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Las Vegas - a City Like No Other

Las Vegas - the entertainment capital of the world. A shining beacon of prosperity for those who have made their millions there. A glittering symbol of hope for those who know that every evening spent on the city's famous Strip could be their big night, that it could be their time to have lady luck smile on them when the next roulette wheel is spun or hand of cards dealt. With its giant hotels and casinos standing proud and gleaming in the middle of the desert and the eternal promise of a fast buck, Las Vegas is a thoroughly modern metropolis. But just as interesting as the city's modern facade is its short but eventful history.

Las Vegas was founded as a city on May 15th 1905 and before long became the administrative centre of Clark County, which was formed on July 1st 1909. The new county was named after William Clark, who initiated the first flowerings of modernisation in Nevada when he brought the railroad to the southern part of the state. In 1911 the population of Las Vegas stood at just 800 but this was all to change over coming years as the city began to grow. By 1930 the population of Las Vegas had risen to 5,165 but arguably the most significant events in the city's development came in the following year.

The construction of the Hoover Dam began in 1931, bringing with it an influx of construction workers, sparking a population boom and helping to haul Las Vegas out of the Great Depression that had burdened the United States following the Wall Street Crash in 1929. In the same year, gambling was officially legalised by the Nevada state legislature, meaning that the people who had gambled illegally for many years could now do so with a clear conscience. The Hoover Dam opened in 1935 - standing at 726 feet it was the tallest dam in the world at the time.

Following years saw the city continue to grow steadily. As the 1940s dawned the population increased to over 8,000 and the outbreak of World War II brought another industry to the state of Nevada - defence. But it was in the aftermath of the war that Las Vegas began to take on the distinctive identity it has today, as lavish resort hotels and casinos sprung into activity. Some of the top names in showbusiness began to entertain the Las Vegas crowds and the tourism and entertainment industries swiftly developed into the city's major employers.

In 1957 topless showgirls, called Minsky's Follies, entertained visitors to the Strip for the first time and in 1959 the iconic 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign was created by Betty Willis. In the same year, the Nevada Gaming Commission was formed and by 1960 Las Vegas encompassed 25 square miles of land and was home to over 64,000 people.

The coming decade saw big business come to town as major corporations began to realise the full potential of Las Vegas. They purchased casinos and hotel properties and transformed gambling into gaming, turning it into a legitimate and wildly profitable industry. In 1969 Las Vegas' credentials as one of the world's foremost locations for modern entertainment were emphasised as Elvis Presley opened the International Hotel, now known as the Las Vegas Hotel.

And the rest is modern history. Las Vegas continued to grow year-by-year, making millions for the big businesses who saw its potential and entertaining millions more who were drawn to the irresistible glitz and glamour.

In 2000 the US Census reported that the population of Las Vegas was more than 478,000 and the city covered a land area of 113 square miles. Five years later Las Vegas celebrated its centennial, with a party that began on December 31st 2004 and didn't stop for 12 months. One of the city's most recent developments came in June 2007 with the opening of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, a 180-acre non-gaming attraction that focuses on the cultural and historical aspects of the city.

While there are many places around the world that can declare themselves unique, there are few that can make the claim more justifiably than Las Vegas. With a culture and heritage as colourful as the sprawling structures that now line its Strip, it is hard to believe that Las Vegas is barely 100 years old. To visit Las Vegas is to experience a city born entirely of the modern world and see a place that represents the American Dream come true.

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Updated: Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:42:24

Related Links:
Las Vegas Tourist Board
Las Vegas Airport