CITY BOUNDARY MAP

641,903 $53,000 34 50.39% 49.61%

 Clark County

HOUSING

 56.74% of homes owner occupied

 43.26% of homes rented

POPULATION DENSITY

 4,222.5 inhabitants per sq. mile

 190,724 housing units at an average density of 1,683.3 per square mile

History

AGE DEMOGRAPHIC

 25.9% under age 18

 8.8% between ages 18 to 24

 32% between ages 25 to 44

 21.7% between ages 45 to 64

 11.6% above age 65

City Quick Facts

 25th most populous city in the US

 A top 3 destination in the US

 Incorporated in 1911

 2,001 feet elevation

 Highest Average Temperature 104.2

 Lowest Average Temperature 30

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. Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when 110 acres 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. 1931 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.