Although the county has 70% of Nevada's population making it the11th-most populous county in the United States, Clark County covers only 7% of Nevada's land mass. Despite having the nameLas Vegas as part of their address, over 1 million residents live inunincorporated Clark County, withmunicipal services provided by the county. The county plays a role much larger than is typical in the US as it has direct jurisdiction over the Las Vegas Strip and such a large population.[a]
Native Americans lived in the Las Vegas Valley beginning over 10,000 years ago. Paiutes moved into the area as early as AD 700.[4] Previously part of the Mexican Territory ofAlta California, the Clark County lands were subsequently traversed by Americanbeaver trappers. Word of their journeys inspired the New Mexican merchantAntonio Armijo in 1829 to establish the first route for mule trains and herds of livestock fromNuevo Mexico to Alta California through the area, along theVirgin andColorado Rivers. Called theArmijo Route of theOld Spanish Trail, the route was later modified into theMain Route by the passing merchants, trappers, drovers, Ute raiders and settlers over the years by moving to a more direct route. In Clark County it was northward away from the Colorado to a series of creeks, waterholes and springs like those atLas Vegas, to whichJohn C. Frémont addedFrémont's Cutoff on his return from California to Utah in 1844.
What is now Clark County was acquired by the United States during theMexican–American War, becoming part of the northwestern corner ofNew Mexico Territory. In 1847,Jefferson Hunt and otherMormon Battalion members returning toSalt Lake City fromLos Angeles pioneered a wagon route through the County that became theMormon Road. In 1849, this road became known as the "Southern Route", the winter route of theCalifornia Trail from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles during theCalifornia Gold Rush. By the mid-1850s, the route now known as the Salt Lake Road in California, and the California Road inUtah Territory, was a wagon trade route between the two. In the mid-1850s, Mormons established aMormon Fort atLas Vegas. In the 1860s, Mormon colonies were established along the Virgin andMuddy Rivers.
All of the county was part ofMohave County,Arizona Territory, when that Territory was formed in 1863, before Nevada became a state. In 1865, it became part ofPah-Ute County, Arizona Territory. The part of Pah-Ute County north and west of the Colorado River was assigned to the new State of Nevada in 1866; however, Arizona territory fought the division until 1871. Pah-Ute County became part of Lincoln County and the westernmost part became the southernmost part ofNye County.
Clark County was named forWilliam A. Clark, aMontana copper magnate andDemocraticU.S. Senator.[5] Clark was largely responsible for construction of theSan Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad through the area, contributing to the region's early development. Clark County is a major tourist destination with 150,000 hotel rooms. TheLas Vegas Strip, home to many famous hotel-casinos, is not within the City of Las Vegas limits, but in unincorporated Paradise. It is, however, in theLas Vegas Valley.
TheColorado River forms the county's southeastern boundary, withHoover Dam formingLake Mead along much of its length. Thelowest point in the state of Nevada is on the Colorado River just south ofLaughlin in Clark County, where it flows out of Nevada intoCalifornia andArizona. Greater Las Vegas is a tectonic valley, surrounded by four mountain ranges, with nearbyMount Charleston being the highest elevation at 11,918 ft (3,633 m), located to the northwest. Other than the forests on Mount Charleston, the geography in Clark County is a desert. Creosote bushes are the main native vegetation, and the mountains are mostly rocky with little vegetation.[8] The terrain slopes to the south and east.[9] The county has an area of 8,061 sq mi (20,880 km2), of which 7,891 sq mi (20,440 km2) is land and 170 sq mi (440 km2) (2.1%) is water.[10]
Clark County hasdiversedesertflora andfauna, including higher-elevation mountain areas, the desert floor, and theColorado River/Lake Mead ecosystems. Variations in diurnal temperature as well as seasonal swings in temperature create demanding adaptation elements on thespecies of this county.Population expansion, especially since 1970, has placed additional pressure on species in the area.
Correspondingly,air quality levels prior to the 1960s were in a favorable range, but the proliferation of automobiles with the human population expansion created circumstances where some federal air quality standards were violated starting in the 1980s.[citation needed]
To plan for the wave of development forecast by 1980, Clark County embarked on a regional environmental impact assessment funded by a federal Section 208 program, with Sedway-Cooke conducting the planning work and Earth Metrics performing environmental analysis. This endeavor projected population growth, land use changes and environmental impacts.[citation needed]
To prevent the loss of federal funds due to unacceptable dust levels in the Las Vegas valley, in 2003 the Nevada Air Quality Management division (under direction of Clark County officials) created the"Don't Be a Dusthole" campaign. The campaign successfully raised awareness of dust pollution in the Las Vegas Valley, quantifiably reducing pollutants and preserving ongoing federal funding.[11]
Nevada is the third most seismically active state in the U.S. (after Alaska and California); the United States Geological Survey has estimated that over the next 50 years, Clark County has a 10–20% chance of a(moment magnitude) M6.0 or greater earthquake occurring within 50 km (31 mi) of Las Vegas.[13]
Clark County, Nevada – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
2015 income distribution by household in Las Vegas.[22]2018 population living below federal poverty line by census tracts covering Clark County.[23]Map of racial distribution in Las Vegas, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people:White,Black,Asian,Hispanic, orOther (yellow)
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 2,265,461. The median age was 38.0 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.1 males age 18 and over. 98.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.3% lived in rural areas.[27][28][29]
There were 845,888 households in the county, of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[28]
There were 917,656 housing units, of which 7.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 54.3% were owner-occupied and 45.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.[28]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 1,951,269 people, 715,365 households, and 467,916 families in the county.[30] The population density was 247.3 inhabitants per square mile (95.5/km2). There were 840,343 housing units at an average density of 106.5 per square mile (41.1/km2).[31] The racial makeup of the county was 60.9% White, 13.5% Black or African American, 8.7% Asian, 0.7% Pacific islander, 0.7% American Indian, 10.5% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 29.1% of the population.[30] In terms of European/white ancestries, 11.7% wereGerman, 9.1% wereIrish, 7.6% wereEnglish, 6.3% wereItalian, and 2.7% wereAmerican.[32]
Of the 715,365 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.6% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.26. The median age was 35.5 years.[30]
The median income for a household in the county was $56,258 and the median income for a family was $63,888. Males had a median income of $43,693 versus $35,324 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,422. About 8.7% of families and 11.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[33]
In 2000 there were 512,253 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was above age 64. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.
The county population contained 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were over age 64. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $53,536, and the median income for a family was $59,485.[34] Males had a median income of $35,243 versus $27,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,785. About 7.9% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those over age 64.
Large numbers of new residents in the state originate from California.[35]
According to data collected by the Research and Analysis Bureau of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, Clark County's largest employers, both public and private employers, as reported in the fourth quarter of 2012:[37]
The State of Nevada divides the state into several gaming districts. Accordingly, the Clark County is divided into the following reporting districts:[38][39]
TheClark County Commission consists of seven members who are elected to serve staggered four-year terms in biennialpartisan elections. The commission members elect a chairman, who chairs their meetings. A hired county manager handles day-to-day operations under direction of the commission. The county'sunincorporated towns also have appointed boards that provide advice to the commission.
The county operates out of theClark County Government Center in the City of Las Vegas. The building is unusual in shape, and includes an outdooramphitheater for concerts and other events.
TheLas Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provides most law enforcement services in the county, including operation of the county's central jail, theClark County Detention Center (CCDC). The present department was created in 1973 when the Clark County Sheriff's Department merged with the Las Vegas Police Department.
The Clark County Marshal's Office provides security for Clark County courts. The Marshal is head of the office, while Deputy Marshals act asbailiffs for the court.[48][49]
With nearly three-quarters of Nevada's population, Clark County plays a significant role in determining statewide Nevada elections as well the winner of the state's electoral votes in presidential elections. At the presidential level, the county, like most urban counties nationwide, leans Democratic. The last Republican to carry the county wasGeorge H. W. Bush in 1988. However, it is somewhat less Democratic than many other urban counties; the GOP candidate has received at least 39 percent of the vote in every election since 1996. In 2024, RepublicanDonald Trump came the closest to winning Clark County since 1988, winning 47.81% of the vote.
This Democratic trend predates the county's explosive growth in the second half of the 20th century. Republican presidential candidates have only won the county six times from 1912 to the present day, all coming in national landslides where the Republican won over 400 electoral votes.
At the statewide level, however, the county is more of a swing county, with several Republican gubernatorial candidates and U.S. Senators winning the county since the late 1980s. The last Republican senator to win the county wasJohn Ensign in his 2006 victory, even asJim Gibbons lost it in his gubernatorial win overDina Titus that year. BothKenny Guinn andBrian Sandoval carried the county in both gubernatorial terms they won, however. RepublicanJoe Lombardo, who previously served as Clark County sheriff, won the2022 Nevada gubernatorial election while losing the county by 5.7%.
In 2018,Dean Heller carried 15 of Nevada's 17 county-level jurisdictions in his bid for a second full term in the U. S. Senate. However, Democratic challengerJacky Rosen won Clark by over 92,000 votes, almost double her statewide margin of 48,000 votes. In that year's gubernatorial election, DemocratSteve Sisolak lost 15 out of 17 county-level jurisdictions, but won Clark by enough of a margin to get the victory. Between 2008 and 2024, the Democratic presidential candidate won Clark by more than enough votes to carry Nevada, a trend which ended in 2024 where Trump won the state as a whole, largely due to a weak Democratic performance in the county.
The city of Las Vegas itself leans Democratic, as do the communities of Paradise, Spring Valley and Enterprise. The city of North Las Vegas and the communities of Sunrise Manor, Winchester and Whitney are more strongly Democratic, while the city of Henderson and the Summerlin South community have a Republican lean. Boulder City, where gambling is prohibited, leans Republican. Outside Las Vegas Valley, the county leans Republican.[52][53]
The Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee manages and protects theLas Vegas Wash.
Since 1999 the group has added more the 15,000 plants to stabilize the wash's banks and restore and expand thewetlands surrounding the wash. As part of the effort to restore the wash to a more natural state, they have removed more than 500,000 pounds (230,000 kg) of trash.
^If the unincorporated area and towns of Clark County formed their own city, it would be the largest in the state, dwarfing Las Vegas with around 400,000 more residents.
^Squires, C. P. Sam P. Davis (ed.).The History of Nevada. Nevada's Online State News Journal. p. 801. Archived fromthe original on July 20, 2009. RetrievedJuly 25, 2009.
^"Loss-Estimation Modeling of Earthquake Scenarios for Each County in Nevada Using HAZUS-MH"(PDF).Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology/University of Nevada, Reno. February 23, 2006.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 10, 2015. RetrievedMarch 27, 2016."Probability of an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater occurring within 50 km in 50 years (from USGS probabilistic seismic hazard analysis) 10–20% chance for Las Vegas area, magnitude 6" (p. 65)
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