Clark County, Nevada
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2009) |
| Clark County, Nevada | ||
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 Location in the state of Nevada |
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 Nevada's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | February 5, 1908 | |
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| Named for | William Andrews Clark | |
| Seat | Las Vegas | |
| Largest city | Las Vegas | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
8,091 sq mi (20,956 km²) 7,910 sq mi (20,487 km²) 180 sq mi (466 km²), 2.23% |
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| PopulationEst. - (2012) - Density |
2,000,759 247/sq mi (95.2/km²) |
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| Time zone | Pacific: UTC-8/-7 | |
| Website | www.accessclarkcounty.com | |
Clark County is a county located in Southern Nevada. The county had a population of 2,000,759 at the 2012 census estimate,[1] and is the most populous county in the state of Nevada, accounting for nearly three-quarters of its residents. Las Vegas, Nevada's most populous city, has been the county seat since the county was created.
The county was formed by the Nevada Legislature by splitting off a portion of Lincoln County on February 5, 1909,[2] and came into existence on July 1, 1909.[3] The Las Vegas Valley, a 600 sq mi (1,600 km2) basin, includes Las Vegas as well as the other primary population center, the unincorporated community of Paradise.
Much of the county was originally part of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory before Nevada became a state. The county was named for William Andrews Clark, a Montana copper magnate and U.S. Senator. Clark was largely responsible for the construction of the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad through the area, a factor heavily contributing to the region's early development.
Clark County is today known as a major tourist destination, with 150,000 hotel and motel rooms. The Las Vegas Strip, home to most of the hotel-casinos known to many around the world, is located not within the City of Las Vegas, but in unincorporated Paradise.
Clark County is coextensive with the Las Vegas–Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan statistical area designated by the Office of Management and Budget and used by the United States Census Bureau and other agencies for statistical purposes.[4]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,091 sq mi (20,960 km2). Land covers 7,910 sq mi (20,500 km2) and water covers 180 sq mi (470 km2) (2.23%).
The Colorado River forms the county's southeastern boundary, with Hoover Dam forming Lake Mead along much of its length. The lowest point in the state of Nevada is located on the Colorado River just south of Laughlin in Clark County, where it flows out of Nevada and into California and Arizona. Las Vegas is a valley. By definition, Greater Las Vegas is a tectonic valley, surrounded by four mountain ranges, with nearby Mount Charleston being the highest elevation at 11,918 ft (3,633 m), located to the northwest. Other than the forests on Mount Charleston, the geography in Clark County is a desert. Creosote bushes are the main native vegetation, and the mountains are mostly rocky with little vegetation.
Adjacent counties
- Lincoln County – north
- Nye County – west
- Inyo County, California – southwest
- San Bernardino County, California – south
- Mohave County, Arizona – east
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Lincoln County | |
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| Nye County |  |
Mohave County, Arizona | ||
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| Inyo County, California | San Bernardino County, California |
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 3,321 |
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| 1920 | 4,859 | 46.3% | |
| 1930 | 8,532 | 75.6% | |
| 1940 | 16,414 | 92.4% | |
| 1950 | 48,289 | 194.2% | |
| 1960 | 127,016 | 163.0% | |
| 1970 | 273,288 | 115.2% | |
| 1980 | 463,087 | 69.5% | |
| 1990 | 741,459 | 60.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,375,765 | 85.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,951,269 | 41.8% | |
| Est. 2012 | 2,000,759 | 2.5% | |
| sources:[5][6] | |||
At the 2010 census, there were 1,951,269 people residing in Clark County, an increase of 41.8% since 2000. The racial makeup of the population was: 60.9% White (48.0% Non-Hispanic white), 10.5% Black, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 8.7% Asian, 0.7% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 5.1% from two or more races. 29.1% were Hispanic of any race.[7]
In 1999, the median income for a household in the MSA was $44,616 and the median income for a family was $50,485. The per capita income was $21,785.
The United States Census Bureau 2009 estimates place the population for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area at 1,902,834 people, and the region is one of the fastest growing in the United States.[8] Large numbers of new residents in the state originate from California.[9]
In 2000 there were 512,253 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,536, and the median income for a family was $59,485.[10] Males had a median income of $35,243 versus $27,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,785. About 7.90% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
Tourism
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority post the historical numbers of visitors and hotel rooms in Clark County. The era of massive modern casino resorts began with the opening of the Mirage in November 1989. Generally the increase in hotel rooms has been matched by an increasing number of visitors until 2008. An unmatched building boom has been met with declining numbers of tourists. If the 7.2% percentage decrease in the first four months of 2009 were to continue for the year, visitors would dip below 35 million, which is the level that they were at before the year 2000.
Law and government
| Year | Democrat | Republican |
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| 2008 | 58.47% 380,765 | 39.48% 257,078 |
| 2004 | 51.72% 281,767 | 46.81% 255,337 |
| 2000 | 51.31% 196,100 | 44.72% 170,932 |
| 1996 | 48.71% 127,963 | 39.37% 103,431 |
| 1992 | 41.15% 124,586 | 32.17% 97,403 |
| 1988 | 40.86% 78,359 | 56.37% 108,110 |
| 1984 | 35.50% 53,386 | 62.60% 94,133 |
| 1980 | 30.07% 38,313 | 59.80% 76,194 |
| 1976 | 49.78% 51,178 | 46.92% 48,236 |
| 1972 | 40.94% 36,807 | 59.06% 53,101 |
Clark County Government is run by the Clark County Commission which consists of seven members who are elected to serve staggered four-year terms in biannual partisan elections.
After each election, the members elect a chairman who runs the commission meetings. Actual day-to-day operations are handled by the county manager who is hired by the commission. Its unincorporated towns also have appointed boards that provide advice to the commission.
The county operates out of the Clark County Government Center located in the City of Las Vegas. The building is unusual in shape, and includes an outdoor amphitheater where concerts and other events are held.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provides most law enforcement services in the county, including operation of the county's central jail, the Clark County Detention Center (CCDC). The present department was created in 1973 when the Clark County Sheriff's Department merged with the Las Vegas Police Department.
Other entities that have their own police forces include University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Clark County School District, and cities such as Henderson, Mesquite, Boulder City and North Las Vegas. The Clark County Park Police is responsible for all of the parks operated by the county and some selected special venues, such as the Clark County Amphitheater, Clark County Archery Range, and the Desert Rose Golf Course.
The Regional Justice Center replaced the Clark County Courthouse in 2005, and is located about 3 blocks from downtown Fremont Street, at 200 Lewis Avenue.
Clark County is politically competitive, though marginally Democratic; Democratic presidential candidates have carried the county in each election since 1992, but usually with only small majorities or pluralities. The last Republican candidate to carry the county was George H.W. Bush in 1988.
Clark County Coroner
The office of the county coroner is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death for all deaths in the county as required under the NRS and local policy. In addition the coroner functions as the public administrator for Clark County.[11]
Regional agencies
Clark County Regional Flood Control District
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) was created in 1985 by the Nevada Legislature allowing Clark County to provide broad solutions to flooding problems.
Clark County School District
Public primary and secondary education is the responsibility of the Clark County School District.
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Operates the RTC Transit system, and does planning for most major roadways.
Southern Nevada Water Authority
A multi-agency group that manages the water distribution for the Las Vegas valley.
Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee
The group that manages and protects the Las Vegas Wash.
Since 1999 the group has added more the 15,000 plants to stabilize the wash's banks and restore and expand the wetlands surrounding the wash. As part of the effort to restore the wash to a more natural state, they have also removed more than 500,000 pounds (230,000 kg) of trash.
State government
The Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center of the Nevada Department of Corrections is located in North Las Vegas. The facility, originally the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility opened September 1, 1997. It was built and operated by Corrections Corporation of America. Since then the state took direct control of the facility.[12] It houses the female death row.[13]
Communities
Cities
- Boulder City
- Henderson
- Las Vegas (County seat)
- North Las Vegas
- Mesquite
Census-designated places
Other communities
- Arden
- Cactus Springs
- Cottonwood Cove
- Coyote Springs (planned)
- Glendale
- Jean
- Logandale
- Mountain Springs
- Nelson also called Nelson Landing
- Overton
- Primm
- Sloan
- Sutor
Federal land
- Creech AFB
- Desert National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (part)
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area (part)
- Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
- Nellis AFB
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
- Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (part)
- Toiyabe National Forest (part)
There are 20 official wilderness areas in Clark County that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Many of these are located in, or partially located in, one of the preceding protected areas, as indicated below. Many are separate entities that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management:
- Arrow Canyon Wilderness (BLM)
- Black Canyon Wilderness (Nevada) (Lake Mead NRA)
- Bridge Canyon Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA)
- Eldorado Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA / BLM)
- Ireteba Peaks Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA /BLM)
- Jimbilnan Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA)
- Jumbo Springs Wilderness (BLM)
- La Madre Mountain Wilderness (BLM / Toiyabe NF)
- Lime Canyon Wilderness (BLM)
- Meadow Valley Range Wilderness (BLM) mostly in Lincoln County, NV
- Mormon Mountains Wilderness (BLM) mostly in Lincoln County, NV
- Mount Charleston Wilderness (Toiyabe NF / BLM)
- Muddy Mountains Wilderness (BLM / Lake Mead NRA)
- Nellis Wash Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA)
- North McCullough Wilderness (part of Sloan Canyon NCA, which is managed by BLM)
- Pinto Valley Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA)
- Rainbow Mountain Wilderness (BLM / Toiyabe NF)
- South McCullough Wilderness (BLM)
- Spirit Mountain Wilderness (Lake Mead NRA / BLM)
- Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness (BLM)
Parks and recreation
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- Sunset Park located at Sunset and Eastern is one of the largest[14]
Gaming areas
The State of Nevada divides the state into several gaming districts. The reporting districts affecting Clark County are:[15][16]
- Boulder Strip: This region includes 33 casinos on Boulder Highway. Casinos within the Henderson city limits are included as well, such as Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station, Fiesta, Eldorado, and Jokers Wild.
- Downtown: There are 19 casinos in this reporting area.
- LV Strip: This region is composed of all the casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard, from The Stratosphere at the north end to Mandalay Bay on the south end. Also included are resorts located near this area, such as The Rio, South Point, and the Hard Rock; and McCarran Airport.
- North Las Vegas: This region has 11 casinos and include the Fiesta, Texas Station, Jerry's Nugget, and the Santa Fe Station.
- Laughlin: The casinos in Laughlin.
- Mesquite: The casinos in Mesquite.
- Balance of County: There are 66 casinos[when?] in this category that includes casinos at Lake Las Vegas, Jean, Primm, the Railroad Pass and Hacienda casinos, along with other casinos that don't fit any other category such as Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Gold Coast, The Orleans, The Palms, Suncoast, Rampart, and Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino
Environmental factors
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This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2009) |
Clark County contains a diverse desert flora and fauna, including higher elevation mountain areas, the desert floor and the Colorado River/Lake Mead ecosystems. Variations in diurnal temperature as well as seasonal swings in temperature create demanding adaptation elements on the species of this county. Additional pressure has been placed on species survival by the rapid human population expansion, especially since 1970.
Correspondingly air quality levels prior to the 1960s were in a favorable range, but the proliferation of automobiles with the human population expansion created circumstances where some Federal Air Quality Standards began to be violated in the 1980s.
To plan for the wave of development forecast by 1980, Clark County embarked on a regional Environmental Impact Assessment funded by a Federal Section 208 program, with Sedway Cooke conducting the planning work and Earth Metrics performing environmental analysis. This endeavor projected future population growth, land use changes and environmental impacts.
To prevent the loss of federal funds due to unacceptable dust levels in the Las Vegas valley, in 2003 the Nevada Air Quality Management division (under direction of Clark County officials) created the massive "Don't Be a Dusthole" campaign. The campaign successfully raised awareness of dust pollution in the Las Vegas valley, quantifiably reducing pollutants and preserving ongoing federal funding.[17]
Located in Apex is the Apex Landfill which at 2,200 acres (890 ha) is the largest landfill in the United States.[18]Republic Services owns and operates the landfill.
Economy
The county is home to many gaming related companies. Station Casinos is headquartered in unincorporated Clark County, along with[19][20]Golden Casino Group, Golden Gaming, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, Bally Technologies, Cannery Casino Resorts, Golden Nugget Companies, International Game Technology, The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, Ameristar Casinos, Archon Corporation, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts, Riviera Holdings, Aztar, DBT Online Inc., Gambler's Book Shop / GBC Press, Leroy's Horse & Sports Place, Millennium Management Group, Navegante Group, Pinnacle Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment
Largest employers
According to the City of Las Vegas' 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[21] the top employers in the greater Clark County area are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clark County School District | 35,000 |
| 2 | Clark County | 8,500 |
| 3 | Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department | 5,500 |
| 4 | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | 5,500 |
| 5 | State of Nevada | 4,000 |
| 6 | University Medical Center of Southern Nevada | 3,500 |
| 7 | City of Las Vegas | 3,000 |
| 8 | Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center | 2,500 |
| 9 | College of Southern Nevada | 2,000 |
| 10 | Golden Nugget Las Vegas | 2,000 |
| 11 | Stratosphere Las Vegas | 2,000 |
| 12 | VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System | 1,000 |
| 13 | Citibank | 1,000 |
| 14 | Valley Hospital Medical Center | 1,000 |
| 15 | Suncoast Hotel and Casino | 1,000 |
| 16 | Palace Station | 1,000 |
| 17 | Cox Communications | 1,000 |
| 18 | Summerlin Hospital | 1,000 |
| 19 | HSBC Bank Nevada | 1,000 |
| 20 | Santa Fe Station | 1,000 |
Notable government buildings
- Clark County Government Center
- Regional Justice Center (opened October 3, 2005)
References
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Las Vegas Sun, January 4, 2009; Joseph Nathan Kane, The American Counties (4th Ed.), (The Scarecrow Press, 1983), p479-480
- ^ Squires, C. P. In Sam P. Davis. The History of Nevada. Nevada's Online State News Journal. p. 801. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
- ^ "Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Components, December 2005, with codes". Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-23.
- ^ census.gov Nevada population by county, 1900–90 accessed 2009-05-14
- ^ – Clark County 2011 estimate accessed 2012-05-04
- ^ "Clark County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". Quickfacts.census.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ^ "Estimates of Population Change for Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Rankings: July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2009". U.S. Census Bureau. 2009-04. Retrieved October 26, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "About.com". Usgovinfo.about.com. June 19, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
- ^ "Clark County, Nevada – Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)". Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2013-05-04.[dead link]
- ^ "Consolidates the office of county coroner with the office of public administrator in certain counties.". Retrieved April 26, 2012.
- ^ "Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center[dead link]." Nevada Department of Corrections. Retrieved on January 6, 2010.
- ^ "Lone woman on Nevada's death row dies in prison[dead link]." Associated Press at North County Times. January 31, 2005. Retrieved on September 5, 2010.
- ^ Sunset Park[dead link] at About.com
- ^ "Abbreviated Revenue Release Index". Nevada Gaming Control Board. Retrieved 2009-05-03.[dead link]
- ^ "February 2009 Nevada Gaming Revenues and Collections". Nevada Gaming Control Board (Press release). April 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-03.[dead link]
- ^ "– News – Dusty the Dusthole successful". Reviewjournal.com. Retrieved 2013-05-04.[dead link]
- ^ Schoenmann, Joe (December 17, 2008). "Official calls for sort reform". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
- ^ "Interactive Map Viewer." City of Las Vegas. Retrieved on June 5, 2009.
- ^ "Map[dead link]." Station Casinos. Retrieved on June 5, 2009.
- ^ "City of Las Vegas Comprehensive Annual Financial Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-05-04.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Clark County, Nevada |
- Clark County, Nevada Government and Services
- Clark County Television[dead link] (County of Clark owned television station with Live Internet Feed)
- Detailed map of Clark County (Census Bureau Map, little street detail) (pdf, 32 Mb)
Coordinates: 36°12′N 115°01′W / 36.20°N 115.02°W
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