Fun Facts
• The city of Las Vegas celebrated its 100th birthday on May 15, 2005. The event celebrated the May 15, 1905 land auction when 110 acres of land in downtown Las Vegas were auctioned off.
• A 1910 law made it illegal to gamble in Las Vegas. The Nevada Legislature later approved a legalized gambling bill in 1931.
• The first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in 1906.
• The Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. It took a total of 21,000 men five years to complete the structure.
• The Moulin Rouge, the city's first racially integrated hotel, opened in 1955.
• In 1957, topless showgirls debuted on the Las Vegas Strip in "Minsky's Follies" at the Dunes.
• The famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign was created in 1959 by Betty Willis.
• In 2009, more than 36 million people visited Las Vegas. Compare this to 1970 when a mere 6.7 million people visited the city.
• More than 19,000 conventions were held in Las Vegas in 2009.
• In 2009, visitors stayed an average of 3.6 nights.
• Las Vegas is home to Clark County School District, the fifth largest school district, which currently handles more than 311,000 students.
• The famous Las Vegas strip is for the most part, not within the city limits of Las Vegas. The majority of the strip is located within Clark County.
• The Stratosphere Hotel and Tower, at more than 1,100 feet, is the tallest building west of the Mississippi and the fifth tallest building in the United States.
• A marriage license costs $60 in Nevada (Note: there is an additional $5 transaction fee for payment by credit card). Many couples choose to marry in Nevada because there is no blood test or waiting period.
• Fremont Street was closed to traffic in 1994. The Fremont Street Experience opened in December 1995.
Sources: Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Clark County School District, Clark County Clerk
