Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada, United States. The city was founded in the first decade of the 20th century, and is a major vacation, shopping, and gambling destination. In the 2000 census, the city reported a population of 478,434 http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US32&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7. The Census Bureau's official population estimate as of 2004 was 534,837. Las Vegas has been the county seat of Clark County since its formation in 1909 http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/history/default.htm. Recent figures place the population for the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which includes all of Clark County, at around 1,950,000 people (2005 estimate http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=1119224192&men=gpro&lng=en&gln=xx&dat=32&srt=npan&col=aohdq&geo=-1049604), the fastest growing in the United States.

Geography

Las Vegas is located at {{coor dms|36|11|39|N|115|13|19|W|}} (36.194168, 115.222060){{GR|1}}. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 293.6 km² (113.4 mi²). 293.5 km² (113.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.04% water.

Related Topics:
United States Census Bureau - Km² - Mi²

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The city is located in an arid basin surrounded by mountains varying in color from pink to rust to gray. As befits a desert, much of the landscape is rocky and dusty. Within the city, however, there are a great deal of lawns, trees, and other greenery. Due to water resource issues, there is now a movement to encourage xeriscaping instead of lawns.

Related Topics:
Basin - Xeriscaping

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Climate

Las Vegas' climate is typical of the Mojave Desert in which it is located, with very little rainfall, and extreme heat in the summer; highs of 105 °F (40 °C) are common from May to September, and for several days each year, temperatures may exceed 115 °F (46 °C). The hotest temperature ever recorded is 117 °F (47 °C), set on July 24, 1942 at present-day Nellis Air Force Base, and July 19, 2005 at McCarran International Airport. Winters are cool and windy, with the balance of Las Vegas' annual 4.2 in (102 mm) of rainfall coming from January to March. Winter daytime highs are usually in the upper 50's and overnight being in the upper 30's. The coldest temperature ever recorded is 8 °F (-13.3 °C) set on January 25, 1937 at present-day Nellis Air Force Base, and January 13, 1963 at McCarran International Airport. Showers also occur, but less frequently, in the Spring or Autumn. July through September, the Mexican Monsoon often brings enough moisture from the Gulf of Mexico across Mexico and into the southwest to cause afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Although winter snows are usually visible from December to June on the mountains surrounding the valley, it rarely snows in Las Vegas itself.

Related Topics:
Mojave Desert - F - C - July 24 - 1942 - Nellis Air Force Base - July 19 - 2005 - McCarran International Airport - In - Mm - January 25 - 1937 - January 13 - 1963 - Spring - Autumn - Monsoon - Gulf of Mexico - Thunderstorm - Snow

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