15 Facts About Vegas

1. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife.

2. Las Vegas was settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911.

3. Nevada is the driest state, and Las Vegas is the driest major US city.

4. Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905, when 110 acres of land adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks were auctioned in what would become the downtown area.

5. The influx of construction workers and their families helped Las Vegas avoid economic calamity during the Great Depression.

6. Las Vegas is situated within Clark County, in a basin on the floor of the Mojave Desert, and is surrounded by mountain ranges on all sides.

7. Peaks surrounding Las Vegas reach elevations of over 10,000 feet, and act as barriers to the strong flow of moisture from the surrounding area.

8. Summer in Las Vegas is marked by a significant diurnal temperature variation.

9. Major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and the hotels, although in recent years other new attractions have begun to emerge.

10. On land across from Symphony Park, the World Market Center Las Vegas opened in 2005.

11. Las Vegas is served by 22 television stations and 46 radio stations.

12. Inter-city bus service to and from Las Vegas is provided by Greyhound, BoltBus, Orange Belt Stages, Tufesa, and several smaller carriers.

13. Silver Rider Transit operates three routes within Las Vegas, offering connections to Laughlin, Mesquite, and Sandy Valley.

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

15. Las Vegas averaged 1.63 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8 per household.