The City of Las Vegas
Welcome to the city of Las Vegas, the premiere entertainment destination in the world! The land area of Las Vegas covers 83.1 square miles and the metropolitan region includes North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite and a large number of unincorporated communities.
The city of Las Vegas began to develop as an important stop along the Old Spanish Trail between Santa Fe, New Mexico and southern California for much of the 19th century. The oasis enabled Spanish traders to shorten their reoute to Los Angeles by cutting directly across the desert. In 1829, descriptions of the lush valley were circulated, generating a lot of interest. In 1844, John C. Fremont, an explorer, camped in the Las Vegas Valley and described the fertile landscape in his journals. Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) began an intermittant settlement of the Las Vegas Valley in 1855. This settlement linked to California and the Pacific Ocean.
The construction of the railroad in 1905 stabalized the valley and an era of slow growth followed. In the early 1900's, Nevada passed laws allowing divorce after only six months' residency in the state. By 1931 the requirement was reduced to six weeks, and Las Vegas gained a reputation as an easy place to get a divorce.
The population began thriving in the 1930's with two innovations: the construction of Boulder Dam, later called Hoover Dam, in 1931 on the Colorado River, and the legalization of gambling facilitating the modern era of Las Vegas. The dam was the largest dam in the world at the time, bringing jobs, growth, city development, and major federal funds. With the legalization of gambling, the construction of the Flamingo Casino by gangster Bugsy Siegel started in 1945. Soon after, other lavish casinos opened, most of which were influenced or owned by criminals. After the war, hotel and motel construction boomed, with each new casino boasting more luxurious accomodations than the last.
The growth of Las Vegas has continued to inspire beyond our wildest imaginations. Las Vegas is no longer just the home of prime rib buffets and black jack. Las Vegas is now home to the best chefs and restaurants in the world, exciting live shows, incredible shopping and the ultimate in video and table games. Much of this is due largely in part to Casino Owner Extraordinare, Steve Wynn. We are always waiting to see what he will come up with next.
The face of Fabulous Las Vegas is in constant evolution. What could be more thrilling? Where else would you want to live?
The City of Las Vegas staff strives to be open, accessible and responsive to its citizens. Through the City of Las Vegas website, you can find important information about our great city, its departments and handle your city business at the click of a mouse. Visitors can also take advantage of the information on travel, lodging, transportation and entertainment.
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