About Las Vegas and Henderson
Spanish for "the meadows," Las Vegas was founded by Mormon missionaries who were then followed by westward-traveling pioneers and, later, by the men who built Hoover Dam.
Las Vegas is situated at the southern tip of Nevada in the Great Basin – the western region between the Sierra Nevada and Wasatch mountain ranges. Its official elevation is 2,174 feet, and the valley encompasses nearly 600 square miles of land. Mountains surround the region and reach their highest elevation – 11,918 feet – at Mt. Charleston.
Las Vegas has been the fastest growing metropolitan area in America for nearly two decades with more than 63,000 new residents arriving each year.
Most of the 5,000 people who relocate to Las Vegas each month come because of the area’s job growth which has increased by 7.5% in the past year and by more than 25% in the past five years. Inc. magazine named Las Vegas the “hottest city in America” in February 2007 because of its job growth and business-friendly climate.
According to the Nevada Development Authority (NDA), over the past five years, more than 25,000 jobs have been created in Southern Nevada resulting in an economic impact of $5.1 billion. While hospitality remains the area’s largest field, new jobs are being created in the high-tech, telecommunications and manufacturing industries. www.nevadadevelopment.org
The cost of living in Las Vegas is lower than in many comparably-sized cities, there is no state personal income tax and property taxes are moderate.
Popular Attractions
The valley boasts an extraordinary quality of life with its wonderful year-round climate, beautiful communities, access to great entertainment and fine dining, cultural and recreational opportunities.
Henderson Chamber of Commerce – www.hendersonchamber.com
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce – www.lvchamber.com
Nevada Development Authority – www.nevadadevelopment.org
Nearby Attractions
Getting in and out of Las Vegas has also become easier with the addition of 26 more gates at McCarran International Airport. The city recently purchased 6,500 acres near Jean, south of Las Vegas, for a proposed second airport site, which could handle an additional 30 million passengers annually.
