It is believed that the first inhabitants of Las Vegas were the nomadic Paleo-Indians, who travelled here 10,000 years ago. The Anasazi and Paiute tribes lived here at least 2,000 years ago. Rafael Rivera, a young Mexican scout, is recognized as the first non-Native American to come across the valley, in 1829. The region was named Las Vegas, which in Spanish translates to ‘the meadows’, as it was blessed with plenty of wild grasses and desert spring waters. In 1911, the area of Las Vegas was incorporated as a city. In 1931, Nevada legalized casino gambling and in that same year, construction began on Hoover Dam which brought in huge number of construction workers with their families. After World War II, hotels and casinos started sprouting around the city. Soon, entrepreneurs and international power houses started buying properties and building hotel-casinos. Now, Las Vegas is known all around the world and is on almost everyone’s list of places to visit.

Though Las Vegas is known for entertainment and fun, it is also home to a wide-ranging Downtown Arts District, where numerous galleries and events are hosted. Las Vegas also has several museums and parks. It is one of the top three destinations in America for business meetings and conventions. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts hosts a variety of shows like Broadway, ballets, operas, orchestras, choirs and dance performances. When it comes to festivals, Las Vegas has several of its own celebrations like the Soul Festival, Brews & Blues Festival, First Friday Las Vegas, Film Festival and many more.

Las Vegas is the 29th most populated city in America, with a population of 603,488 residents. It is considered as one of the fastest growing areas in the United States and has become an increasingly popular destination for families and retirees. The residents are from various backgrounds and ethnicities. Non-Hispanic whites are the majority (47.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (31.5%), African-Americans (11%), Asians (6.1%) and people of other ethnicities. Tourism is the main source of income which includes gaming and conventions. People are friendly and always looking for a good time.