Primm, Nevada
Encyclopedia
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...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15
Interstate 15 in Nevada
In the U.S. State of Nevada, Interstate 15 begins in Primm, continues through Las Vegas and it crosses the border with Arizona in Mesquite. The freeway runs entirely in Clark County. Many motorists use Interstate 15 to visit Las Vegas, as it is the only primary Interstate Highway in the city. The...
where it crosses the border between 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...
and 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...
. It sits at the edge of Ivanpah Dry Lake
Ivanpah Dry Lake
Ivanpah Lake is a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California on the border of California and Nevada. Nestled in the Ivanpah Valley near Primm on Interstate 15, the lake is almost entirely within California. At the north edge of the lake lie the Nevada Welcome Center ...
.
It was previously known by the name of State Line (2 words), but was renamed in 1996 to avoid confusion with Stateline
Stateline, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 510 households, and 245 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,803.3 people per square mile . There were 562 housing units at an average density of 834.1 per square mile...
located in northern Nevada. It is named after the original developer of the city, casino owner Ernest Jay Primm.
The community's economy is based on its three casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s, which attract gamblers from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
wanting to stop before reaching Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
40 miles to the north, or as a last chance to gamble before leaving Nevada. The community's hotels also serve as reliever hotels on the occasions when Las Vegas hosts major conventions. Most of Primm's residents are employees of the casinos.
While not a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
, the 2000 census population for the community is 436. A Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department estimate placed the population at 284 as of July 1, 2006, apparently using different boundaries for the area. In a December 5, 2007 article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
, Primm's population is listed as around 1,132.
The community of Primm made an appearance in the 2010 role-playing video game Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas is a first person action role-playing video game in the Fallout series developed by Obsidian Entertainment, and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada...
developed by Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment is an American video game developer founded in 2003 after the disestablishment of Interplay Productions' Black Isle Studios, for PC and console systems...
and published by Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
. The game is based in a post-apocalyptic environment in and around Las Vegas, Nevada. Notable locations include Bison Steve's Hotel, a reference to Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino.
Attractions
- Buffalo Bill'sBuffalo Bill'sBuffalo Bill's is a hotel and casino located in Primm, Nevada, USA, at the California stateline. It has 1,242 guest rooms and suites. The hotel is home to the Desperado roller coaster, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world, as well as a pool in the shape of a buffalo...
- Primm Valley ResortPrimm Valley ResortTerrible's Primm Valley Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in Primm, an unincorporated area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It includes the Primm Valley Golf Club across the border in California.The hotel offers 624 rooms and suites...
- Whiskey Pete'sWhiskey Pete'sWhiskey Pete's is a hotel and casino located in Primm, Nevada. The hotel has 777 rooms and suites, a large swimming pool, gift shop, and four restaurants. The hotel and casino are owned by Primm Valley Resorts. The casino covers approximately and includes a race and sports book.-History:The area...
Primm is also home to a large outlet mall, Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas
Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas
Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas is a shopping mall located in Primm, Nevada, and owned by Primm Valley Resorts. Its address is located just off Interstate 15 at the California state line, some southwest of Las Vegas...
, as well as, gas stations, restaurants, and apartments for the workers of Primm.
A convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
, aptly named the Primm Valley Lotto Store, is located just over the California side of the border, and is the closest access for southern Nevadans wishing to play the California State Lottery
California State Lottery
The California State Lottery, also known as the California Lottery, began on November 6, 1984, after California voters passed Proposition 37, the California State Lottery Act of 1984, authorizing the creation of a lottery...
. The only paved road access to the store is from Nevada. As a result, the store sells more California Lottery tickets than any other vendor in that state, largely because Nevada does not have its own state lottery
Lotteries in the United States
Lotteries in the United States are run by 46 jurisdictions; 43 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.In the US, the lottery is subject to the laws of each jurisdiction; there is no national lottery.- History :...
.
A new airport
Ivanpah Valley Airport
Ivanpah Valley Airport is a planned relief airport for McCarran International Airport serving the Las Vegas area to be located near Primm, Nevada. Since there is only limited space left for expansion at McCarran a new airport is the only alternative to increase capacity by a significant amount...
is planned to be built north of Primm, and the California-Nevada Interstate Maglev
California-Nevada Interstate Maglev
The California-Nevada Interstate Maglev project is proposing the construction of a Maglev train line from Las Vegas, Nevada to Anaheim, California. One segment would run from Las Vegas to Primm, Nevada, with proposed service to the Las Vegas area's forthcoming Ivanpah Valley Airport. The top speed...
project has proposed building a maglev train
Maglev train
Maglev , is a system of transportation that uses magnetic levitation to suspend, guide and propel vehicles from magnets rather than using mechanical methods, such as friction-reliant wheels, axles and bearings...
that will pass through.
History
In the 1920s Pete MacIntyre owned a gas station at the stateline. Pete apparently had a difficult time making ends meet selling gas so he resorted to bootleggingMoonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
. Primm history remembers him as "Whiskey Pete". When Whiskey Pete died in 1933, legend has it that he wanted to be buried standing up with a bottle of bootleg in his hands so he could watch over the area. Whiskey Pete's unmarked grave was accidentally exhumed while workers were building a connecting bridge from Whiskey Pete's to Buffalo Bills Hotel and Casino (on the other side of I-15). The body was moved and is now said to be buried in one of the caves where Pete cooked up his moonshine.
In 1996, SCORE International
SCORE International
SCORE International is an off-road sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing and is famous for its flagship event, the Baja 1000 as well as the Baja 500 and San Felipe 250. SCORE races are held in United States and Mexico...
started hosting an annual off-road race known as Terrible's SCORE Primm 300
Primm 300
Terrible's SCORE Primm 300 is an off-road race that takes place yearly in Primm, Nevada in September. The Primm 300 is part of a series of races that include the Baja 1000, Baja 500 and San Felipe 250. The event includes various types of vehicle classes such as stock VW, production vehicles,...
. The Primm 300 is one in a series of annual off-road races that include the Baja 1000
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
, Baja 500
Baja 500
SCORE Baja 500 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in early June. The Baja 500 is part of a series of races that include the Baja 1000, San Felipe 250 and Primm 300. The event includes various types of vehicle classes such as small and large bore motorcycles,...
, San Felipe 250
San Felipe 250
Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in late February or early March. The San Felipe 250 is part of a series of races that include the Baja 1000, Baja 500 and Primm 300...
and the Laughlin Desert Challenge.
In 1997, the 20th World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
competition was held in Primm.
In 2004, under MGM Mirage ownership, 52 apartment buildings were constructed in Primm to serve as housing for employees at the three casinos. The name of the complex is the Desert Oasis, and its address is 355 E. Primm Boulevard. Previously, employee housing did exist, but trailers were used instead of apartments.
Primm was the end location for the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge. Additionally, it was the starting and ending location for the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. The $2 million prize was won by a team from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.