About Las Vegas

Shimmering from the desert haze of Nevada like a latter-day El Dorado, LAS VEGAS is the most dynamic, spectacular city on earth. At the start of the twentieth century, it didn’t even exist; now home to two million people, it boasts eighteen of the world’s twenty-five largest hotels, holding flamboyant, no-expense-spared casinos that lure over thirty-five-million tourists each year.

Las Vegas has been stockpiling superlatives since the 1950s, but never rests on its laurels. Many tourists expect the city to be full of kitsch places to visit, but the casino owners are far too canny to be sentimental. Yes, there are a few Elvis impersonators around, but what characterizes the city far more is its endless quest for novelty. Long before they lose their sparkle, yesterday’s showpieces are blasted into rubble, to make way for ever more extravagant replacements. A few years ago, when the fashion was for fantasy, Arthurian castles and Egyptian pyramids mushroomed along the Strip; next came a craze for constructing entire replica cities, like New York, Paris, Monte Carlo and Venice; and the current trend is for high-end properties that attempt to straddle the line between screaming ostentation and “elegant” sophistication.

While the city has cleaned up its act since the days of Mob domination, it certainly hasn’t become a family destination. Hit hard by the recession, however, just as the massive new CityCenter development increased its capacity yet again, it is perforce becoming a cheap destination once again. Two main companies, MGM Resorts and Harrah’s control colossal swathes of the Strip and much as they’d like to keep room rates at their former levels they’ve had to let them drop. The fact that you can get a high-quality room on the Strip for well under $50, at least on weekdays, means there’s less to gain than ever in spending your time in the ailing downtown and dining and entertainment prices too are more reasonable than they’ve been for years.

Although Las Vegas is an unmissable destination, it’s one that palls for most visitors after a couple of (hectic) days. If you’ve come solely to gamble, there’s not much to say beyond the fact that all the casinos are free and open 24 hours per day, with acres of floor space packed with ways to lose money: million-dollar slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette wheels and much, much more.

 Facts About Las Vegas

POPULATION

City of Las Vegas -- 583,756 City of Henderson -- 257,729 City of N. Las Vegas -- 216,961 Boulder City -- 15,023 Clark County -- 1,951,269 Nevada -- 2,700,551 
 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010 In 2010, 37.3 million people visited Las Vegas. More than 4.4 million of those were convention delegates attending more than 18,000 concentions In 2010 there were 148,935 hotel/motel rooms available. Source: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Research

LAS VEGAS McCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

1 mile (1.6 km.) from the Strip 3.5 miles (5.6 km.) from the Convention Center 5 miles (8 km.) from Downtown Las Vegas McCarran is ranked 8th busiest in the world by the Airports Council in Washington, D.C. Serves 51 air carriers including: 24 scheduled 2 helicopter services 8 commuter 17 charter

 Averages 980 flights a day. 

Direct flights to 58 U.S. cities, 1 European city. In the first four months of 2001, 18.5 million passengers passed through McCarran. 36.8 million passengers passed through in 2000. 1.2 million of those were international passangers. 1.3 million square-foot (1.04 million square meter) terminal with 92 gates, covers 2,820 acres, 5,000 cars a day use parking facilities, tram to some terminals. Baggage control computer ramp, moving pedestrian walkways. Class A port-of-entry, bilateral agreement with Canada, international signage.

LAS VEGAS WEATHER

Average temperature 66.3 degrees (19 degrees centigrade). Average yearly rainfall 4.13 inches (10.64 centimeters). Average daily humidity 29 percent. 211.5 clear days annually, 82.4 partly cloudy days, 71.3 cloudy days.

LAS VEGAS TRANSPORTATION

More than 965 cabs service metropolitan Las Vegas. More than 325 limousines are available. 16 bus and/or charter firms operate in the city. Citizens Area Transit (CAT) is a public transportation company that operates 31 routes throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area, and 1 route in Laughlin.

LAS VEGAS WEDDING CHAPELS

More than 35 wedding chapels. In the first five months of 1995, there were 44,104 wedding licenses issued including 158 in Laughlin. In 1994, 99,310 wedding licenses were issued in the Las Vegas area, with 79 in Laughlin. $35 license fee; Marriage License Bureau hours are 8 a.m. (0800) to midnight (2400) Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. (0800) Friday to midnight (2400) Sunday; 24 hours all legal holidays in Nevada. On Valentine's Day weekend in 1994, 2,353 marriage licenses were issued. A license can be purchased in Laughlin 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Justice Court Clerk's office in the Regional Government Center, 101 Civic Way.

LAS VEGAS MUSEUMS

Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum, Guinness World of Records Museum, Las Vegas Art Museum, Las Vegas Museum of Natural History, Liberace Museum & Foundation, Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Lost City Museum of Archaeology, Clark County Heritage Museum, Nevada State Museum & Historical Society, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History/UNLV, just to name a few.

 
LIBRARIES

10 urban branch libraries, 11 rural branch libraries.

 
HOSPITALS

7 acute care hospitals, 4 hospices, more than 2,000 hospital beds, several licensed nursing homes, private psychiatric hospitals.

LAS VEGAS ATTRACTIONS

MT. CHARLESTON -- 35 miles (56 km.) from Las Vegas, highest elevation 11,918 feet (3,615 meters), winter skiing, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, tours available.

BONNIE SPRINGS OLD NEVADA -- An old western town in Red Rock Canyon 16 miles west of Las Vegas with a motel, shops, activities and western shootouts.

DEATH VALLEY -- 135 miles (216 km.) from Las Vegas, 40 minutes by plane, lowest elevation on North American Continent at 280 feet below sea level (84.93 meters), Zabiske Point, 20 Mule Canyon, Scotty's Castle, tours available.

ETHEL M CHOCOLATE FACTORY -- Self-guided tours available for factory and outside botanical garden and cactus display.

GRAND CANYON -- About 300 miles (480 km.) from Las Vegas, 1 1/2 hour flight by plane, tours available.

LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA -- Closest point 25 miles (40 km.) from Las Vegas, more than 550 miles (880 km.) of shoreline, swimming, water skiing, camping, boating, fishing, six marinas, tours available. Visitors totaled 3.8 million for the first five months of 1995 and 9,913,705 in 1994.

HOOVER DAM -- 34 miles (54.4 km.) from Las Vegas, 726 feet high (220.00 meters) from bedrock, wonder of the modern world, tours of inside and outside of dam available; in July 1994, the 30 millionth visitor toured the dam since it opened. Visitors touring the dam totaled 279,205 in the first five months of 1995 and 712,130 in 1994. Black Canyon River Raft Tours available below dam.

RED ROCK CANYON -- 15 miles (24 km.) west of Las Vegas, 3,000- foot (910 meters) escarpment produced by thrust fault, Bureau of Land Management visitors center, scenic area of rock formations and desert. Visitors totaled approximately 585,600 during the first five months of 1995 and approximately 900,000 in all of 1994.

VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK -- 55 miles (88 km.) from Las Vegas, scenic landscapes of hidden canyons and unique rock formations, petroglyphs and remains of ancient Indian civilization, Nevada Park Service visitors center, tours available. Visitors totaled 66,702 in the first five months of 1995 and 244,052 in 1994. There is a $3 entrance fee.

 
CHURCHES

More than 500 churches and synagogues, more than 40 faiths.

 
SCHOOLS

184 primary and secondary schools, 11th largest district in the U.S. Enrollment for the upcoming school year is expected to be more than 160,000 students.

 
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS

Annually more than 20,000 students enroll. The campus is 335- acres (134 hectare); 127 graduate and undergraduate programs offered; more than 600 faculty members; recognized as a "rising star of American higher education."

 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

Nearly 20,000 students enroll annually including full time, part time and non-credit. Three campuses including an 80-acre (32 hectare) campus in North Las Vegas, a 75-acre (30 hectare) campus in Henderson and an 80-acre (32 hectare) Health Science Center campus in Las Vegas. Has the only public planetarium in Southern Nevada.

LAS VEGAS RECREATION

30 golf courses including 1 in Laughlin and 2 in Mesquite. More than 85 tennis courts. 8 bowling centers. Swimming pools at all major hotels and motels. 15 acre Wet 'n Wild water park with surfing, swimming, rafting and water slides. Family amusement centers including Scandia, Funtasia and Mountasia feature miniature golf, go-carts, Grand Prix cars, roller skating, batting cages, bumper cars, virtual reality. Ice skating rink at Santa Fe Hotel/Casino.

 
INDIANS

There are three Indian tribes indigenous to Nevada including the Shoshone; the Washoe, and the Paiute of which there are the Southern Paiutes and the Northern Paiutes. There are 25 reservations in the state encompassing 1,304,837 acres (521,934.8 hectares). Two of the reservations, totaling 75,804 acres (30,321.6 hectares), are in Clark County.

 
NEVADA

Name means "snowcapped" in Spanish, it was admitted to the union in 1864, its nickname is the "Battle Born State," it is the seventh largest state in terms of square miles and ranks 38th in population.

 
CLARK COUNTY

County was created Feb. 5, 1908, its name honors William A. Clark, U.S. senator from Montana who built the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the county covers 7,881 square miles (20,490.6 square kilometers) which is comparable to the area of Massachusetts.

LAS VEGAS

Name means "the meadows" in Spanish, founded in 1905, incorporated March 16, 1911, the city covers 84.272 square miles (219.1 square kilometers).

LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER

3.2 million square feet of total space with approximately 2 million square feet of net exhibit space, and 380,000 square feet of net meeting room space, accommodating 170 meeting rooms with seating capacities from 20 to 7,500. An additional 100,000 square feet at the Cashman Field facility.

 
PERFORMING ARTS

Allied Arts Council, Nevada Dance Theatre, Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, Nevada School of the Arts, Reed Whipple Cultural Center, Las Vegas Little Theater, New West Theatre Company, Rainbow Company (children's theater), Nevada Opera Theatre.

 
GAMBLING

There are 1,271 gaming licenses in Clark County, 122,800 slot machines and 3,896 live table games including poker and pan.
Gaming Control Board, June 1995

Clark County casinos won $5.8 billion in the first nine months of 2001 and $7.7 billion throughout 2000. Statewide, casinos won $2.343 billion in the first four months of 1995 and $7.1 billion in 1994.
Gaming Control Board, June 1995

The number of slot machines statewide total 176,995 and the number of live table games statewide total 5,782.
Gaming Control Board, June 1995

LAUGHLIN

Modern day boomtown 90 miles (145 km.) southeast of Las Vegas on the Colorado River, more than 5.6 million tourists visited Laughlin in 1994 including more than 150,000 from foreign countries; there are 11,779 rooms available in Laughlin and it's sister city Bullhead City, AZ; gaming establishments won $182.6 million in the first four months of 1995, and $534.9 million in all of 1994; there are 12,667 slot machines in operation in Laughlin and 409 table games; there are nine major hotels; the average temperature is 72 degrees (22.22 degrees centigrade), and entertainment includes boating, fishing, sunbathing
  OTHER BORDER RESORTS

MESQUITE -- 77 miles (124 km.) northeast of Las Vegas; 1,171 rooms; three major casino resorts, Si Redd's Oasis, Virgin River Hotel-Casino and Players Island Resort Casino Spa. A smaller property, Stateline Casino, is also located in Mesquite. Activities include golf; tennis; sporting clays; health spa, and western ranch.

PRIMM -- Three major casinos, Whiskey Pete's, Primadonna and Buffalo Bill's. The three resorts are linked by monorail. Buffalo Bill's features the world's steepest, fastest roller coaster. Primm is the last chance for motorists to gamble in Nevada. A convenience store on Primadonna property in California sells lottery tickets.

JEAN -- Two major casinos, Gold Strike Casino and Nevada Landing, flank Interstate 15 approximately 25 miles south of Las Vegas; rooms $18 a night during the week; 5 cent arcade for children; RV park planned. 

GOLD STRIKE INN -- This major casino is just three miles west of Hoover Dam and is the first gaming enterprise travelers encounter after driving to Nevada from Arizona across the dam. Features a 17-story hotel with 378 rooms.

Las Vegas Nightlife

Everybody knows about our showrooms and casinos, but there are nightspots you just can't find back home. The Las Vegas nightlife truly is unrivaled. Just open a magazine next time you're at the grocery store. All the celebrities are here. They're dancing, enjoying the music and celebrating life at the very same clubs and bars as you. That is, if you're a night owl, party animal or lover of the good life. And when the stars come out, so does everybody else, at PURE at Caesars Palace, Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan and Gallery at Planet Hollywood Resort, just to name a few. There are plenty of options, but one thing's for certain: Las Vegas nightclubs have reached legendary status.

So pack your party dress and your dancing shoes because behind the velvet ropes lie the most sought-after nightclubs in Las Vegas and the world. The dance floors are spacious, the beats are pounding and the drinks are delicious. Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas lets you live it up under the night sky and Voodoo Lounge at Rio sets the scene at the top of their tallest tower. Moon Nightclub at the Palms has views of the entire city and Mandalay Bay's Foundation Room offers intimate spaces for getting to know your fellow revelers better.