegas Raiders, who relocated from Oakland, California in 2020 and play at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise,NEWS, Rosenthal, Gregg, NFL owners approve Raiders’ move to Las Vegas,www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-raiders-move-to-las-vegas-0ap3000000795413, NFL Enterprises, LLC, NFL.com, March 27, 2017, May 20, 2022, and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)’s Las Vegas Aces, who play at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) plan to move to Las Vegas by 2028.NEWS, April 20, 2023, Oakland A’s close in on move to Las Vegas after signing land deal for stadium, en-GB, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/apr/20/oakland-athletics-las-vegas-relocation-stadium, April 20, 2023, 0261-3077, WEB, DUBOW, JOSH, April 20, 2023, Oakland A’s purchase land for new stadium in Las Vegas,www.sfgate.com/sports/article/oakland-a-s-purchase-land-for-new-stadium-in-las-17907772.php, April 20, 2023, SFGATE, en-US, Two minor league sports teams play in the Las Vegas area. The Las Vegas Aviators of the Pacific Coast League, the Triple-A farm club of the Oakland Athletics, play at Las Vegas Ballpark in nearby Summerlin.WEB,www.lasvegasnow.com/news/las-vegas-51s-to-rebrand-rename-team/1126644358, Las Vegas 51s to rebrand, rename team, Nikki, Bowers, KLAS-TV, KLAS News, April 17, 2018, The Las Vegas Lights FC of the United Soccer League and the Vegas Vipers of the XFL, play in Cashman Field in Downtown Las Vegas.WEB,www.lasvegaslightsfc.com/, Las Vegas Lights FC, www.lasvegaslightsfc.com, WEB,www.uslsoccer.com/, Home, United Soccer League, The mixed martial arts promotion, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is headquartered in Las Vegas and also frequently holds fights in the city at T-Mobile Arena and at the UFC Apex training facility near the headquarters.WEB, UFC Apex Officially Opens in Las Vegas,www.ufc.com/news/ufc-apex-officially-opens-las-vegas, UFC.com, June 18, 2019,

List of teams

style@text-align:center;“”>

Major professional teams{|class“wikitable” style@font-size: 90%;” | style@text-align:center;”

!Team!Sport!League!Venue (capacity)!Established!Titles style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Raiders|FootballNational Football League>NFL|Allegiant Stadium (65,000)20203{{efnOakland, California and one was won during the team’s time in Los Angeles>Los Angeles, California.}} style="text-align:center;“!Vegas Golden Knights|Ice hockeyNational Hockey League>NHL|T-Mobile Arena (17,500)20171 style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Aces|Women’s basketballWomen’s National Basketball Association>WNBA|Michelob Ultra Arena (12,000)20181 style@text-align:center;“”>

Minor professional teams{|class“wikitable” style@font-size: 90%;” | style@text-align:center;”

!Team!Sport!League!Venue (capacity)!Established!Titles style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Aviators|BaseballMinor League Baseball>MiLB (Triple-A (baseball)-Pacific Coast League>PCL)|Las Vegas Ballpark (10,000)19832 style="text-align:center;“!NBA G League Ignite|BasketballNBA G League>NBAGL|Dollar Loan Center (5,567)0 style="text-align:center;“!Henderson Silver Knights|Ice hockeyAmerican Hockey League>AHL|Dollar Loan Center (5,567)20200 style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Lights FC|SoccerUSL Championship>USLC|Cashman Field (9,334)2018 0 style="text-align:center;“!Vegas Knight Hawks|Indoor footballIndoor Football League>IFL|Dollar Loan Center (6,019)0 style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Desert Dogs|Box lacrosseNational Lacrosse League>NLL|Michelob Ultra Arena (12,000)0 style@text-align:center;“”>

Semi-pro and amateur teams{|class“wikitable” style@font-size: 90%;” | style@text-align:center;”

!Team!Sport!League!Venue (capacity)!Established!Titles style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas DreamBasketballABA|2023| style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Royals|2020| style="text-align:center;“!Vegas JestersIce hockeyMountain West Hockey League>MWHLCity National Arena (600)|2012|0 style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas ThunderbirdsUnited States Premier Hockey League>USPHL|2019|0 style="text-align:center;“!Las Vegas Legends|SoccerNational Premier Soccer League>NPSL|Peter Johann Memorial Field (2,500)20210 style="text-align:center;“!Vegas NVaders|Women’s footballWomen’s Football Alliance>WFA - D2|Desert Pines High School (N/A)|2023|0 style@text-align:center;“”>

College teams{|class“wikitable” style@font-size: 90%;” | style@text-align:center;”

! School! Team! League! Division! Primary Conference style="text-align:center;“|University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)!UNLV RebelsNational Collegiate Athletic Association>NCAA|NCAA Division IMountain West Conference>Mountain West style="text-align:center;“|College of Southern Nevada (CSN)!CSN CoyotesNational Junior College Athletic Association>NJCAAList of NJCAA Division I schools>NJCAA Division IScenic West Athletic Conference>Scenic West{{clear}}

Parks and recreation

Las Vegas has 68 parks. The city owns the land for, but does not operate, four golf courses: Angel Park Golf Club, Desert Pines Golf Club, Durango Hills Golf Club, and the Las Vegas Municipal Golf Course. It is also responsible for 123 playgrounds, 23 softball fields, 10 football fields, 44 soccer fields, 10 dog parks, six community centers, four senior centers, 109 skate parks, and six swimming pools.WEB,www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Find/parks_facilities.htm, Find Parks and Facilities, City of Las Vegas, January 10, 2015, dead,www.lasvegasnevada.gov/find/parks_facilities.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20150109114805www.lasvegasnevada.gov/find/parks_facilities.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20150109114805www.lasvegasnevada.gov/find/parks_facilities.htm, January 9, 2015,

Government

{{more citations needed section|date=May 2017}}File:Lasvegasnewcityhall.jpg|thumb|Las Vegas City HallLas Vegas City HallThe city of Las Vegas has a council–manager government. The mayor sits as a council member-at-large and presides over all city council meetings. If the mayor cannot preside over a City Council meeting, then the Mayor Pro-Tem is the presiding officer of the meeting until the Mayor returns to his/her seat. The City Manager is responsible for the administration and the day-to-day operations of all municipal services and city departments. The City Manager maintains intergovernmental relationships with federal, state, county and other local governments.Much of the Las Vegas metropolitan area is split into neighboring incorporated cities or unincorporated communities. Approximately 700,000 people live in unincorporated areas governed by Clark County, and another 465,000 live in incorporated cities such as North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City. Las Vegas and Clark County share a police department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which was formed after a 1973 merger of the Las Vegas Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff’s Department. North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and some colleges have their own police departments.A Paiute Indian reservation occupies about {{convert|1|acre}} in the downtown area.Las Vegas, home to the Lloyd D. George Federal District Courthouse and the Regional Justice Center, draws numerous companies providing bail, marriage, divorce, tax, incorporation and other legal services.

City council

{|class=“wikitable sortable” style="width:100%”! Name! Position ! Party! References! Notes {{party shading/Independent (United States)}} Carolyn Goodman (politician) >Independent politician>Independent HTTP://WWW.CLARKCOUNTYNV.GOV/DEPTS/ELECTION/PAGES/2011MGEN.ASPX >TITLE=2011 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION APRIL 5, 2011 WEBSITE=CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA ARCHIVE-DATE=JUNE 12, 2011 URL-STATUS=DEAD, Replaced her husband, Oscar Goodman, who was term-limited {{party shading/Democratic}} Brian Knudsen 1st Ward Council member Democratic Party (U.S.) >WORK=LGBTQ VICTORY FUNDARCHIVE-DATE=JULY 20, 2019URL-STATUS=DEAD, HTTPS://LASVEGASSUN.COM/NEWS/2019/JUL/03/DIVERSE-NEW-MEMBERS-SWORN-IN-TO-LAS-VEGAS-CITY-COU/ >LAST=WILSON DATE=JULY 3, 2019 NEWSPAPER=LAS VEGAS SUN Pro tempore#Mayor pro tem>Mayor Pro Tem {{party shading/Republican}} Victoria Seaman 2nd Ward Council member Republican Party (U.S.) >FIRST=MIRANDA TITLE=KNUDSEN, DIAZ AND SEAMAN WIN RACES, RESHAPING THE LAS VEGAS CITY COUNCIL ACCESS-DATE=JULY 20, 2019, {{party shading/Democratic}} Olivia Diaz 3rd Ward Council member Democratic Party (U.S.) >FIRST=JACKIETITLE=DIAZ, KNUDSEN AND SEAMAN TO JOIN LAS VEGAS CITY COUNCIL AFTER WINNING MUNICIPAL RACES JON RALSTON>THE NEVADA INDEPENDENT | {{party shading/Republican}} Francis Allen-Palenske 4th Ward Council member Republican Party (U.S.) >| {{party shading/Democratic}} Cedric Crear 5th Ward Council member Democratic Party (U.S.) >WEBSITE=BALLOTPEDIA LANGUAGE=EN, SEARER >FIRST1=KIRSTEN NEWSPAPER=LAS VEGAS SUN ACCESS-DATE=MAY 11, 2019 DATE=APRIL 2, 2004, {{party shading/Democratic}} Nancy Brune 6th Ward Council member Democratic Party (U.S.) >|

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Primary and secondary public education is provided by the Clark County School District,WEB,www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st32_nv/schooldistrict_maps/c32003_clark/DC20SD_C32003.pdf,web.archive.org/web/20220723212318/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st32_nv/schooldistrict_maps/c32003_clark/DC20SD_C32003.pdf, July 23, 2022, live, 2020 census - school district reference map: Clark County, NV, U.S. Census Bureau, July 23, 2022, - Text list which is the fifth most populous school district in the nation. Students totaled 314,653 in grades K-12 for school year 2013–2014.Source: city of Las Vegas Planning Department, MAY 2014.{{nonspecific|date=July 2022}}

Academic Institutions

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is the premier academic institution in Southern Nevada and is classified as an R1 research university (R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity). UNLV has a medical school, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. UNLV’s main campus is an urban campus located about two miles East of the Las Vegas Strip.The College of Southern Nevada is a community college with one of the largest enrollments in the United States. Also in the Nevada System of Higher Education are Nevada State College and the Desert Research Institute. Touro University Nevada located in Henderson is a non-profit, private institution under Jewish auspices. Other institutions include a number of for-profit private schools (e.g., Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, The International Academy of Design & Technology Las Vegas).

Media

Newspapers

(File:Las Vegas Review-Journal sign.jpg|thumb|Las Vegas Review-Journal sign)

• Las Vegas Review-Journal, the area’s largest daily newspaper, is published every morning. It was formed in 1909 but has roots back to 1905. It is the largest newspaper in Nevada and is ranked as one of the top 25 newspapers in the United States by circulation. In 2000, the Review-Journal installed the largest newspaper printing press in the world. It cost $40 million, weighs 910 tons and consists of 16 towers.NEWS, Scheid, Jenny, New presses are the worlds’s largest,infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0FD393A6550A8446?p=NRNB, Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 6, 2018, Until his death in January 2021, the newspaper was owned by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who purchased it for $140 million in December 2015. In 2018, the Review-Journal received the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for reporting the Oct 1 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip. In 2018 and 2022, Editor and Publisher magazine named the Review-Journal as one of 10 newspapers in the United States “doing it right”.JOURNAL,www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/10-newspapers-that-do-it-right-2018-recognizing-success-in-pioneering-newsrooms-advertising-growth-and-community-engagement/, 10 Newspapers That Do It Right 2018: Recognizing Success in Pioneering Newsrooms, Advertising Growth and Community Engagement, Editor & Publisher, Nu, Yang, Jesus, Ruiz, en-US, December 18, 2020,www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/10-newspapers-that-do-it-right-2018-recognizing-success-in-pioneering-newsrooms-advertising-growth-and-community-engagement/," title="web.archive.org/web/20180816154054www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/10-newspapers-that-do-it-right-2018-recognizing-success-in-pioneering-newsrooms-advertising-growth-and-community-engagement/,">web.archive.org/web/20180816154054www.editorandpublisher.com/feature/10-newspapers-that-do-it-right-2018-recognizing-success-in-pioneering-newsrooms-advertising-growth-and-community-engagement/, August 16, 2018, dead, WEB,www.editorandpublisher.com/stories/10-news-publishers-that-do-it-right,219623, 10 news publishers that do it right, March 1, 2022, Blinder, Robin, Editor & Publisher, September 4, 2022,
• Las Vegas Sun, a daily 8-page newspaper independently published but the print edition distributed as a section inside the Review-Journal. The Sun is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group. It was founded independently in 1950 and in 1989 entered into a Joint Operating Agreement with the Review-Journal, which runs through 2040. The Sun has been described as “politically liberal”.NEWS, Rainey, James, Sleeping with the enemy newspaper,articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/08/entertainment/et-vegas8, Los Angeles Times, E1, March 8, 2006, In 2009, the Sun was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the high death rate of construction workers on the Las Vegas Strip amid lax enforcement of regulations.
• Las Vegas Weekly is a free alternative weekly newspaper based in Henderson, Nevada. It covers Las Vegas arts, entertainment, culture and news. Las Vegas Weekly was founded in 1992 and is published by Greenspun Media Group.

Broadcast

Las Vegas is served by 22 television stations and 46 radio stations. The area is also served by two NOAA Weather Radio transmitters (162.55 MHz located in Boulder City and 162.40 MHz located on Potosi Mountain).

Magazines

• Desert Companion
• Las Vegas Weekly
• Luxury Las Vegas

Transportation

(File:RTC Bus Picture - Photo by June Johns.jpg|thumb|Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) provides public bus transportation.)File:Mercedes Benz at CES 2014 (13896148599).jpg|thumb|Harry Reid International AirportHarry Reid International Airport(File:KLAS7.JPG|thumb|Inside Terminal 3 at Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise)RTC Transit is a public transportation system providing bus service throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and other areas of the valley. Inter-city bus service to and from Las Vegas is provided by Greyhound, BoltBus, Orange Belt Stages, Tufesa, and several smaller carriers.WEB,www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/Tables/tables.htm, Nevada Tables, American Intercity Bus Riders Association, July 23, 2016, April 26, 2015,www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/Tables/tables.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20150426091154www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/Tables/tables.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20150426091154www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/Tables/tables.htm, dead, Amtrak trains have not served Las Vegas since the service via the Desert Wind at Las Vegas station ceased in 1997, but Amtrak California operates Amtrak Thruway dedicated service between the city and its passenger rail stations in Bakersfield, California, as well as Los Angeles Union Station via Barstow.WEB, California-Train and Thruway service,www.amtrak.com/ccurl/158/578/California-Thruway-Map-2012.pdf,www.amtrak.com/ccurl/158/578/California-Thruway-Map-2012.pdf," title="web.archive.org/web/20120813003355www.amtrak.com/ccurl/158/578/California-Thruway-Map-2012.pdf,">web.archive.org/web/20120813003355www.amtrak.com/ccurl/158/578/California-Thruway-Map-2012.pdf, August 13, 2012, live, Amtrak, June 18, 2013, The high-speed rail project Brightline West, while not in the city, is planned to revive passenger trains between the Las Vegas station and the Rancho Cucamonga station in Greater Los Angeles.The Las Vegas Monorail on the Strip was privately built, and upon bankruptcy taken over by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.Silver Rider Transit operates three routes within Las Vegas, offering connections to Laughlin,WEB, Laughlin Express Flyer,sntc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/8-24-21-Laughlin-Express-Flyer.pdf,web.archive.org/web/20220507043932/https://sntc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/8-24-21-Laughlin-Express-Flyer.pdf, May 7, 2022, live, Southern Nevada Transit Coalition, April 11, 2022, Mesquite,WEB, Mesquite Express Brochure,www.sntc.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/11-16-20-Mesquite-Express-Brochure.pdf,web.archive.org/web/20210416110800/https://www.sntc.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/11-16-20-Mesquite-Express-Brochure.pdf, April 16, 2021, live, Southern Nevada Transit Coalition, April 11, 2022, and Sandy Valley.WEB, Sandy Valley & Goodsprings Express route,sntc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/8-24-21-Sandy-Valley-Express-Brochure.pdf,web.archive.org/web/20220418055459/https://sntc.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/8-24-21-Sandy-Valley-Express-Brochure.pdf, April 18, 2022, live, Southern Nevada Transit Coalition, April 11, 2022, The Union Pacific Railroad is the only Class I railroad providing rail freight service to the city. Until 1997, the Amtrak Desert Wind train service ran through Las Vegas using the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.In March 2010, the RTC launched bus rapid transit link in Las Vegas called the Strip & Downtown Express with limited stops and frequent service that connects downtown Las Vegas, the Strip and the Las Vegas Convention Center. Shortly after the launch, the RTC dropped the ACE name.NEWS,www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/17/lawsuit-prompts-rtc-drop-ace-name-bus-lines/, Lawsuit prompts RTC to drop ‘ACE’ name from bus lines, Green, Steve, August 17, 2011, Las Vegas Sun, March 1, 2011, In 2016, 77.1 percent of working Las Vegas residents (those living in the city, but not necessarily working in the city) commuted by driving alone. About 11 percent commuted via carpool, 3.9 percent used public transportation, and 1.4 percent walked. About 2.3 percent of Las Vegas commuters used all other forms of transportation, including taxi, bicycle, and motorcycle. About 4.3% of working Las Vegas residents worked at home.WEB, Census Reporter, Means of Transportation to Work by Age, May 6, 2018,censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US3240000&primary_geo_id=16000US3240000, In 2015, 10.2 percent of city of Las Vegas households were without a car, which increased slightly to 10.5 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Las Vegas averaged 1.63 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8 per household.With some exceptions, including Las Vegas Boulevard, Boulder Highway (SR 582) and Rancho Drive (SR 599), the majority of surface streets in Las Vegas are laid out in a grid along Public Land Survey System section lines. Many are maintained by the Nevada Department of Transportation as state highways. The street numbering system is divided by the following streets:

• Westcliff Drive, US 95 Expressway, Fremont Street and Charleston Boulevard divide the north–south block numbers from west to east.
• Las Vegas Boulevard divides the east–west streets from the Las Vegas Strip to near the Stratosphere, then Main Street becomes the dividing line from the Stratosphere to the North Las Vegas border, after which the Goldfield Street alignment divides east and west.
• On the east side of Las Vegas, block numbers between Charleston Boulevard and Washington Avenue are different along Nellis Boulevard, which is the eastern border of the city limits.

Interstates 15, 515, and US 95 lead out of the city in four directions. Two major freeways – Interstate 15 and Interstate 515/U.S. Route 95 – cross in downtown Las Vegas. I-15 connects Las Vegas to Los Angeles, and heads northeast to and beyond Salt Lake City. I-515 goes southeast to Henderson, beyond which US 93 continues over the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge towards Phoenix, Arizona. US 95 connects the city to northwestern Nevada, including Carson City and Reno. US 93 splits from I-15 northeast of Las Vegas and goes north through the eastern part of the state, serving Ely and Wells. US 95 heads south from US 93 near Henderson through far eastern California. A partial beltway has been built, consisting of Interstate 215 on the south and Clark County 215 on the west and north. Other radial routes include Blue Diamond Road (SR 160) to Pahrump and Lake Mead Boulevard (SR 147) to Lake Mead.East–west roads, north to southMost arterial roads are shown, as indicated on the Nevada Department of Transportation’s Roadway functional classification: Las Vegas urbanized area map {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404061946www.nevadadot.com/uploadedFiles/NDOT/About_NDOT/NDOT_Divisions/Planning/Roadway_Systems/FCM_LasVegas.pdf |date=April 4, 2012 }}. Retrieved November 12, 2011.{{colbegin|colwidth=25em}}

• Ann Road
• (File:Nevada 573.svg|25px) Craig Road (SR 573)
• (File:Nevada 574.svg|25px) Cheyenne Avenue (SR 574)
• Smoke Ranch Road
• (File:Nevada 578.svg|25px) Washington Avenue (SR 578)
• (File:Nevada 613.svg|25px) Summerlin Parkway (SR 613)
• (File:Nevada 579.svg|25px) Bonanza Road (SR 579)
• (File:Nevada 159.svg|25px) Charleston Boulevard (SR 159)
• (File:Nevada 589.svg|25px) Sahara Avenue (SR 589)

{{colend}}

North–south roads, west to east

{{colbegin|colwidth=25em}}

• Fort Apache Road
• Durango Drive
• Buffalo Drive
• (File:Nevada 595.svg|25px) Rainbow Boulevard (SR 595)
• (File:Nevada 596.svg|25px) Jones Boulevard (SR 596)
• Decatur Boulevard
• Valley View Boulevard
• (File:Nevada 599.svg|25px) Rancho Drive
• Maryland Parkway
• (File:Nevada 607.svg|25px) Eastern Avenue (SR 607)
• Pecos Road
• (File:Nevada 610.svg|25px) Lamb Boulevard (SR 610)
• (File:Nevada 612.svg|25px) Nellis Boulevard (SR 612)

{{colend}}Harry Reid International Airport handles international and domestic flights into the Las Vegas Valley. The airport also serves private aircraft and freight/cargo flights. Most general aviation traffic uses the smaller North Las Vegas Airport and Henderson Executive Airport.

Notable people

See also

• 2017 Las Vegas shooting
• List of films set in Las Vegas
• List of films shot in Las Vegas
• List of Las Vegas casinos that never opened
• List of mayors of Las Vegas
• List of television shows set in Las Vegas

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Further reading

• Brigham, Jay. “Review: ‘Reno, Las Vegas, and the Strip: A Tale of Three Cities’.” Western Historical Quarterly 46.4 (2015): 529–530. {{Jstor|westhistquar.46.4.0529}}.
• Chung, Su Kim (2012). Las Vegas Then and Now, Holt: Thunder Bay Press, {{ISBN|978-1-60710-582-4}}
• Moehring, Eugene P. Resort City in the Sunbelt: Las Vegas, 1930–2000 (2000).
• Moehring, Eugene, “The Urban Impact: Towns and Cities in Nevada’s History”, Nevada Historical Society Quarterly 57 (Fall/Winter 2014): 177–200.
• Rowley, Rex J. Everyday Las Vegas: Local Life in a Tourist Town (2013)
• Stierli, Martino (2013). Las Vegas in the Rearview Mirror: The City in Theory, Photography, and Film, Los Angeles: Getty Publications, {{ISBN|978-1-60606-137-4}}
• Venturi, Robert (1972). Learning from Las Vegas: The Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form, Cambridge: MIT Press, {{ISBN|978-0-26272-006-9}}

External links

{{Sister project links|Las Vegas|voy=Las Vegas}}

• {{official website}}
• “The Making of Las Vegas” (historical timeline)
• Geologic tour guide of the Las Vegas area from American Geological Institute
• National Weather Service Forecast – Las Vegas, NV

{{Las Vegas}}{{Clark County, Nevada}}{{Las Vegas Valley}}{{Nevada}}{{Southern California megaregion}}{{Nevada county seats}}{{USPopulousCities}}{{Authority control}}