The Beginnings of Las Vegas
Here you will learn about the seldom known story of how Las Vegas began! Below are bits and pieces of how Las Vegas grew from a small western town into one of the largest tourist destinations in the world!
Humble Beginnings
Las Vegas was not always a glitzy place of gamblers and showgirls. In 1829, the site was created by Antonio Armijo a Spanish trader while searching for a direct route to California. The town grew over thirty years because of gold claims in the area, and disappointed miners who found no gold stayed there. The residents lived there because of the abundant resource of fresh water from natural springs in the middle of the Nevada Desert. General stores and lodging were successful businesses, and the town was often used as a rest stop for travelers going to California. Ultimately, Las Vegas was successful for its natural resources and its trailside location for westerners.
Rising Population
Although he was not part of the original settlers, an entrepreneur named William Clark was responsible for the mass influx of people to Las Vegas. William Clark was a gifted public speaker and was so incredibly wealthy that he bought his way into becoming a Senator. Clark linked a railroad from San Pedro, California to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1890 despite money problems because of setbacks during development such as the weather. Las Vegas was a rest stop on the rail road, and tourism grew slowly. The token theme of Las Vegas, gambling came with the tourists and attracted even more settlers. Las Vegas was slowly becoming more like its modern equivalent, with lodging for temporary guests still as its primary service.
New Businesses
In the 1930’s the Great Depression hit the United States, and tourism slowed as did gambling. Las Vegas was in a slump, but a new project was creating jobs nearby, the Hoover Dam. It regulates the water supply and distributes it to other cities in the Nevada Desert. As the project was prospering, so was Las Vegas, as the new jobs created by the Dam caused Las Vegas to become a boomtown. Businesses expanded, and thousands of people flooded the city. As more world events happened, such as World War II, Las Vegas adapted and built new businesses, such as a munitions factory.
Simple Necessities
Its location and the abundance of the simple necessity, water, was what made Las Vegas such a popular place. This was one of the only places to get fresh water in the arid West. Other towns failed because although they had gold and other riches, the resources were depleted quickly, and the locations of those towns were less than ideal. Las Vegas was on a trail to the west, but was also close to other failed towns to offer jobs for the unemployed. Only the lucky towns were able to survive with the right locations and resources in the 19th century, which shows how the environment of the West shaped settlement. Currently, Las Vegas’ population is rising to the point where the water supply will be less than what they need, even with strict rationing. Only with more canals connecting to surrounding rivers will Las Vegas continue to be a thriving community.
An Amazing Success Story
The fact that Las Vegas survived by almost sheer luck is an incredible feat. It started as an almost deserted town along a well traveled road into the massive metropolis that it is today. It only grew when other cities would diminish, such as when the transcontinental railroad was laid. It was also the early home for Mormons who set up a fort nearby. Overall, Las Vegas was a city that provided for all visitors and held promise for the settlers there, such as today. Currently Las Vegas is popular today for the adult entertainment of gambling and drinking, as well as a romanticized location sought after to experience the time of one’s life.
Author: Daniel Scanlon