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The 10 Things You Should Know About Las Vegas

Set on the edge of the Spring Mountain range and part of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas is best known for The Strip – oh but its so much more! Las Vegas has a very colorful past, read on to learn about our sparkling city.

The Name -Las Vegas was given to the city in 1821 by Rafael Rivera, a member of the Antonio Armijo trading party that was traveling to Los Angeles, and stopped for water there on the Old Spanish Trail from New Mexico. At that time, several parts of the valley contained artesian wells surrounded by extensive green areas; Las Vegas means “The Meadows” in Spanish. The flows from the wells fed the Las Vegas Wash, which runs to the Colorado River.
Founded – The settlement of Las Vegas was founded in 1905 after opening of a railroad that linked Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The stopover attracted some farmers (mostly from Utah) to the area, and fresh water was piped into the settlement. In 1911, the town was incorporated as part of the newly founded Clark County.
Gambling – Las Vegas, with a small but already well-established illegal gambling industry, was poised to begin its rise as the gaming capital of the world. The county issued the first gambling license in 1931 to the Northern Club, and soon other casinos were licensed on Fremont Street like the Las Vegas Club and the Apache Hotel. Fremont Street became the first paved street in Las Vegas[12] and received the city’s first traffic light in 1931.
Urbanization – Las Vegas took off in 1931 when work started on the Boulder Dam (now the Hoover Dam), bringing a huge influx of young male workers, for whom theaters and casinos were built, largely by the Mafia. Electricity from the dam also enabled the building of many new hotels along the Strip.
Modernization – The arrival of Howard Hughes in 1966 did much to offset mob influence, and helped turn Las Vegas into more of a family tourist center, now classified as a Mega resort. This was the real beginning of modern Las Vegas.
Howard Hughes – In 1966, Howard Hughes, the eccentric hero of the American aviation industry, and noted American entrepreneurial financier with vast connections to long established networks in the country, moved to Las Vegas. Initially staying in the Desert Inn, he refused to vacate his room and instead decided to purchase the entire hotel. Hughes extended his financial empire to include Las Vegas real estate, hotels and media outlets, spending an estimated $300 million and using his considerable powers to take over many of the well-known hotels, especially the organized crime connected venues and he quickly became one of the most powerful men in Las Vegas. He was instrumental in changing the image of Las Vegas from its Wild West roots into a more refined cosmopolitan city.
The Desert – The prehistoric landscape of the Las Vegas Valley and most of Southern Nevada was once a marsh with water and vegetation. The rivers that created the marsh eventually went underground, and the marsh receded. The valley then evolved into a parched, arid landscape that only supported the hardiest animals and plants. At some point in the valley’s early geologic history, the water resurfaced and flowed into what is now the Colorado River. This created a luxurious plant life, forming a wetland oasis in the Mojave Desert landscape. Evidence of prehistoric life in Las Vegas Valley was found in 1993, when a group of construction workers discovered the remains of a Columbian mammoth. Palaeontologists estimate that the mammoth roamed the area some 8,000 to 15,000 years ago.
Native American History – Native Americans lived in the Las Vegas Valley, beginning over 10,000 years ago. Archaeologists have discovered baskets, petroglyphs, pictographs and other evidence in diverse locations, including Gypsum Cave and Tule Springs. Paiutes moved into the area as early as AD 700, migrating between nearby mountains in the summer and spending winter in the valley, near Big Springs.
Today – With close to 2.1 million residents and growing, Las Vegas has become a first-class city! We have many attractions including arts , culture, dining, shopping and fantastic outdoor activities. A few activities include Red Rock Canyon for hiking, cycling and horseback riding, some of the finest art gallery exhibits, Lee Canyon and Mt Charleston, Valley of Fire, museums, auto racing, skiing, fishing, golf, art festivals, outdoor concerts and the finest shopping and dining in the country. How could you want to live anywhere else??
Our Neighborhoods – Las Vegas boasts several communities and suburbs off of The Strip including Summerlin, Green Valley, Inspirada, Providence, Centennial Hills, Aliante, to name a few. Within the last 10 years there has also been a genetrification of Downtown with high rise condos and lofts. There are also seven high-rise projects located on or around The Strip. For more information about our different neighborhoods, see my blog article.

To read all about the western suburb, Summerlin, visit my website: ilovesummerlinhomes.com

Stacy Sheeley facilitates successful connections between Buyers and Sellers of residential homes in Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada. She is dedicated to providing each of her clients with an extraordinary quality of service and a wealth of experience in buying and selling real estate. Contact us if you are considering moving to Las Vegas and want to purchase a home!

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Stacy Sheeley Homes | Realty One Group | 702.292.9064 | [email protected]