History of Las Vegas in Timeline

Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada and the seat of Clark County, located in the Mojave Desert. In 2020, the city had a population of 641,903, with a metropolitan population of 2,227,053. It is an internationally renowned resort city famous for gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The primary locations for these attractions are downtown Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Strip, which is located just outside the city limits. Las Vegas also serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center in Nevada.

1905: Las Vegas Founded

Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905 with the auction of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

1906: Golden Gate Hotel Opens

In 1906, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, the oldest continuously operating hotel and casino in Las Vegas, opened as the Hotel Nevada.

1909: Largest Snowfall

Unofficially, Las Vegas's largest snowfall on record was the 12 inches (30 cm) that fell in 1909.

1911: Las Vegas Incorporated

In 1911, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city.

1929: Welcome Arch Installed

In 1929, a welcome arch was installed over Fremont Street at the corner of Main Street.

1931: The Northern Club Opens

In 1931, the Northern Club (now the La Bayou) opened in Las Vegas.

1931: Welcome Arch in Place

In 1931, the welcome arch remained in place over Fremont Street at the corner of Main Street.

1931: Nevada Legalizes Casino Gambling

The year 1931 was pivotal for Las Vegas as Nevada legalized casino gambling and reduced residency requirements for divorce. Construction of the Hoover Dam tunnels also began in 1931.

1935: Hoover Dam Construction Completed

In 1935, the construction of the Hoover Dam was completed.

January 25, 1937: Record Low Temperature

On January 25, 1937, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Las Vegas was 8 °F (−13 °C).

1941: Las Vegas Army Airfield Established

In late 1941, the Las Vegas Army Airfield was established.

1950: Nellis Air Force Base Renamed

In 1950, Las Vegas Army Airfield was renamed Nellis Air Force Base, which became home to the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerobatic team.

1951: Nuclear Weapons Testing Begins

In 1951, nuclear weapons testing began at the Nevada Test Site, near Las Vegas, leading to the city being nicknamed "Atomic City."

1955: Moulin Rouge Hotel Opens

In 1955, the Moulin Rouge Hotel opened, becoming the first racially integrated casino-hotel in Las Vegas.

1959: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign Installed

In 1959, the 25-foot-tall Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was installed at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip.

January 13, 1963: Record Low Temperature

On January 13, 1963, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Las Vegas was 8 °F (−13 °C).

1963: Temperature Measured

In 1963, a temperature of 29 °F (−2 °C) was measured in Las Vegas.

1963: Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

In 1963, the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty required nuclear tests to be moved underground.

1973: Formation of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

In 1973, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was formed after a merger of the Las Vegas Police Department and the Clark County Sheriff's Department.

1980: Last Hotel-Casino Before Circa

In 1980, prior to the opening of Circa Resort & Casino, it was the last time an all-new hotel-casino to be built on Fremont Street.

1989: The Mirage Opens

When The Mirage opened in 1989, it started a trend of major resort development on the Las Vegas Strip outside of the city.

1990: Population Growth Begins Accelerating

In 1990, Las Vegas began experiencing accelerated population growth.

1995: Fremont Street Experience Opens

In 1995, the Fremont Street Experience opened in downtown Las Vegas, featuring millions of LED lights and powerful sound systems for hourly shows.

1997: End of Amtrak Desert Wind Service

Amtrak trains have not served Las Vegas since the service via the Desert Wind at Las Vegas station ceased in 1997.

1997: Allegiant Air Launched

In 1997, Allegiant Air, a low-cost air carrier, launched with its first hub at Harry Reid International Airport and headquarters in nearby Summerlin.

1997: Amtrak Desert Wind service through Las Vegas ceased

Until 1997, the Amtrak Desert Wind train service ran through Las Vegas using the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The service then ceased.

2000: 2000 Census Data

According to the 2000 census, Las Vegas had a population of 474,434 people. The racial makeup of the city was 58.52% White alone (non-Hispanic), 10.19% Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic), 0.51% Native American or Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic), 4.72% Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.41% Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.14% Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), and 2.52% Mixed race or Multiracial (non-Hispanic). Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race made up 23.81% of the population.

2000: Las Vegas Population Increase

Between 1990 and 2000, the population of Las Vegas increased by 85.2%.

2000: Land-swap deal with Lehman Brothers

In 2000, Las Vegas conducted a land-swap deal with Lehman Brothers, acquiring 61 acres of property near downtown Las Vegas in exchange for 91 acres of the Las Vegas Technology Center.

2002: Drought Concerns

Due to climate change concerns in the wake of a 2002 drought, water conservation efforts were increased.

2002: Drought impacts water conservation efforts

In 2002, a drought triggered water conservation efforts in Las Vegas.

2002: Replica Welcome Sign Installed

In 2002, a replica of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was installed within city limits.

2003: High Water Consumption

In 2003, daily water consumption was 314 US gallons (1,190 L) per resident.

2004: Divorce Rates

According to a 2004 study, Las Vegas has one of the highest divorce rates due to Nevada's nonrestrictive requirements for divorce.

2004: Symphony Park Announced

In 2004, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced that the area obtained in the land-swap would become home to Symphony Park (originally called "Union Park"), a mixed-use development.

July 19, 2005: Record Hot Daily Minimum Temperature

On July 19, 2005, the record hot daily minimum temperature was 95 °F (35 °C).

2005: World Market Center Opening

In 2005, the World Market Center opened, consisting of three large buildings taking up 5,400,000 square feet. Trade shows for the furniture and furnishing industries are held there semiannually.

December 17, 2008: Significant Snow Accumulation

On December 17, 2008, Las Vegas experienced significant snow accumulation.

2008: EPA Grant for Environmental Analysis

In 2008, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant funded a program that analyzed and forecast growth and environmental effects through 2019.

March 2010: RTC Launches Strip & Downtown Express

In March 2010, the RTC launched bus rapid transit link in Las Vegas called the Strip & Downtown Express with limited stops and frequent service that connects downtown Las Vegas, the Strip and the Las Vegas Convention Center.

2010: Segregation Levels

According to demographer William H. Frey using data from the 2010 United States census, Las Vegas has the second-lowest level of black-white segregation of any of the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas after Tucson, Arizona.

2010: 2010 Census Data

According to the 2010 Census, the city of Las Vegas had a population of 583,756. The city's racial composition had shifted slightly, with 47.91% of the population identifying as White alone (non-Hispanic), 10.63% as Black or African American alone (non-Hispanic), 0.41% as Native American or Alaska Native alone (non-Hispanic), 5.93% as Asian alone (non-Hispanic), 0.53% as Pacific Islander alone (non-Hispanic), 0.19% as Other Race alone (non-Hispanic), and 2.91% as Mixed race or Multiracial (non-Hispanic). Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race represented 31.50% of the population.

2011: Water Usage in Las Vegas Valley

Water usage was measured in 2011.

2012: "The Year of Downtown"

2012 was dubbed "The Year of Downtown" in Las Vegas, due to the debut of many revitalization projects, including the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Discovery Children's Museum, the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, a new City Hall complex, and renovations for a new Zappos.com corporate headquarters.

February 2013: New Las Vegas City Hall and Zappos move

In February 2013, city offices moved to a new Las Vegas City Hall on downtown's Main Street. The former city hall building is now occupied by the corporate headquarters for the online retailer Zappos.com, which opened downtown.

July 1, 2013: Record Hot Daily Minimum Temperature

On July 1, 2013, the record hot daily minimum temperature was 95 °F (35 °C).

2013: Zappos.com moves headquarters to downtown Las Vegas

In 2013, Zappos.com moved its headquarters to downtown Las Vegas.

2014: Increased Water Usage in Las Vegas Valley

In 2014, the Las Vegas Valley used 1.2 billion US gallons more water than in 2011.

May 2015: Las Vegas North Premium Outlets Second Expansion

In May 2015, the second expansion of the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets was completed, bringing the total number of stores to 175.

December 25, 2015: Significant Snow Accumulation

On December 25, 2015, Las Vegas experienced significant snow accumulation.

2015: Reduced Water Consumption

By 2015, daily water consumption had been reduced to around 205 US gallons (780 L) per resident.

2015: Las Vegas Households Without a Car

In 2015, 10.2 percent of city of Las Vegas households were without a car, which increased slightly to 10.5 percent in 2016.

2016: Las Vegas Commuting Statistics

In 2016, 77.1 percent of working Las Vegas residents commuted by driving alone. About 11 percent commuted via carpool, 3.9 percent used public transportation, and 1.4 percent walked.

2016: Replica Welcome Sign Destroyed

In 2016, the replica Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was destroyed when a pickup truck crashed into it.

2017: Vegas Golden Knights Inaugural Season

In 2017, the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team, began play in the 2017–18 NHL season at T-Mobile Arena in nearby Paradise.

2018: Giant Neon Showgirls Added

In 2018, giant neon showgirls were added as part of a welcome display.

2018: Plans Approved for Gateway Landmark

In 2018, the city approved plans for a new gateway landmark in the form of neon arches.

February 18, 2019: Snow Accumulation

On February 18, 2019, parts of Las Vegas received about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of snow.

2019: Household Statistics

From 2019 onwards, Las Vegas had approximately 244,429 households.

2019: Commute Time

From 2019, the mean travel time to work for residents aged 16 and older was approximately 25.8 minutes.

2019: EPA-Funded Environmental Analysis Concludes

In 2019, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program, funded in 2008, concluded its analysis and forecasting of growth and environmental effects.

2020: 2020 United States Census

According to the 2020 United States census, the city of Las Vegas had 644,883 people living in 244,429 households. The racial composition of the City of Las Vegas was 49.2% white, 11.9% black, 1.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 6.9% Asian, Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 34.1% and 16.2% from two or more races. 40.8% were non-Hispanic white.

2020: Clark County Census

As of the 2020 Census, there were 2,265,461 people in Clark County, with approximately 1,030,000 people living in unincorporated Clark County, and around 650,000 living in incorporated cities such as North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City.

2020: Circa Resort & Casino Opens

In 2020, Circa Resort & Casino opened on Fremont Street, becoming the first all-new hotel-casino to be built there since 1980.

2020: Las Vegas Raiders Relocation

In 2020, the National Football League (NFL)'s Las Vegas Raiders relocated from Oakland, California, and play at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise.

2020: Gateway Arches Project Completed

The Gateway Arches project, built by YESCO, was completed in 2020.

2022: Neon Showgirls Replaced

In 2022, the original giant neon showgirls were replaced by new ones that were 50 feet (15 m) tall.

2023: Household Statistics

As of 2023, Las Vegas approximately 244,429 households.

2023: Las Vegas Visitor Count

As of 2023, Las Vegas attracts over 40.8 million visitors annually.

2023: Digital Connectivity

As of 2023, the vast majority of households in Las Vegas are digitally connected, with a high percentage having a computer and subscribing to broadband internet services.

July 7, 2024: Record High Temperature

The highest temperature officially observed for Las Vegas is 120 °F (48.9 °C), as measured at Harry Reid International Airport on July 7, 2024.

July 2024: Hottest Month Ever Recorded

July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded in Las Vegas, with record-breaking mean daily average, maximum, and nightly minimum temperatures.

2024: Symphony Park Residential Projects Completed

As of 2024, the Symphony Park development is home to four residential projects totaling 600 residential units.

2024: Brightline West Construction Begins

In 2024, High-speed rail project Brightline West began construction to connect Brightline's Las Vegas station and the Rancho Cucamonga station in Greater Los Angeles.