Las Vegas History
Las Vegas in United States is known to the entertainment capital of the world. The city has glitz, glamour, style and endless entertainment options. Known for its casinos and brightly lit Vegas Strip, the city has been attracting visitors from all over United States and the world. People come here to party, to gamble and to enjoy the night life in the city. For decades Las Vegas has seen a constant rise in tourism and in an effort to keep up with this trend, plenty of hotels and resorts have opened up in the city, offering Las Vegas all inclusive packages.
Not many people who come to Las Vegas know about the city’s history or its background. Las Vegas had not always been as glamorous as it is now. Centuries ago, the first people to inhabit the land were the Paleo Indians who lived here as nomads. The Anasazi Indians came here later, and the “lost city” are the ruins of these early inhabitants.
The first European to set foot on this land was Rafael Rivera who came here in 1829. Las Vegas in Spanish means “The Meadow”, the name was given because at the time the city was a valley with green grass and abundant water. In 1855 the Mormon Church members decided to build a fort in the city, a part of which can still be seen in the city.
It was only in 1864 that Nevada became the 36th state in United States. Mining became an important industry in Las Vegas due to the discovery of various minerals and precious metals. Plenty of farmers moved to the area and agriculture also became one of the most important industries here for almost twenty years.
Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905 and the first railway line was also started in the city around the same time. The population of the city then was only 800, however, with the liberalization of the divorce laws things changed. By 1930 the population of Las Vegas grew to approximately 5000.
1931 was an important year of Las Vegas for two main reasons. The construction of the Hoover Dam was completed in 1931 and it brought about a great economic uplift to Las Vegas which was otherwise deeply in the clutches of depression. Also, in 1931 gambling was legalized in the city. Although, people in the city always used to gamble illegally it was only in 1931 that it was legalized.
During the 1940s with the World War II, the population of the city grew. Due to the abundant water supply the city became an important center for the defense industries and provided ample jobs to the locals. After the end of the World War, the real growth of Las Vegas began. Plenty of hotels and resorts were built in the city. Brightly lit casinos came into existence and quite soon people from all over the country began travelling to Las Vegas to enjoy its entertainment options.
Ever since then, Las Vegas has continued to expand and the tourism here has continued to grow.