Las Vegas, Las Vegas

History & Local Character

Las Vegas was founded in 1905 when the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad auctioned land along its line, and the city was incorporated in 1911. The construction of Hoover Dam in the 1930s brought workers and water and electricity to the valley, and the legalization of gambling in 1931 set the foundation for the resort economy. Growth accelerated after the Second World War, and the city expanded outward through the 1980s and 1990s as master-planned communities replaced open desert. Downtown was the original gambling district, and its Fremont Street Experience now preserves that history.

Neighborhoods & Communities

The incorporated City of Las Vegas covers a large area, from the Historic Westside and Huntridge near downtown to Centennial Hills, Providence and Skye Canyon in the northwest, and scattered areas of the southwest valley. Important places in the valley — the Strip, Paradise, Winchester, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Sunrise Manor, Whitney and Lone Mountain — are unincorporated and administered by Clark County rather than by the city.

Housing & Real Estate

Las Vegas offers a wide range of housing, from high-rise condos and converted mid-century buildings downtown to new single-family subdivisions in the northwest and southwest valley, and guard-gated communities in Summerlin and Southern Highlands. Downtown and the Arts District have seen significant loft and apartment development. New construction is concentrated in the northwest, southwest and the master-planned communities, while older neighborhoods near downtown offer lower entry prices and larger lots.

Restaurants & Shopping

The city's dining scene stretches well beyond the resort corridor. Downtown and Fremont East have become a destination for chef-driven restaurants, cocktail bars and breweries, the Arts District is known for coffee roasters and casual kitchens, and Spring Mountain Road west of the Strip — the Chinatown commercial district — offers one of the best concentrations of Asian restaurants in the United States. Neighborhood centers in Summerlin, Centennial Hills and Henderson add shopping-district dining across the valley.

Schools & Education

Public schools are operated by the Clark County School District, one of the largest districts in the country, serving the city and the wider valley with neighborhood schools, magnet programs and career and technical academies. Higher education includes UNLV in the unincorporated Paradise area, the College of Southern Nevada, Nevada State University in Henderson, and Touro University Nevada, also in Henderson.

Parks & Recreation

The city operates a large parks system, including Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, Lorenzi Park, Sunset Park, Bruce Trent Park, Centennial Hills Park, Angel Park and Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex. Beyond the city, Clark County manages regional parks such as Clark County Wetlands Park and Craig Ranch Regional Park, while Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Spring Mountains provide the valley's larger outdoor escapes.

Transportation & Accessibility

The valley is car-oriented, with the I-15, US-95, I-215 and the Clark County 215 Beltway forming its main freeway grid. Harry Reid International Airport sits just south of the resort corridor. RTC Transit provides bus service across the valley, the Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the resort corridor, and a planned high-speed rail connection to Southern California is intended to link Las Vegas with the Los Angeles region.

Local Businesses

Las Vegas has a broad economy led by hospitality, gaming, conventions, construction, logistics, healthcare and professional services, supported by one of the country's fastest-growing small business communities. Locally owned restaurants, contractors, salons, auto shops, medical practices and retail shops serve neighborhoods from downtown to Centennial Hills and beyond.

Nearby Attractions

• Fremont Street Experience
• The Strip and resort corridor
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
• Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

Advantages & Considerations

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