For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip.
City of Las Vegas


Seal

Nickname: "The Entertainment Capital of the World",
"Sin City"

Location of Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada
Coordinates: 36?10′30″N 115?08′11″W / 36.175, -115.13639
Country United States
State Nevada
County Clark County
Government
- Mayor Oscar B. Goodman
Area
- Total 131.3 sq mi (340.0 km?)
- Land 131.2 sq mi (339.8 km?)
- Water 0.1 sq mi (0.16 km?)
Elevation 2,001 ft (610 m)
Population (2006)[1][2]
- City 552,539
- Density 4,154/sq mi (1,604/km?)
- Metro 1,777,539
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
Area code(s) 702
FIPS code 32-40000
GNIS feature ID 0847388
Website: City of Las Vegas Nevada
Las Vegas (often abbreviated as "Vegas") is the most populous city in the state of Nevada, United States, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally known resort, shopping, entertainment, and gambling destination. It was established in 1905 and officially became a city in 1911. With the growth that followed, Las Vegas became the largest U.S. city founded in the 20th century (a distinction held by Chicago in the 19th century). It is the 28th largest city in the United States.

The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. This 4? mile (7.2 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard is mostly outside the city limits, in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester.

The center of gambling in the United States and the world, Las Vegas is commonly known as The Entertainment Capital of the World; famous for its massive and lavish casino resorts, availability of alcoholic beverages at any time (as is true throughout Nevada), and various degrees of adult entertainment. It is also referred to as Sin City, but in recent years the city itself has stopped using this moniker in its marketing. The city's image has often made it a popular setting for films and television programs.