Las Vegas

1.

2. The Foundation of Las Vegas

For hundreds of years Native
Americans lived in the area
where Las Vegas now stands.
They grew corn and squashes.
Then in 1829 a Spanish trader
named Antonio Armijo led a
group of men through the area.
They called it Las Vegas
(Spanish for 'The Meadows').
Then in 1844 an American
named John C Fremont of the
US Topographical Corps
explored the region. In 1855 a
group of Mormons settled in
the region but in 1858 they
moved on.

3.

Permanent settlement began
in 1865 when a man named
Octavius Gass set up a
ranch called the Las Vegas
Ranch. In 1881 it passed to
Archibald Stewart. When he
died in 1884 his wife Helen
took over. In 1903 she sold
the ranch to a railroad
company. They built a
railroad through the area in
1905. As soon as the
railroad was completed a
new town was founded.

4. The Growth of Las Vegas

The city of Las Vegas was
incorporated in 1911. At that
time it was a small
settlement with a population
of about 1,000. However it
soon grew much larger. By
1920 Lass Vegas had a
population of over 2,000.
Then in 1931 work began on
building the Hoover Dam. As
a result the population of Las
Vegas boomed. Meanwhile
the state of Nevada
legalized gambling in 1931
and casinos were founded in
Las Vegas. After the Second
World War Las Vegas
thrived on gambling. Its
population boomed. By 1960
Las Vegas had more than
64,000 people.

5.

The Riviera opened in 1955.

6.

Then in 1966 the reclusive millionaire Howard Hughes moved to Las Vegas.
The same year, 1966 Caesars Palace opened.

7.

Circus Circus opened in 1968.

8.

In the late 20th century Las Vegas continued to grow very rapidly. Its
population boomed. Meanwhile The Liberace Museum opened in Las Vegas
in 1979.

9.

the Fremont Street Experience was built in 1995.

10.

In 2005 Las Vegas celebrated its centenary. The same
year, 2005 the Museum of Atomic Testing opened.

11.

The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement
opened in 2012.

12.

The same year a new Las Vegas City Hall opened. Today Las
Vegas continued to thrive on tourism, gambling and weddings.
Today the population of Las Vegas in over 600,000.