In the beginning
Back in the 1830s, Spanish merchants passed through an oasis in the Mojave desert on their way to California.
They named the point ‘Las Vegas’, which translates to ‘The Meadows’, because of the fertile soil and spring waters.
In the early days, The State Land Act of 1885 offered land at $1.25 per acre. The same acre of land on today’s strip would command a hefty $30m price tag!
Source: Public Domain Wikimedia Commons
A dam good time
As the population grew, so did the appetite for water. The city was founded in 1905 and wells originally piped water in. But, the population swelled to 25,000 by 1930, so President Herbert Hoover commissioned the now famous Hoover Dam.
This brought an influx of workers into the area and the Vegas we know today began to emerge.
Source - Wikimedia Commons
Source: Public Domain Wikimedia Commons
1931
Nevada issued its first gambling license in 1931 to The ‘Northern Club’ Casino, on what would become the original Las Vegas strip. The Casino stood until 2016 when it was demolished to make way for a new casino on Fremont Street.
Source: UNLV.EDU
Residencies in Las Vegas
Las Vegas has long been recognized by its multitude of slogans, and one of them proudly declares it as "The City of Entertainment." This well-deserved title owes much to the remarkable array of concerts that grace its stages every single night.
Securing a Vegas residency entails an artist scheduling a series of performances at a specific location in Las Vegas, typically a resort or casino.
Since the 1940s, renowned hotels and casinos along the iconic Las Vegas Strip have been home to resident performers, starting with the legendary Liberace who captivated the city with a series of unforgettable concerts. Other artists to hold Las Vegas residencies include Elton John, Elvis Presley, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Adele, Britney Spears and many more.
Source: Shutterstock
Top 10
The top 10 Highest Grossing Las Vegas residencies of all time.
Celine Dion – A New Day $385.1m
Celine Dion – Celine $245.5m
Elton John – The Red Piano $166.4m
Britney Spears – Piece of me $137.7m
Elton John – The Million Dollar Piano $131.2m
Jennifer Lopez – All I Have $101.9m
Cher – Cher $97.4m
Bette Midler – The Showgirl Must Go On $71.8m
Rod Stewart – The Hits $57.4m
Lady Gaga – Enigma + Jazz & Piano $53.9m
Sources: Statista | Feelingvegas | Ranker | Onthestrip
Fun Facts
$10,000
XS Nightclub features one of the most expensive cocktails in Vegas at a staggering $10,000!
9,982
Not for the ‘faint-hearted’ – each Quadruple Bypass Burger at Heart Attack Grill is 9,982 calories!
60,000
Between extensive buffets and world-class restaurants, Vegas consumes over 60,000 pounds of shrimp every day!
So where does everybody live?
As more and more people visit Vegas every year, the city needs to find a place to house all those people! These shots from the International Space Station show an interesting picture of the growing urban sprawl.
Source: Nasa Earth Observatory
Las Vegas in 2022
38,829,300
Visitors came to Las Vegas
$8.3 Billion
Las Vegas Strip's gaming revenue
88,177
Slot machines in Clark County
34
Stadiums & arenas in Las Vegas
$171
Average nightly room rate
40.7
Average age of a visitor
How times have changed
Vegas is continually evolving, changing its image from ‘Sin City’ to a haven for weekends away, fine dining and great shopping.
Fremont Street
The original strip: Downtown Las Vegas is now covered with amazing light shows every day!
Source a: Flickr | Source B: Shutterstock
The Dunes / Bellagio
An iconic building with impressive water fountains. the footprint of the Bellagio sits where The Dunes once was!
Source a: Flickr | Source B: Shutterstock
Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip)
The bright lights of the Las Vegas strip are world renowned, but some of the buildings are less than 30 years old!
Source a: Flickr | Source B: Shutterstock
How do casino revenues break down?
Las Vegas Strip Total Departmental Revenues
Fiscal-year breakdown of Las Vegas Strip casino resort revenues generated by Gaming, Rooms, Food, Beverage, and Other departments in 2019
Total Revenue: $18,526,402,716
Source: Gaming.unlv.edu
How old is your favourite casino?
From the newer buildings on Las Vegas boulevard to the older buildings of ‘Downtown’, Vegas has some iconic buildings, how old is your favourite?
Golden Gate
115 Years Old
Opened: January 13, 1906
Source: Wikimedia Commons
El Cortez
80 Years Old
Opened: November 7, 1941
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Golden Nugget
74 Years Old
Opened: August 30, 1946
Source: Shutterstock
Old makes way for new
All this progress comes at a cost, particularly to some older buildings, which have been demolished to make way for newer hotels and casinos.
Sports in Las Vegas
Evolution of the three major league teams in Las Vegas
NFL
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders, formerly known as the Oakland Raiders, have a storied history dating back to 1960. Under the guidance of owner Al Davis, the team achieved great success, winning three Super Bowl championships in the 1970s. In 2020, they made a groundbreaking move to Las Vegas, becoming the first NFL team to call the city their home.
NHL
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights made history in 2017 as the first major professional sports team to call Las Vegas home. As an expansion team in the NHL, they exceeded all expectations by reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season. Their success sparked a passionate fan base and solidified their place in Las Vegas sports history.
WNBA
Las Vegas Aces
The Las Vegas Aces, a women's professional basketball team, originated as the Utah Starzz in 1997 before relocating to San Antonio as the Silver Stars in 2003. In 2018, the team made another move to Las Vegas and rebranded as the Aces. Led by standout players, they have established themselves as a competitive force in the WNBA.