25 interesting facts about Las Vegas

  1. A 1910 law made it illegal to gamble in Las Vegas. The Nevada Legislature later approved a legalized gambling bill in 1931.
  2. 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.
  3. Year first casino was licensed: 1931.
  4. The Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. It took a total of 21,000 men five years to complete the structure.
  5. Approximate number of Las Vegas city residents: 500,000.
  6. Approximate number of Clark County residents: 1,500,000.
  7. The first hotel and casino to open in Las Vegas was the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino in 1906.
  8. Annual visitors to Las Vegas, in millions: 36.7.
  9. In 1957, topless showgirls debuted on the Las Vegas Strip in “Minsky’s Follies” at the Dunes.
  10. Average gambling budget per trip, in dollars: 559.
  11. The Moulin Rouge, the city’s first racially integrated hotel, opened in 1955.
  12. Hours per day average visitor spends gambling: 3.9
  13. Average number of Vegas weddings per day: 315
  14. Number of conventions hosted annually: 3749
  15. Average number of pillowcases washed daily at MGM Grand: 15,000
  16. In 2004, more than 37 million people visited Las Vegas. Compare this to 1970 when a mere 6.7 million people visited the city.
  17. The famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign was created in 1959 by Betty Willis.
  18. In 2004, visitors stayed an average of 3.6 nights.
  19. More than 22,000 conventions were held in Las Vegas in 2004.
  20. Las Vegas is home to Clark County School District, the fifth largest school district, which currently handles more than 280,000 students.
  21. More than 5,000 people move into the Las Vegas valley on a monthly basis.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. Fremont Street was closed to traffic in 1994. The Fremont Street Experience opened in December 1995.
  25. A marriage license costs $55 in Nevada. Many couples choose to marry in Nevada because there is no blood test or waiting period.
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