How Big is Las Vegas?

The size of Las Vegas City is 131.3 sq mi (340.0 km2). 131.2 sq mi (339.8 km2) is land and 0.1 sq mi (0.16 km2) is made up of water. The elevation is 2,001 ft (610 m). Its population is 583,756 as of 2010. It is known as the entertainment capital of the world.

History

Las Vegas is the most populated city in Nevada. It is best known for its casinos, fine dining and shopping. It is also becoming known as a family and retirement city. The city was founded in 1905 and it became a city in 1911.

By the end of the 20th century, it became the most populated city to be established in that period. The name Las Vegas is also used for the unincorporated parts that encompass the city. Frequently included are the resort areas close to the Las Vegas Strip. The Strip stretches for 4.2 mi (6.8 km) at Las Vegas Boulevard.

Casinos and Tourism

The biggest come-ons in Las Vegas are its hotels and casinos. The majority of its casinos are downtown at the Fremont Street Experience. The history of casinos in Vegas began in 1931 when the Northern Club (now the La Bayou) opened. Some of the most noteworthy of the early casinos were Binion’s Horseshoe and the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino.

Other major casinos are the Main Street Casino, Fremont Hotel and Casino and Golden Nugget. The Golden Nugget is the largest hotel casino in Las Vegas. The size of Las Vegas allows for the presence of other casinos. Among them are Las Vegas Club, Gold Spike Hotel and Casino, Four Queens, Fitzgeralds and El Cortez.

Other Las Vegas Attractions

The city is home to several museums, including Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, the Natural History Museum and Neon Museum. Every first Friday of every month, an art exhibit is held at the “Arts District” Downtown. The Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park has over 150 species of plants and animals.

Climate

The city averages 300 sunny days annually. The hottest months are June to September. The average temperature is 94 to 104 F (34 to 40 C). During the night the temperature falls to 69–78 F (21–26 C). Humidity is usually under 10%.

The size of Las Vegas and its casinos make it one of the prime vacation destinations in the world. The city is still best known for gambling. But there are other theme parks and attractions now.