Las Vegas' recent history starts in 1829, when Spanish party of 60 discovered an oasis about 100 miles northeast of the Old Spanish Trail to Los Angeles . The abundance of artesian spring water they found here shortened the route to Los Angeles by allowing travelers to cut directly through rather than around, the vast desert. Spanish traders who used this route were thankful for the shortened trip and they named this convenient desert oasis "Las Vegas", Spanish for "the Meadows".

John C. Fremont led one of his many explorations to the Far West, and the Las Vegas Springs in 1844. He is still remembered today and his name graces one of Las Vegas most famous streets. Ten years later Mormon settlers were sent by Brigham Young from Salt Lake City to colonize the valley. They built a 150 square foot adobe brick fort, part of which still stands today as the oldest structure in Las Vegas and is appropriately named the Mormon Fort. The Mormons spent two years here before the harsh desert defeated their ambitions. By 1857 the fort was abandoned.

Gold and silver miners started the Searchlight mining district in 1897. Prospectors had to travel to Pioche to record their claims. When the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad opened a stop for its engines in Las Vegas in 1903, the location became more advantageous.

Las Vegas, as a town, was "born" on May 15, 1905, with nearly 3,000 people gathering near the downtown railroad depot to participate in a land auction which lasted two days and sold 2,300 lots at a total price of $265,000. Within days a huge tent city came to life on the desert. Housed within the tents were a post office, saloon and gambling house, hotels and a bank. The main hotel was a large canvas structure 140 feet long.

Nevada's legal gambling laws were enacted in 1931. The construction of Hoover Dam in the '30s provided thousands of jobs to workers from around the nation. Las Vegas already had an active gaming community as hundreds of workers regularly flocked to downtown. Gambling was illegal in Boulder City and it still remains the only community in Nevada where gambling is against the law

In the mid-40s, when the Las Vegas Strip was little more than a few scattered casinos and a lot of desert, Las Vegas' only claim to fame was "the place you stop for gasoline on the way to the dam". Today it has been transformed into one of the most elaborate cities in the world and the hottest vacation spot for the entire family. Las Vegas is second only to Walt Disney World as the favorite vacation destination in the United States. Last year the city drew nearly 30 million visitors and estimates show it will exceed that number this year.

Business from tourists and local servicemen (stationed at Nellis Air Force Base) continued to enhance the economy of downtown, with casinos being built along Fremont Street in the center of downtown, which was nicknamed "Glitter Gulch" after the flashy bright neon signs fronting the gambling halls.

Just 80 square miles of the desert community actually comprise the city of Las Vegas. The rest, including much of the famed Las Vegas Strip, is located in Clark County. Residents enjoy 39 parks and 28 golf courses in and around the Las Vegas area. Within the Clark County School District are 181 schools; two major university systems are in the urban community-University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Community College of Southern Nevada.

There are four major shopping centers (those with greater than 100,000 square feet), 153 hotels and motels, three stadiums and convention halls, ten hospitals, more than 450 houses of worship, retail space totaling more than 20 million square feet, over 80,000 hotel rooms. Resorts, homes and industries in the area amass a total property valuation of approximately $25 billion.

Las Vegas is home to more than 900,000 people with ethnic and cultural backgrounds from around the world. This cultural diversity, coupled with the area's natural beauty, has made Las Vegas a highly desirable location to live, do business and raise a family for life-long residents and newcomers alike. The city's growth and vitality are a credit to the vision and enterprise of the early settlers.

Las Vegas-a colorful past, an exciting present and a promising future.

Population 997,000

Incorporated in 1946, North Las Vegas is a self-contained city which has grown rapidly in recent years to reach a population approaching 65,000 residents. Featuring its own major and city council, police and fire departments, North Las Vegas offers a wide variety of housing choices and business settings, all conveniently located to the west of the Las Vegas metropolitan area.

Residents and businesses participate in a wide variety of civic, social, educational and service endeavors, each contributing to the fulfillment of the city's slogan "Living At Its Best." These include everything from Little League, nighttime golf, a modern library, the beautiful Community College campus and an active Chamber of Commerce.

City taxpayers support forward-looking municipal services including planning, modern zoning, well-maintained streets, water, sewer and trash services, and extensive parks and recreation facilities. In 1992 newly-built Cheyenne High School joined Rancho High, plus a large variety of junior and elementary schools, in service to the rapidly-expanding school-age population.

Long recognized as a desirable location for southern Nevada's commerce and industry, North Las Vegas also serves as the gateway to the Nellis Air Force Base, home of the USAF Thunderbirds.

The city has a number of excellent recreational facilities, including the 18-hole Craig Ranch Golf Course and the 9-hole North Las Vegas Community Golf Course.

Residents and visitors flock to the city's unique annual events. Fairshow, held the last weekend in October, features the colorful Nevada Championship Hot Air Balloon Races, an arts and crafts show and auction.

The Night-Lighted Christmas Parade, held the first Saturday of December, attracts more than 100 entrants.

Military Appreciation Day in April and May honors military personnel in North Las Vegas with an annual golf tournament and bowling competition.

Population 69,900

Located midway between Las Vegas (13 miles) and Boulder City (10 miles), Henderson occupies an area of 74 square miles, the largest in the State of Nevada; its population of approximately 95,000 makes it the third most populous community in the State.

The City has the charter form of government (Mayor, Manager, Council); the county seat is located in Las Vegas. The economy of the area is based on manufacturing, retailing and tourism.

Once known mainly as a factory town, Henderson was created during World War II as a federal company town for the Basic Magnesium defense plants. The city's new status as the home of chocolate (Ethel M Chocolates), marshmallow (Kidd and Company) and ice cream (Gold Bond) makers has led one official to muse that Henderson might be the "Sweet Tooth Capital of Nevada."

Henderson was founded in 1941 for an important role in the war effort-magnesium production. The federal government selected southern Nevada for the site of one of the world's largest magnesium production. The federal government selected southern Nevada for the site of one of the world's largest magnesium plants because of proximity to roads, rail, water and electrical power generated by nearby Hoover Dam.

After the war, the federal government planned to scrap the plant, but the Nevada Legislature authorized the state to purchase it, then resold it to a private company. Growth was rapid and Henderson incorporated in 1953.

Henderson offers special advantages, such as Green Valley, which has more than 8,000 acres of prime commercial, residential and industrial land. The city received its first institution of higher learning in 1981 with opening of the Henderson Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Population 108,834

Boulder City, a clean, green oasis in the desert, is uniquely different, with a character all its own. It is ideally situated near Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Designed as a model city in the 1930s to house the workers who built Hoover Dam, it takes pride today in the fact that it is a flourishing, independent municipality administered by an elected city council and a professional city manager.

Boulder City is the only city in Nevada that prohibits gambling. It offers it residents excellent recreational opportunities and a clean, safe environment. Year round water activities include fishing, power boating, sailing, scuba diving, water skiing and wind surfing.

Boulder City proudly boasts of its quality recreational facilities which include an excellent 18-hole golf course, a year round swimming and racquet ball complex, and lighted tennis courts and baseball fields. Residents of all ages participate in organised athletics through programs sponsored by the City Parks and Recreation Department.

Population 14,046

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