Las Vegas Nevada
Las Vegas
is the most populous city in
Nevada, United States and the seat of Clark County. 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 for its casino resorts and associated
entertainment. A growing retirement and family city, Las Vegas is the
28th-most populous city in the United States, with an estimated
population by the U.S. Census Bureau of 583,756 as of 2010. The 2010
population estimate of the Las Vegas metropolitan area was 1,951,269
Established in 1905, Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911. At
the close of the 20th century, Las Vegas was the most populous American
city founded in that century (a distinction held by Chicago in the 19th
century). The city's tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment
earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a
popular setting for films and television programs. There are numerous
outdoor lighting displays on Fremont Street, as well as elsewhere in the
city.
The name Las Vegas is often applied to unincorporated areas that
surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas
Strip. The 4.2 mi (6.8 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard known as the
Strip is mainly in the unincorporated communities of Paradise,
Winchester, and Enterprise.
Tourism
The major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and the hotels.
There are many hotel casinos in the city's downtown area, which was the
focal point of the city's gaming industry in its early days.
Most major downtown casinos are downtown on the Fremont Street
Experience, The Stratosphere being the major exception. Fremont East,
adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience, was granted variances to
allow bars to be closer together, similar to the Gaslamp Quarter of San
Diego. The goal being to attract a different demographic then the strip
attracts.
Downtown area casinos
Golden Nugget Las VegasMain article: Downtown (Nevada gaming area)
Las Vegas got its start with casinos in 1931 with the opening of the
Northern Club (now the La Bayou). The most notable of the early casinos
may have been Binion's Horseshoe (now Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel)
while it was run by Benny Binion. Boyd Gaming has a major presence
downtown operating the California Hotel and Casino, Fremont Hotel and
Casino and the Main Street Casino. The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino is
the oldest hotel in the Fremont Street Experience. The Golden Nugget is
the largest hotel and casino in the city. The Plaza Hotel & Casino on
Main Street was the railway station until Amtrak discontinued service.
Other casinos include the El Cortez, Fitzgeralds, Four Queens, Gold
Spike Hotel and Casino and the Las Vegas Club.
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