Las Vegas-NV

Las Vegas, situated in the centre of the Las Vegas Valley, is an arid desert region that stretches over 600 sq. miles. The Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Spring Mountains, rising to an average elevation of 10,000 ft, surround Las Vegas to the north and west. The city occupies an area of 113 sq. miles, and lies at an elevation of 2,180 ft above sea level.

The seat of Clark County, Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada, and the 28th most populous in United States. For the ambience created by casino resorts, Las Vegas is billed as ‘The Entertainment Capital of the World’.

Las Vegas Valley had been first visited by a European, Raphael Rivera, in 1829. Spaniards named it as 'Las Vegas' in the 19th century as the region was dotted by artesian wells that supported extensive green meadows (vegas in Spanish). In 1844, John C. Fremont, a leader of the US Army Corps of Engineers, travelled to Las Vegas Valley while it was still a part of Mexico.

On May 10, 1855, 30 missionaries were sent to the area by Brigham Young to convert the Paiute Indian population to Mormonism. The Mormons however, abandoned Las Vegas in 1857 during the Utah War.

Las Vegas was primarily established as a railroad town on May 15, 1905, and remained to be a part of the Lincoln County until 1908. Thereafter, it became a part of the newly established Clark County, and was declared an incorporated city on March 16, 1911. In the following years, Las Vegas that started as a stopover on the pioneer trails to the west became a popular railroad town in the early 20th century.

The importance of Las Vegas diminished with time, but was regained after the construction of Hoover Dam and formation of Lake Mead in 1935. Gambling was legalised in Las Vegas in 1931, which led to the advent of the casino hotels in the region. In the following years, Las Vegas gained immense popularity for its gambling centres, and is still renowned for the same.

In today's time, Las Vegas is popular as one of the world's top entertainment destinations offering gambling, shopping and fine dining. It has also earned the title of 'Sin City' for tolerating adult entertainment. The best time to visit this city falls in November and March.