Why Does Las Vegas Exist?

The city was founded by ranchers and railroad workers but quickly found that its greatest asset was not its springs but its casinos. Las Vegas’s embrace of Old West-style freedoms—gambling and prostitution—provided a perfect home for East Coast organized crime. Why was Las Vegas built in the desert? Before European […]

Who Invented Casinos?

The first casinos or gambling houses appeared in Italy in the 17th century; The Ridotto was established in Venice in 1638 to provide a controlled gambling environment, and casinos started to appear throughout continental Europe in the 19th century. Who built the first casino? Thomas Hull is credited with opening […]

Is Las Vegas A Desert?

The Las Vegas Valley is ecologically part of the Mojave Desert, whose characteristic plant is the Joshua tree. The smallest of the North American deserts, the Mojave supports significant human settlement only in the Las Vegas area and at a few points along the Colorado River. Is Vegas built on […]

Who Is The Most Famous Mobster?

Here are ten of the most violent, prominent and feared mob bosses in history. Al Capone (1899-1947) Albert Anastasia (1902 – 1957) ‘Lucky’ Luciano (1897 – 1962) Frank Costello (1891 – 1973) Carlo Gambino (1902 – 1976) Paul Castellano (1915 – 1985) Pablo Escobar (1949 – 1993) John Gotti (1940 […]

Which City Has The Most Casinos?

Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Brash, extravagant and over-the-top, Las Vegas has more casinos than you could ever imagine. As the years go by, they only get bigger and better. Las Vegas’ ostentatious reputation as the gambling capital of the USA has helped it earn the moniker ‘Sin […]

Was There An Old Vegas?

Old Vegas was an amusement park at 2440 South Boulder Highway in Henderson, Nevada, located in the Las Vegas Valley. The park’s theme was American Old Western, modeled after 1850s Las Vegas. The site included various amusement rides and a replica of Las Vegas’ Old Mormon Fort, which contained the […]

Why Is Vegas So Hot?

This makes urban areas much warmer than surrounding more rural places. Removing vegetation in an area lowers the amount of shading and water evaporation from soil and leaves. These heat effects can be seen drastically in the rise of warmer temperatures at night in Las Vegas. Is Las Vegas always […]

How Does Las Vegas Get Water?

Colorado River water and local groundwater are the two primary supplies used to meet our community’s current water needs. Colorado River water is primarily withdrawn from Lake Mead and groundwater is pumped from the Las Vegas Valley groundwater basin. Water conservation and reuse help us stretch these limited supplies. Will […]