Clark County, Nevada
Encyclopedia

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...

 (60.2% White Non-Hispanic), 9.1% Black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

, 5.7% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...

, 0.8% American Indian
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...

 and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race. As of 2009, the population in the metropolitan area had grown up to 1,902,834 people, being one of the fastest growing MSA in the United States.

In 1999, the median income for a household in the MSA was $44,616 and the median income for a family was $50,485. The per capita income was $21,785.

The United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

 2009 estimates place the population for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area at 1,902,834 people, and the region is one of the fastest growing in the United States. Large numbers of new residents in the state originate from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

.

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,623 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 174 people per square mile (67/km²). There were 559,799 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 61.58% white
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 10.18% black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 7.27% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.79% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 8.61% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 4.20% from two or more races. Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 of any race were 21.96% of the population.

In 2000 there were 512,253 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,536, and the median income for a family was $59,485. Males had a median income of $35,243 versus $27,077 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the county was $21,785. About 7.90% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority post the historical numbers of visitors and hotel rooms in Clark County. The era of massive modern casino resorts began with the opening of the Mirage in November 1989. Generally the increase in hotel rooms has been matched by an increasing number of visitors until 2008. An unmatched building boom has been met with declining numbers of tourists. If the 7.2% percentage decrease in the first four months of 2009 were to continue for the year, visitors would dip below 35 million, which is the level that they were at before the year 2000.

Law and government

Presidential Election Results
Year Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...

58.47% 380,765 39.48% 257,078
2004
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...

51.72% 281,767 46.81% 255,337
2000
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....

51.31% 196,100 44.72% 170,932
1996
United States presidential election, 1996
The United States presidential election of 1996 was a contest between the Democratic national ticket of President Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee and the Republican national ticket of former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas for President and former Housing Secretary Jack...

48.71% 127,963 39.37% 103,431
1992
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....

41.15% 124,586 32.17% 97,403
1988
United States presidential election, 1988
The United States presidential election of 1988 featured no incumbent president, as President Ronald Reagan was unable to seek re-election after serving the maximum two terms allowed by the Twenty-second Amendment. Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, won the Republican nomination, while the...

40.86% 78,359 56.37% 108,110
1984
United States presidential election, 1984
The United States presidential election of 1984 was a contest between the incumbent President Ronald Reagan, the Republican candidate, and former Vice President Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate. Reagan was helped by a strong economic recovery from the deep recession of 1981–1982...

35.50% 53,386 62.60% 94,133
1980
United States presidential election, 1980
The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent...

30.07% 38,313 59.80% 76,194
1976
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...

49.78% 51,178 46.92% 48,236
1972
United States presidential election, 1972
The United States presidential election of 1972 was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. It was held on November 7, 1972. The Democratic Party's nomination was eventually won by Senator George McGovern, who ran an anti-war campaign against incumbent Republican President Richard...

40.94% 36,807 59.06% 53,101

Clark County Government is run by the Clark County Commission which consists of seven members who are elected to serve staggered four-year terms in biannual partisan
Partisan (political)
In politics, a partisan is a committed member of a political party. In multi-party systems, the term is widely understood to carry a negative connotation - referring to those who wholly support their party's policies and are perhaps even reluctant to acknowledge correctness on the part of their...

 elections.

After each election, the members elect a chairman who runs the commission meetings. Actual day-to-day operations are handled by the county manager who is hired by the commission. Its unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...

 towns also have appointed boards that provide advice to the commission.

The county operates out of the Clark County Government Center located in the City of Las Vegas. The building is unusual in shape, and includes an outdoor amphitheater where concerts and other events are held.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...

 provides most law enforcement services in the county, including operation of the county's central jail, the Clark County Detention Center (CCDC). The present department was created in 1973 when the Clark County Sheriff's Department merged with the Las Vegas Police Department.

Other entities that have their own police forces include University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...

, the Clark County School District
Clark County School District Police Department
Clark County School District Police Department is the part of the Clark County School District that is responsible for law enforcement on all of the district campuses. As sworn officers, the department members handle all crimes committed on campus and in the areas around the schools...

, and cities such as Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...

, Mesquite
Mesquite, Nevada
Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...

, Boulder City
Boulder City, Nevada
Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....

 and North Las Vegas
North Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city was incorporated on May 16, 1946.-Geography:...

. The Clark County Park Police is responsible for all of the parks operated by the county and some selected special venues, such as the Clark County Amphitheater, Clark County Archery Range, and the Desert Rose Golf Course.

The Regional Justice Center replaced the Clark County Courthouse in 2005, and is located about 3 blocks from downtown Fremont Street, at 200 Lewis Avenue.

Clark County is politically competitive, though marginally Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

; Democratic presidential candidates have carried the county in each election since 1992, but usually with only small majorities or pluralities. The last Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 candidate to carry the county was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

Clark County Regional Flood Control District

The Clark County Regional Flood Control District
Clark County Regional Flood Control District
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District was created in 1985 by the Nevada Legislature allowing Clark County to provide broad solutions to flooding problems...

 (CCRFCD) was created in 1985 by the Nevada Legislature
Nevada Legislature
The Nevada Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of the lower house Nevada Assembly, with 42 members, and the upper house Nevada Senate, with 21 members. All 63 members of the Legislature are elected from an equal amount of...

 allowing Clark County to provide broad solutions to flooding problems.

Clark County School District

Public primary and secondary education is the responsibility of the Clark County School District
Clark County School District
The Clark County School District, , is the 5th largest school district in the United States. It serves all of Clark County, Nevada, including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite; plus the census-designated places of Laughlin, Blue Diamond, Logandale,...

.

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada

Operates the RTC Transit system, and does planning for most major roadways.

Southern Nevada Water Authority

A multi-agency group that manages the water distribution for the Las Vegas valley.

Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee

The group that manages and protects the Las Vegas Wash
Las Vegas Wash
Las Vegas Wash is a 12 mile-long channel which feeds most of Las Vegas Valley's excess water into Lake Mead. The wash is sometimes called an urban river, and it exists in its present capacity because of an urban population. The wash also works in a systemic conjunction with the pre-existing...

.

Since 1999 the group has added more the 15,000 plants to stabilize the wash's banks and restore and expand the wetlands surrounding the wash. As part of the effort to restore the wash to a more natural state, they have also removed more than 500000 pounds (226,796.2 kg) of trash.

State government

The Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center
Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center
The Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center in North Las Vegas, Nevada. All custody levels are housed there. It is operated by the Nevada Department of Corrections...

 of the Nevada Department of Corrections
Nevada Department of Corrections
The Nevada Department of Corrections is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. The NDOC headquarters is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City.-History:...

 is located in North Las Vegas. The facility, originally the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility opened September 1, 1997. It was built and operated by Corrections Corporation of America
Corrections Corporation of America
Corrections Corporation of America is a company that owns and manages private prisons and detention centers and operates others on a concession basis. The company is the largest private corrections company in the United States and manages more than 60 facilities with a designed capacity of 90,000...

. Since then the state took direct control of the facility. It houses the female death row.

Communities

Federal land

  • Creech AFB
    Creech Air Force Base
    Creech Air Force Base , formerly known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, is a United States Air Force base located one mile north of the central business district of Indian Springs, in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is about northwest of Las Vegas and northwest of Nellis Air...

  • Desert National Wildlife Refuge
    Desert National Wildlife Refuge
    The Desert National Wildlife Range is a protected wildlife refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located north of Las Vegas, Nevada, in northwestern Clark and southwestern Lincoln counties, with much of its land area lying within the southeastern section of the Nevada Test and...

     (part)
  • Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
    Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
    The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the principal U.S. National Forest located in the U.S. state of Nevada. With an area of , it is the largest National Forest of the United States outside of Alaska...

     (part)
  • Lake Mead National Recreation Area
    Lake Mead National Recreation Area
    Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. The centerpieces of the National Recreation Area are its two large reservoirs: Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. These lakes cater to boaters, swimmers, sunbathers, and fishermen while the surrounding desert rewards...

     (part)
  • Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
    Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
    The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a protected wildlife refuge administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, located in the Warm Springs Natural Area in the Moapa Valley of Clark County, Nevada...

  • Mount Charleston Wilderness
  • Nellis AFB
    Nellis Air Force Base
    Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...

  • Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
    Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
    Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada is an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of its National Landscape Conservation System, and protected as a National Conservation Area. It is located about west of Las Vegas, and easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip...

  • Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
  • Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
    Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
    The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area, administered by the U.S. Forest Service, and lies west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It covers over 316,000 acres of land. The area runs from low meadows at around 3,000 feet of elevation to Mount Charleston at 11,918...

     (part)
  • Toiyabe National Forest (part)

Parks and recreation


Gaming areas

The State of Nevada divides the state into several gaming districts. The reporting districts affecting Clark County are:
  • Boulder Strip
    Boulder Strip (Nevada gaming area)
    The Boulder Strip gaming market is a division used by the Nevada Gaming Commission for a segment of the casino industry in Las Vegas Nevada. The region is named for the Boulder Highway which is the dominant highway in the region....

    : This region includes 33 casinos on Boulder Highway, such as Sam's Town
    Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, Las Vegas
    Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall is a hotel and casino located in Sunrise Manor, Nevada on the Boulder Strip. It is one of the casinos owned and operated by Boyd Gaming Corporation...

    , Boulder Station
    Boulder Station
    Boulder Station is a casino and hotel located in Sunrise Manor, Nevada on Boulder Highway. Owned by Station Casinos, the hotel opened on August 23, 1994, and has a casino...

    , Arizona Charlie's Boulder
    Arizona Charlie's Boulder
    Arizona Charlie's Boulder Hotel & Casino is a 301 room hotel and a locals casino located in Paradise, Nevada. Owned by American Casino & Entertainment Properties, it is on Boulder Highway between the Boulder Station and the Sam's Town.-History:...

    , and the Magic Star. Casinos within the Henderson city limits are included as well, such as Green Valley Ranch
    Green Valley Ranch resort and spa
    Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa is a hotel, casino, and resort spa located in the Green Valley planned community in Henderson, Nevada. It is a joint venture of Station Casinos and The Greenspun Corporation , each entity holds a 50% stake in the property.The property offers 8 restaurants, a ...

    , Sunset Station
    Sunset Station
    Sunset Station is a hotel and locals casino owned by Station Casinos on ninety-eight acres in Henderson, Nevada. Sunset Station is an off-strip locals casino located on Sunset Road near Interstate 515, across from the Galleria at Sunset shopping center....

    , Fiesta, Eldorado
    Eldorado Casino
    The Eldorado Casino is a casino located in Henderson, Nevada. It is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation.- History :Purchased by Sam Boyd and Bill Boyd in 1962, it was the base for what later became the Boyd Group and then the Boyd Gaming Corporation....

    , and Jokers Wild
    Jokers Wild Casino
    The Jokers Wild Casino is a locals casino located in Henderson, Nevada. It is one of the casinos owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation.It originally opened in 1990 as the Cattle Baron Casino, and closed in 1993. It was reopened on April 1st, 1993 as the Jokers Wild Casino.-External links:*...

    .
  • Downtown: There are 19 casinos in this reporting area.
  • LV Strip
    LV Strip (Nevada gaming area)
    The LV Strip is one of the designated Nevada Gaming Control Boards reporting areas. It consists of the Las Vegas Strip casinos and many of the surrounding casinos...

    : This region is composed of all the casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard
    Las Vegas Boulevard
    State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...

    , from The Stratosphere
    Stratosphere Las Vegas
    Stratosphere Las Vegas is a tower, hotel, and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Its tower is also the tallest observation tower, and the 5th-tallest structure, in the United States, as well as being the tallest structure in Las Vegas.It is owned by Whitehall...

     at the north end to Mandalay Bay
    Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
    Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino is a 44-story luxury hotel casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is owned by MGM Resorts International. Five floors of the main hotel building are occupied by the five-star and AAA Five-Diamond Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas...

     on the south end. Also included are resorts located near this area, such as The Rio
    Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
    The Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino is located off the Las Vegas Strip in the unincorporated area of Paradise, Nevada, USA. It is better known as The Rio and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Inc. The Rio was the first all suite resort in the Las Vegas area...

    , South Point, and the Hard Rock; and McCarran Airport.
  • North Las Vegas: This region has 11 casinos and include the Fiesta, Texas Station
    Texas Station
    Texas Station Hotel and Casino is a locals casino and hotel located on Rancho Drive in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino is owned by Station Casinos....

    , Jerry's Nugget, and the Santa Fe Station
    Santa Fe Station
    Santa Fe Station is a locals casino located on Rancho Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino is owned by Station Casinos and is located on of land.-History:...

    .
  • Laughlin
    Laughlin (Nevada gaming area)
    The American Gaming Association lists Laughlin as #17 out of the top 20 US Casino Markets by annual revenue, right behind Downtown. The Nevada Gaming Commission revenue as listed in the annual gaming abstract for fiscal year 2008 . Equivalent figures for Downtown are shown for comparison. Licenses...

    : The casinos in Laughlin.
  • Mesquite: The casinos in Mesquite.
  • Balance of County: There are 66 casinos in this category that includes casinos at Lake Las Vegas
    Lake Las Vegas
    Lake Las Vegas is located in Henderson, Nevada. Lake Las Vegas refers to both a man made lake and to the area built around the lake. The area is sometimes referred to as the Lake Las Vegas Resort...

    , Jean
    Jean, Nevada
    Jean is a small commercial town in Clark County, Nevada, located approximately north of the Nevada-California state line along Interstate 15. Las Vegas is located about to the north...

    , Primm
    Primm, Nevada
    Primm is a tiny community in Clark County, Nevada, United States, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15 where it crosses the border between California and Nevada...

    , the Railroad Pass and Hacienda
    Hacienda Hotel and Casino
    The Hacienda Hotel and Casino replaced the old Gold Strike Hotel and Casino which was destroyed by fire on 16 June 1998 ..The hotel is located outside the city limits of Boulder City, Nevada, which does not allow gaming, and is on a parcel of private land within the boundaries of the Lake Mead...

     casinos, along with other casinos that don't fit any other category such as Arizona Charlie's Decatur
    Arizona Charlie's Decatur
    Arizona Charlie's Decatur is a 258 room casino hotel with a locals casino in the Charleston Heights area of Las Vegas, Nevada.-History:Arizona Charlie's Decatur are the results of original efforts by the Becker family, long established developers in Las Vegas. In 1963, just south of a shopping...

    , Gold Coast
    Gold Coast Hotel and Casino
    The Gold Coast Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This locals' casino is owned and operated by Boyd Gaming Corporation. The Gold Coast is located one mile west of the Las Vegas Strip on West Flamingo Road. It is located across the street from the Palms Casino...

    , The Orleans, The Palms, Suncoast
    Suncoast Hotel and Casino
    The Suncoast Hotel and Casino is a locals casino and hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation. The hotel, located on a site, contains 432 rooms and has an casino as well as a Century group movie theatre, bowling alley, and conference room/meeting space.The Suncoast is...

    , Rampart
    Rampart Casino
    The Rampart Casino is operated by Cannery Casino Resorts under a 10 year lease agreement. Rampart is both a locals casino and a tourist casino. It has of space and a 115 seat race and sports book along with table games.- History :...

    , and Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino
    Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino
    Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino is a resort spa and casino owned by Station Casinos on located in the Summerlin village of Summerlin Centre in Summerlin, Nevada. Red Rock is located far off of the Las Vegas Strip; it is known as a locals casino. Located on Charleston Boulevard at the interchange of...


Environmental factors

Clark County contains a diverse
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...

 desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...

 flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...

 and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...

, including higher elevation mountain areas, the desert floor and the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...

/Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...

 ecosystems. Variations in diurnal temperature as well as seasonal swings in temperature create demanding adaptation elements on the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of this county. Additional pressure has been placed on species survival by the rapid human population expansion
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...

, especially since 1970.

Correspondingly air quality levels prior to the 1960s were in a favorable range, but the proliferation of automobiles with the human population expansion created circumstances where some Federal Air Quality Standards began to be violated in the 1980s.

To plan for the wave of development forecast by 1980, Clark County embarked on a regional Environmental Impact Assessment funded by a Federal Section 208 program, with Sedway Cooke conducting the planning work and Earth Metrics performing environmental analysis. This endeavor projected future population growth, land use changes and environmental impacts.

To prevent the loss of federal funds due to unacceptable dust levels in the Las Vegas valley, in 2003 the Nevada Air Quality Management division (under direction of Clark County officials) created the massive "Don't Be a Dusthole"
Dusty the Dusthole
Dusty the Dusthole is a Clark County Dept. of Air Quality Management mascot created in 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The character and his trademark slogan — "Don't Be A Dusthole" —have been seen by millions of residents and tourists in the state of Nevada, via a massive media push...

 campaign. The campaign successfully raised awareness of dust pollution in the Las Vegas valley, quantifiably reducing pollutants and preserving ongoing federal funding.

Located in Apex is the Apex Landfill which at 2200 acre (890.3 ha) is the largest landfill in the United States. Republic Services owns and operates the landfill.

Economy

The county is home to many gaming related companies. Station Casinos
Station Casinos
Station Casinos Inc. is a gaming company based in the Las Vegas suburb of Summerlin, Nevada, founded by Frank Fertitta Jr.Station Casinos along with Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, and Herbst Gaming, dominate the Locals market in Las Vegas.The...

 is headquartered in unincorporated Clark County, along with Golden Casino Group, Golden Gaming
Golden Gaming
Golden Gaming is an operator of casinos, taverns, and slot routes based in Enterprise, Nevada, near Las Vegas. It was founded by Blake Sartini. It is the largest tavern operator in Nevada, and the third largest slot route operator in Nevada.- History :...

, American Casino & Entertainment Properties
American Casino & Entertainment Properties
American Casino & Entertainment Properties is a casino holding company headquartered at the Stratosphere Las Vegas. ACEP was a wholly owned subsidiary of American Real Estate Partners before it was sold to Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds in February 2008...

, Bally Technologies, Cannery Casino Resorts
Cannery Casino Resorts
Cannery Casino Resorts, a North Las Vegas gaming company, is owned by Millennium Gaming and Oaktree Capital Management.- History :William Wortman and Renate Schiff who owned the Nevada Palace announced on September 8, 2006 they would convert the Nevada Palace casino into a newly constructed...

, Golden Nugget Companies
Golden Nugget Companies
Golden Nugget Companies Inc. was formed by Steve Wynn in 1973. The company was created after Wynn acquired majority control of the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, Nevada...

, International Game Technology
International Game Technology
International Game Technology is a Nevada based company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, sales and distribution of gaming machines and network system products internationally, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. The company's main offices are...

, The Majestic Star Casino, LLC
The Majestic Star Casino, LLC
The Majestic Star Casino, LLC is a gaming holding company founded in Gary, Indiana by Don H. Barden. Now based in Las Vegas, Nevada, it is the largest black-owned casino operator in the United States and the first and only black-owned casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.As of the end of 2005, the company...

, Ameristar Casinos
Ameristar Casinos
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. is a casino operator based in Paradise, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The company has eight properties in seven markets, including four in the United States’ largest 30 metropolitan markets.The company...

, Archon Corporation
Archon Corporation
Archon Corporation is an entertainment company based in Paradise, Nevada. The company has owned casinos and water parks. Members of board of directors include State Senator Sue Lowden who was chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party and State Senator Bill Raggio...

, Boyd Gaming
Boyd Gaming
Boyd Gaming Corporation is a Paradise, Nevada based business engaged in the development, ownership and operation of hotels and casinos throughout the United States...

, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Las Vegas Sands
Las Vegas Sands
Las Vegas Sands Corp. is an integrated resort company based in Paradise, Nevada, USA.-History:Founded in 1988, the company was the owner and operator of the Sands Hotel, which was demolished in 1996 to make room for The Venetian, which opened in 1999....

, MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts
Wynn Resorts Limited is a publicly traded corporation based in Paradise, Nevada that is a developer and operator of high end hotels and casinos. It was formed on October 25, 2002 by former Mirage Resorts Chairman and CEO Stephen A...

, Riviera Holdings
Riviera Holdings
Riviera Holdings Corporation is a casino operator based in Winchester, Nevada. It owns two casinos, the Riviera on the Las Vegas Strip, and the Riviera Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colorado.-History:...

, Aztar
Aztar
Aztar Corporation is a hospitality company that focused on resort hotels and casinos. In 2005, the company had revenues of more than $915 million and earnings before interest and taxes of $212 million. During 2006 the company became the subject of a bidding war for ownership, with Columbia Sussex...

, DBT Online Inc., Gambler's Book Shop / GBC Press
Gambler's Book Shop / GBC Press
Gambler's Book Club / GBC Press, now located at 5473 S Eastern Ave, was originally located in the Huntridge area of Las Vegas the company has, for over 40 years, operated a rare sort of business: A bookstore & small press dedicated to gambling...

, Leroy's Horse & Sports Place
Leroy's Horse & Sports Place
Leroy's Horse & Sports Place also known as Leroy's Race and Sport Book or simply Leroy's is the largest operator of sports books in Nevada. Based in Las Vegas, Leroy's is a subsidiary of American Wagering operating over 60 race and sports books across Nevada.- History :The chain started in...

, Millennium Management Group
Millennium Management Group
Millennium Management Group is a privately held, Las Vegas, Nevada-based gaming management company. It owns and operates several locals casinos in the Las Vegas area.-History:...

, Navegante Group
Navegante Group
The Navegante Group provides services specializing in areas of casino management, development, consulting and executive recruitment. Navegante is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.- History :...

, Pinnacle Entertainment
Pinnacle Entertainment
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. is a gaming and hospitality company based in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada that was created in 1938. It owns and operates casinos in the United States and Argentina.- Company names over time :...

 and Tropicana Entertainment
Tropicana Entertainment
Tropicana Entertainment Inc, is a privately owned but publicly reporting corporation located in Las Vegas, Nevada, that owns or operates 9 casinos and resorts in the United States....


Largest employers

According to the City of Las Vegas' 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the greater Clark County area are:
# Employer # of Employees
1 Clark County School District
Clark County School District
The Clark County School District, , is the 5th largest school district in the United States. It serves all of Clark County, Nevada, including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite; plus the census-designated places of Laughlin, Blue Diamond, Logandale,...

35,000
2 Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...

8,500
3 Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...

5,500
4 University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...

5,500
5 State of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

4,000
6 University Medical Center of Southern Nevada 3,500
7 City of Las Vegas 3,000
8 Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
The Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center is a for-profit hospital operated by Sunrise Healthcare System and owned by the Hospital Corporation of America. This 730 bed hospital is located in Winchester, Nevada.-History:...

2,500
9 College of Southern Nevada 2,000
10 Golden Nugget Las Vegas
Golden Nugget Las Vegas
The Golden Nugget Las Vegas is a luxury casino-hotel located in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Fremont Street Experience. The property is owned and operated by Landry's Restaurants....

2,000
11 Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas is a tower, hotel, and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Its tower is also the tallest observation tower, and the 5th-tallest structure, in the United States, as well as being the tallest structure in Las Vegas.It is owned by Whitehall...

2,000
12 VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs led by the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through the administration and operation of numerous VA outpatient clinics,...

1,000
13 Citibank
Citibank
Citibank, a major international bank, is the consumer banking arm of financial services giant Citigroup. Citibank was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York, later First National City Bank of New York...

1,000
14 Valley Hospital Medical Center
Valley Hospital Medical Center
From 1980-2001, the helipad was located on top of the hospital, adjacent to the lobby. After "Flight for Life" was sold to "Mercy Air Services" in 2001, the hospital created a landing zone just south of the emergency entrance in a dirt lot for Mercy Air's bigger helicopters...

1,000
15 Suncoast Hotel and Casino
Suncoast Hotel and Casino
The Suncoast Hotel and Casino is a locals casino and hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation. The hotel, located on a site, contains 432 rooms and has an casino as well as a Century group movie theatre, bowling alley, and conference room/meeting space.The Suncoast is...

1,000
16 Palace Station
Palace Station
Palace Station is a hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a locals casino that is owned and operated by Station Casinos and has 1,028 rooms...

1,000
17 Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...

1,000
18 Summerlin Hospital
Summerlin Hospital
Summerlin Hospital is a for-profit hospital owned and operated by a subsidiary of Universal Health Services. It is the only hospital in Summerlin, Clark County, Nevada...

1,000
19 HSBC Bank Nevada
HSBC Finance
HSBC Finance Corporation is a financial services company and a member of the British HSBC Group. It is the sixth-largest issuer of MasterCard and Visa credit cards in the United States...

1,000
20 Santa Fe Station
Santa Fe Station
Santa Fe Station is a locals casino located on Rancho Drive in Las Vegas, Nevada. The casino is owned by Station Casinos and is located on of land.-History:...

1,000

Notable government buildings

  • Clark County Government Center
  • Regional Justice Center (opened October 3, 2005)

See also


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK