Clark County

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Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. It is the most populous county in Nevada (2006 population estimate 1,912,654), & contains the city of Las Vegas. Las Vegas has been the county seat since the county was created by splitting off a portion of Lincoln County on February 5, 1908. Much of the county was originally part of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory before Nevada became a state. The county was named for William Andrews Clark, a Montana copper magnate & United States Senator. Clark was largely responsible for the construction of the Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad through the area, a factor heavily contributing to the region's early development.

Residents of the Las Vegas Valley area often do not make a distinction between the Clark County & the city of Las Vegas, using Las Vegas to describe both.

Clark County is a major tourist destination, with 150,000 hotel & motel rooms.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 20,955 km² (8,091 sq mi). 20,488 km² (7,910 sq mi) of it is land & 467 km² (180 sq mi) of it (2.23%) is water.

The Colorado River forms the county's southeastern boundary, with Hoover Dam forming Lake Mead along much of its length. Las Vegas is frequently, yet incorrectly labeled a valley. By definition, Greater Las Vegas is a land basin or bowl, surrounded by four mountain ranges, with nearby Mount Charleston being the highest elevation at 11,918 ft, 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, & the mountains are mostly rocky with little vegetation.

Adjacent Counties
Lincoln County, Nevada - north
Nye County, Nevada - west
Inyo County, California - southwest
San Bernardino County, California - south
Mohave County, Arizona - east

Demographics
Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1910 3,321 —
1920 4,859 46.3%
1930 8,532 75.6%
1940 16,414 92.4%
1950 48,289 194.2%
1960 127,016 163.0%
1970 273,288 115.2%
1980 463,087 69.5%
1990 741,459 60.1%
2000 1,375,765 85.5%
As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, & 339,623 families residing in the county. The population density was 67/km² (174/sq mi). There were 559,799 housing units at an average density of 27/km² (71/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 71.58% white, 9.08% black or African American, 5.27% Asian, 0.79% Native American, 0.47% Pacific Islander, 8.61% from other races, & 4.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents, who may be of any race, were 21.96% of the population.

By 2005 Non-Hispanic whites were 54.5% of Clark County's population. 10.1% of the population was African-American. 1.0% was Native-American. Asians were now 6.7% of the population. 0.6% of the population was Pacific Islander. 26.1% of the population was Latino. By 2006 the population had risen 29.2% since 2000 to 1,777,539 people.

In 2000 there were 512,253 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, & 33.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals & 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 & the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, & 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 & over, there were 102.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,616, & the median income for a family was $50,485. Males had a median income of $35,243 versus $27,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,785. About 7.90% of families & 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 & 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Law & government

U.S. Census MapClark County Government is run by the Clark County Commission which consists of 7 members who are elected to serve staggered 4 year terms in biannual nonpartisan elections. After each election, the members elect a Chairperson who runs the Commission Meetings. Actual day to day operations are handled by the County Manager who is hired by the Commission.

Its unincorporated townships also have appointed boards that provide advice to the Clark County Commission.

The County operates out of the Clark County Government Center located in the City of Las Vegas. The building is unusual in shape, & includes an outdoor amphitheater where concerts & other events are held.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provides most law enforcement services in the county. Exceptions include agencies that have their own police forces including; UNLV, the Clark County School District, & some other cities like Henderson, Mesquite, Boulder City & North Las Vegas. The Clark County Park Police is responsible for all of the parks operated by the county & some selected special venues, such as the Clark County Amphitheater, Clark County Archery Range, & the Desert Rose Golf Course.

The Regional Justice Center replaced the Clark County Courthouse in 2005, & is located about 3 blocks from downtown Fremont Street, at 200 Lewis Avenue.

The Clark County Detention Center.The Clark County Detention Center (CCDC) is located another block away at 300 S. Casino Center Blvd.

Clark County Commission
Main article: Clark County Commission

Regional Agencies

Clark County Regional Flood Control District
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) was created in 1985 by the Nevada Legislature allowing Clark County to provide broad solutions to flooding problems.

Clark County School District
Public primary & secondary education is the responsibility of the Clark County School District.

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Operates the Cat Bus & does planning for most major roadways.

Southern Nevada Water Authority
A multi-agency group that manages the water distribution for the Las Vegas valley.

Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee
The group that manages & protects the Las Vegas Wash.

Since 1999 the group has added more the 15,000 plants to stabilize the wash's banks & restore & expand the wetlands surrounding the wash. As part of the effort to restore the wash to a more natural state, they have also removed more than 500,000 pounds of trash.

Cities & Unincorporated Places (townships)

This map shows the incorporated & unincorporated areas in Clark County
Incorporated cities
Boulder City
Henderson
Las Vegas (County seat)
North Las Vegas
Mesquite

Unincorporated Areas (Census Designated Places) or Townships
Arden
Blue Diamond
Bunkerville
Cactus Springs
Cal-Nev-Ari
Cottonwood Cove
Enterprise
Glendale
Goodsprings
Indian Springs
Jean
Laughlin
Logandale
Moapa Town
Moapa Valley
Mount Charleston
Mountain Springs
Nelson also called Nelson Landing
Overton
Paradise
Primm
Sandy Valley
Searchlight
Sloan
Spring Valley
Summerlin South
Sunrise Manor
Whitney (Formerly East Las Vegas)
Winchester

Federal land
Creech AFB
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Mount Charleston Wilderness Area
Nellis AFB
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

Transportation

Major highways
Interstate 15
Interstate 215
Interstate 515
U.S. Route 93
U.S. Route 95
Nevada State Route 157
Nevada State Route 159
Nevada State Route 160
County Route 215

Parks & Recreation
Main article: Las Vegas metropolitan area#Parks
Clark County Parks Dept.
Sunset Park located at Sunset & Pecos is one of the largest[1]

Gaming areas
The State of Nevada divides the state into several gaming districts. The reporting districts affecting Clark County are:

Boulder Strip: This region includes 33 casinos on Boulder Highway, such as Sam's Town, Boulder Station, Arizona Charlie's Boulder, & the Magic Star. Casinos within the Henderson city limits are included as well, such as Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station, Fiesta, Eldorado, & Jokers Wild.
Downtown: There are 19 casinos in this reporting area.
Las Vegas Strip: This region is composed of all the casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard, from The Stratosphere at the north end to Mandalay Bay on the south end. Also included are resorts located near this area, such as Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, The Palms, The Orleans, The Rio, Gold Coast, & the Hard Rock.
Laughlin: This area has 10 casinos.
Mesquite
North Las Vegas: This region has 11 casinos & include the Fiesta, Texas Station, Jerry's Nugget, & the Santa Fe Station.
Remainder of County: There are 66 casinos in this category that includes casinos at Lake Las Vegas, Jean, Primm, the Railroad Pass & Hacienda casinos, along with other casinos that don't fit any other category such as Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Suncoast, South Point, Rampart, & Red Rock Resort Spa & Casino

Environmental factors
Clark County contains a diverse desert flora & fauna, including higher elevation mountain areas, the desert floor & the Colorado River/Lake Mead ecosystems. Variations in diurnal temperature as well as seasonal swings in temperature create demanding adaptation elements on the species of this county. Additional pressure has been placed on species survival by the rapid human population expansion, especially since 1970.

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 began to be violated in the 1980s.

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 & Earth Metrics performing environmental analysis. This endeavor projected future population growth, land use changes & environmental impacts.

Notable government buildings

Regional Justice CenterClark County Government Center
Regional Justice Center (opened October 3, 2005)