LAS VEGAS

Presentation: Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911.Is the most populous city in Nevada today, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of casino resorts and associated entertainment. A growing retirement and family city, it is the 28th most populous city in the United States with an estimated population by the U.S. Census Bureau of 558,383 as of 2008. The estimated population of the Las Vegas metropolitan area as of 2008, was 1,865,746.

Demographics: The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimates the region is one of the fastest growing in the United States, large numbers of new residents in the state originate from California. Las Vegas has one of the highest suicide and divorce rates of the U.S. Since divorce is easier in Nevada than most other states, many people come from across the country for the easier process. For similar reasons, Las Vegas has also one of the highest marriage rates of U.S. cities as well, with many licenses issued to people from outside the area.

Economy: Tourism drives the economy in Las Vegas, with 37 million people visiting the city each year. According to the University of Nevada's Center for Business and Economic Research Center, the figure for visitor spending in 2004 was a staggering $33.7 billion. In 2004, 20 percent of all jobs were gaming-related. Though many miles away, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had a devastating effect on the Las Vegas economy. Constant population growth means that the housing construction industry is vitally important. In 2000 more than 21,000 new homes and 26,000 resale homes were purchased.
Tourism: The major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and the hotels. The most famous hotel casinos are located on Las Vegas Boulevard on the portion of that road known as the Las