The Las Vegas Valley has been home to Native Americans for thousands of years. Spanish explorers discovered it in 1829 and were attracted to the area because of the natural springs and meadows that existed here. They called the valley Las Vegas, which is Spanish for "The Meadows." Mormon missionaries established the first modern-era settlement in 1855, but the project was abandoned in 1858. This original mission, known today as the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, became a haven for desert-worn travelers and trailblazers lured by the region's gold and silver.

    Settlers finally moved into the area to stay in 1865. That year Octavius D. Gass, set up a ranch on what is now downtown Las Vegas. Gass lost the ranch to Archibald Stewart, whose wife, Helen, later sold the ranch to Montana U.S. Senator William Clark. Many people credit Clark as the one who gave Las Vegas its start when he used the land to finish the railroad line between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. With the arrival of Union Pacific Railroad in 1905 and the auction of land parcels owned by the railroad, Las Vegas was off and running as a typical frontier town.

    Las Vegas officially became a city in 1911 by an act of the Nevada legislature. Las Vegas was fairly insulated from the Great Depression. Jobs and money were plentiful because of railroad development, legal gambling and the construction of Hoover Dam. Ironically, the dam also generated the start of the tourism industry as thousands of visitors came to watch the dam being built.

    When the Nevada Legislature legalized casino gambling as a means of raising tax revenue in 1931, Nevada’s #1 industry began. El Rancho Vegas became the first resort to open on what was to become the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. During World War II, Nellis Air Force Base was growing into a key military installation. Originally built to train B-20 gunners, it later became the training ground for the nation's ace fighter pilots. Basic Refractors also established a magnesium plant south of Las Vegas to help with the war effort. As the community grew, it was became the City of Henderson.

    Today's modern gaming industry began to take shape after World War II. The most celebrated of the early resorts was the Flamingo Hotel, built by Benjamin "Bugsy" Seigel, which opened on New Year's Eve in 1946. In 1955, the Riviera became the first high-rise on the Strip with nine stories. The push to build bigger, more luxurious properties continued. Before long the hotel/casino resorts on Las Vegas Strip were rivaling the downtown area. Growth continued at a steady pace through the 1970s with a brief lull in the 1980s when the community felt the effects of nationwide recession. As soon as the economy bounced back, people flocked to Las Vegas in record numbers, first as tourists and later as permanent residents.

    During the late 1980s, there weren't enough construction workers and equipment to meet the demand. Las Vegas soon became the darling of the nation’s economists who were amazed at the growth in construction and residences. The opening of the Mirage Resort in 1989 kicked off a growth spurt of resort properties on the Strip, which didn’t skip a beat in the first half of the 1990s. By 1996, seven new themed mega resorts had opened. At the close the millennium, four more resort properties were added to serve the more than 30 million tourists who visit Las Vegas annually. Long touted as the "Gaming Capital of the World" and the "Entertainment Capital," Las Vegas is also a thriving business Mecca. Even with the spread of gaming throughout the country, Las Vegas is still booming and its future looks bright.

    A concept all southern Nevadans are familiar with is growth.  It is estimated that construction of a new home is completed about every nine hours, 365 days a year in the Las Vegas metro area.  Last year a total of 21,216 new homes and 26,493 resale homes were purchased.  More than one third of all homes in the Las Vegas area are five years old or newer.  Median sales prices of homes in Las Vegas are among the most reasonable in the country, as are property taxes. There are twenty residential development projects of over 300 acres each currently being completed.  Many of the largest developments subscribe to the "master planned community" philosophy of offering an orchestrated mix of homes.  Large and moderate sized homes dominate, but apartments and condominium units are also typically grouped within the entire development area as well.  Master planned communities enjoy a look and feel that promotes integrity of design and appearance.  Parks and recreation areas are strategically sprinkled throughout the project to create a warm and welcoming send of community.

    Las Vegas has consistently maintained the highest new job growth in United States. Of the 25 cities likely to have the country’s highest employment growth over the next five years, Las Vegas ranked sixth in a Forbes Magazine study, with an estimated 79,000 new jobs created by the year 2001.

    Employment. Since 1990, Las Vegas has also ranked number 1 in high-tech job growth (primarily high-tech services). The Nevada labor force has increased by nearly 350,000 people in the last decade. More than half of the new companies that recently relocated to the Las Vegas Valley were high-tech/manufacturing firms. Perhaps not surprisingly, the construction industry continues to be a major employer in Southern Nevada as the demands for residential, resort, office and industrial space continue to soar. With some 6,000 new residents moving to the Las Vegas Valley each month, residential construction is valued at more than $2 billion annually. Likewise, the value of commercial construction exceeds $2 billion annually.

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Job Helps

Need a job in Las Vegas? Place yourself on our site and start receiving job offers before you make your move! Job postings also available.
www.greathires.com

LasVegasJobSearch.com - The FIRST & ONLY job search web site STRICTLY for the city of Las Vegas. Submit your resume online directly to employers in Las Vegas. Unlimited job posting on our site for employers.
www.lasvegasjobsearch.com

The Las Vegas Review-Journal includes a section with employment opportunities. Call (702) 383-0400 to order a newspaper subscription or click on www.lvrjsun.com or www.lasvegas.com to get online job listings. Publications such as Employment News are useful in your job search. The major hotels/casinos all have job lines. Check our hotel listings for the main numbers of Las Vegas properties.

Employment Cards/Certification

If you are hired in a food and beverage or childcare position, you must obtain a health card from the Clark County Health District. If you are hired in hotel or gaming, you are required to have a Sheriff's Work Card. If you handle or work directly around liquor, you are required to have a Total Alcohol Management (TAM) Card. For information about obtaining a Sheriff's Work Card call (702) 229-3465; a Health Card call (702) 383-1226; or a TAM Card call (702) 647-1954.

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Education

Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN)

CCSN is one of the biggest and one of the best community colleges in the country. Three campus locations serve over 26,000 students in 17 different fields. Among the top disciplines at CCSN are dental hygiene (#2 in the country), culinary arts (#3 in the country), computing and information technologies, resorts and gaming, nursing and other health professions, automotive technology, air conditioning and criminal justice. Huge expansion plans are already underway. Improvements include new facilities and new state-of-the-art equipment.

Community College of Southern Nevada
(702) 651-4000
www.ccsn.nevada.edu
Admissions: 702-651-4000
Registration & Records: 702-643-7026

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
A university that is growing almost as fast as the city in which it is located is the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The student body now stands at over 20,000, with over 4,000 graduate students. UNLV offers more than 148 undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs in its eight colleges. UNLV is nationally recognized for its hotel management, criminal justice and social work programs. Other programs of note are the university's business, real estate, computer science, arts, recreation, architecture, and construction management disciplines.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
www.unlv.edu
Admissions: 702-895-3201
Campus Tours: 702-895-3443

To learn more about Clark County School District facilities and programs and just click www.ccsd.net or write to or call the address/phone listed here:

Clark County School District
2832 E. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(702) 799-5304

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Utilities

Water
Las Vegas Valley Water District
Southern Nevada receives 85% of the water it uses from the Colorado River, which supplies Lake Mead, and 15% from ground water. Las Vegans use about 178 gallons of water per day per person, an inflated figure because of the number of tourists visiting the city.
Customer Service: (702) 870-4194
Monthly bills can be paid at Albertson's and Lucky grocery stores. The typical homeowner pays an average monthly bill of $30-$35 in the summer and $15-$20 in the winter. The residential deposit of $100 for homes or $50 for apartments, condominiums and town houses may be waived with a letter of good credit or may be refunded after one year of good credit.

Electric
Nevada Power Company
Nevada Power gets only 4% of its power from the Hoover Dam. Most of Nevada Power's energy is generated by coal-fired and natural gas plants in the West. Nevada Power uses purchased power for 45% of Southern Nevada's power. Residential air conditioning accounts for almost 50% of the energy use annually.
(702) 367-5000
Turn on or off: (702) 367-5555
Spanish: (702) 367-5554
Monthly bills can be paid at Nevada Power Ready Pay locations at most Albertson's, some Lucky's or by electronic fund transfer or ATM debit card at the Sahara Office. The average residential bill is $73 per month. A residential deposit is figured at 1.5 times the residence's highest monthly bill and billed in three installments. It may be waived with a letter of good credit or may be refunded after one year of good credit.

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Gas
Southwest Gas Corporation
Customer Service & Operation Center
(702) 365-1100

Turn on or off: (702) 365-1555
Bill Inquires/Repair: (702) 365-1555
Emergency: (702) 365-1111
Southwest Gas technicians will do minor repairs and adjustments to gas appliances. There is a $25 connection charge. Water and power must be on to begin service. A $50 deposit or a letter of credit from another gas or electric company is required.

Garbage
Silver State Disposal
(702) 735-5151 or 1-800-752-8719
Residential Service twice weekly. The rate is $29.10 per quarter. There is an additional charge for container rentals.

Sewer
Clark County Sanitation District
(702) 434-6600
Billing & Inquiries and connection: (702) 458-1180
Toll free: 1-800-782-4324
Payments are made quarterly, semi-annually or annually. No deposit is required.

Cable TV
Cox Cable
(702) 384-4000
Cox offers basic cable, 40-channel standard service for $26.15 per month. An additional fee of $10.95 per month is charged for premium channels. There is a $25 deposit with good credit.

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Telephone
Sprint/Central Telephone Nevada
Residential Service: (702) 244-7400
1-800-877-7077
Business Service: (702) 244-6087
Deposits: Minimum $50 for residential service or $100 for business; may be waived with a letter of good credit or refunded after one year of good credit refunded after one year of good credit.

MGC Communications
Residential Service: (702) 310-3100
Business Service: (702) 310-3100
Deposits: Installation charge plus first month's service paid in advance; may be waived with a letter of good credit from a utility or prior phone company.

NEXTLINK Nevada Telecommunications (for businesses only)
Business Service: (702) 990-1000
a minimum contract for one-year of service is required; the deposit is determined after the credit check.

Long Distance Service
Access Long Distance -- (702) 385-3311 or (800) 574-5400

AT&T
Business Service: (800) 222-0400
Residential Service: (800) 222-0300

CRC Long Distance
(800) 873-2722

Express Tel
(800) 748-6777

NEXTLINK Nevada
Business Service: (702) 990-1000

MCI Telecommunications Corp.
Business Service: (800) 888-0800
Residential Service: (800) 950-5555

Sprint Business Long Distance Services:
(702) 692-4307

TMS:
(702) 732-3190

UStel, Inc.:
(702) 247-7400

ViCom:
(702) 435-9831

World Com:
(702) 368-1388

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Health Services

Clark County Health District
    The Clark County Health District (CCSD) is a nonprofit public health agency offering a variety of health care, health education and health related services, including immunizations, home health care, hospice care and free health screenings for seniors. CCSD also offers family planning, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment (including AIDS), child health programs and issuing health cards to food handlers. Many services are free or are offered at a nominal charge. AIDS tests are conducted Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m.

For more information about the medical clinics in the Las Vegas metro areas, call the phone listed below:

Community Health Centers of Southern Nevada
(702) 631-8800
(702) 564-3232

Listed below are Medical Clinics in the Las Vegas area: Community Health Centers of  Southern Nevada
(702) 631-8800

Doyne Medical Clinic Inc.
(702) 631-6860

Family Medical Group
(702) 459-5500

Flamingo Medical Center
(702 733-7600

Fremont Medical Center
(702) 382-5200

Galleria Urgent Care
(702) 454-8898

Green Valley Urgent Care
(702) 451-3636

Hogan Clinic
(702) 898-1405

Industrial Medical Group of Las Vegas
(702) 871-1721

Industrial Medical Group of Henderson
(702) 564-2433

Industrial Medical Group of N. Las Vegas
(702) 399-6545

Inn-House Doctor
(702) 382-9100

Las Vegas Medical Center
(702) 731-6060

Lone Mountain Medical Clinic
(702) 645-8555

Nevada Medical Center
(702) 362-1051

Premier Family Medical Center
(702) 891-8606

Pueblo Medical Center
(702) 256-8474

Rainbow Medical Center
(702) 655-0550

Resort Medical Centers
(702) 735-3600

Smoke Ranch Medical Centre
(702) 646-1661

Southwest Medical Associates
(702) 877-8600

Summit Medical Group
(702) 434-3616

University Medical Center Quick Care Center
(702) 388-2074

UNLV Student Health Services
(702) 895-3370

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Voter Registration
    Nevada is a closed primary state. This means you can only vote for offices associated with your party affiliation, along with nonpartisan offices and ballot questions for which you are eligible. Currently Nevada recognizes two major political parties for primary elections – Democratic and Republican. If you register as a member of a major political party, you will be eligible to vote in the primary only for offices associated with your party affiliation, along with nonpartisan offices and questions on your ballot. You must be registered under your desired party affiliation no later than 30 days before election day in order to vote for offices associated with your party affiliation in the primary election.
Call 455-VOTE if you need more information.

    Military personnel and their dependents temporarily living outside of Nevada and Clark County resident temporarily living overseas must not be registered to vote in another state. Properly complete a Voter Registration Application in order to register to vote. It is strongly recommended that military personnel and their dependents temporarily living outside of Nevada, and Clark County residents temporarily living overseas, complete and submit a "Registration and Absentee Ballot Request - Federal Post Card Application" (FPCA) instead of the Voter Registration Application. This will significantly streamline the process.

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Vehicle Registration

New residents have 30 days to register their vehicles in Nevada. There is no grace period for vehicle plates.
Personalized Plates: $36.00 and $20.00 annual renewal fee in addition to all other applicable fees. Maximum of seven spaces.
Certificate of title fee: $20.00, vehicle registration outside Nevada

Transportation

Local

Las Vegas Citizens Area Transit (CAT) services the residential routes of Las Vegas and Henderson in addition to the Strip. Taxi service is available 24 hours.
Citizens Area Transit (702) 228-7433

National

Rail: Union Pacific has daily switching, piggyback service, and Amtrak passenger service.
Highways: Major highways include:
Interstate 15 N/S to Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Diego
U.S. 95 N to Reno
U.S. 93 S to Phoenix and Tucson

Air

    There are approximately 800 daily flights at McCarran International Airport. It serves more than 10.2 million passengers a year, making it the 10th busiest airport in North America and the 16th busiest in the world in terms of passengers. Limousine and taxi service is available 24 hours. Private aviation is serviced at McCarran, North Las Vegas Air Terminal, and Sky Harbor.

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Child Care

    If you have young children, there are plenty of good, licensed people who specialize in childcare. Clark County has more than 500 licensed day care providers according to statistics provided by licensing officials. Twelve centers are licensed for 24-hour care. If you want to enroll a child in day care or preschool, you must provide the facility current immunizations and a doctor's certificate stating the child is in good health and has no contagious diseases or illnesses. If you need further assistance in finding a childcare provider, contact one of the agencies below:

Clark County Social Services
Child Care Licensing (702) 455-3894

City of Las Vegas Department of Business Activity
Child Care Licensing (702) 229-6281

State of Nevada Child Care Licensing
(702) 486-5099

    When you're choosing a child care facility, it should fit with your family's lifestyle and schedule. Visit at least three providers and don't be afraid to ask questions. Make sure their hours are compatible with your work schedule. Find out how many holidays they observe throughout the year and if they take time off in the summer. In addition to tuition, ask about registration fees and extra costs for meals, snacks, and optional activities such as music or computer classes.

    Make sure the facility follows basic safety practices such as using outlet covers, keeping medications and cleaning supplies locked, and housing fire extinguishers. Licensed day care centers in Las Vegas must have an annual fire marshal inspection and monthly fire drills. Full-time employees must be certified in CPR and first aid. The state mandates that all day care centers post menus and notify parents of communicable diseases as well as regulate teacher-to-student ratios (which vary by age of children).

    You also may want to find out:
The average number of years that staff members have been employed at the center and the average years of child care experience per staff member. What kind of curriculum the center offers and if there is a daily schedule. If the food is nutritious and prepared in a clean kitchen. What procedures are in place when a child is injured or becomes ill while at the center. If there are enough toys and equipment for all children. If a child can nap comfortably and quietly for an appropriate length of time. If there is a shaded outdoor play area. If children can choose from activities appropriate for their age. If children are encouraged to solve problems and ask questions. If children appear happy and relaxed, and relate well to one another. If the staff handles difficult children in an appropriate way. If the provider offers parents references.

For more information, contact the Clark County Child Care Association referral service at 734-0504.

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Climate

Las Vegas: Year Round Fun in the Sun
    Low humidity along with ideal spring and fall temperatures make Las Vegas a great place to visit any time of the year. The average year round temperature is 80 degrees. Las Vegas is one of the sunniest cities in the United States -- with an average 320 days of sunshine per year and only 4.19 inches of rainfall. Because of its high desert elevation (2,174 feet above sea level), the temperature range can be extreme. During the summer, daytime temperatures often reach 100 degrees. In the winter, the temperature may drop as low 33 degrees, although the average high is between 50 and 60 degrees. It rarely falls below freezing in Las Vegas. When it does, it is usually only in the early morning.

    You can enjoy a wide variety of sports year round. Though the winter weather is less dependable than the spring or fall, the winter months are generally pleasant and well suited to outdoor activities. For example, you can water ski on Lake Mead in the morning and snow ski at Lee Canyon in the afternoon. From mid-May to mid-September, when the heat is most intense, you can swim, sun bathe, sail or water ski. Just make sure you have plenty of sun screen and a hat. It's also an ideal time to head for Mt. Charleston where the average temperature is 10-15 degrees cooler than Las Vegas.

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Churches

    Visitors are often surprised to learn Las Vegas has nearly 600 churches, temples and synagogues representing more than 63 faiths. The city offers a smorgasbord of religious options -- everything from a Buddhist Temple to the Church of Scientology to a non-denominational service in a hotel/casino showroom. Organized religion began in Las Vegas in 1855 when William Bringhurst established a fort for the protection of Mormon missionaries. This led to one of the largest religious movements in the history of Las Vegas. Although the Mormon population is now one of the smallest religious groups, there are about 165 Mormon churches in the Las Vegas area.

    Many tourists seeking religious services visit the Guardian Angel Cathedral. Conveniently located on Las Vegas Boulevard, this Catholic church has three Saturday Masses and five on Sunday. The Riviera Hotel and Casino is the only property in Las Vegas that employs a full-time chaplain who conducts a non-denominational religious service every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the hotel's Mardi Gras Room. A good place to check for local church services is the Saturday edition of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and The Las Vegas Sun and the weekly publication, The View, available every Wednesday. Additional information is available on the Review-Journal's web site: www.lvrj.com.

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Seniors/Retirement

    Each of us has a vision of what the "ideal retirement" scenario is. For many seniors, ideal retirement is Las Vegas.  A warm climate and sunny skies 320 days a year provide a soothing backdrop for both relaxation and recreation.  World-class golf courses, parks and a host of outdoor activities are readily available.  Gardening, entertaining and just plain lounging on the patio are all enhanced by the absence of annoying insects like mosquitoes.

    The Las Vegas area boasts some of the most reasonable housing prices in the country.  Property taxes are very low and there is no state income tax.  All of these factors allow seniors, especially those on fixed incomes, to enjoy one of the fines retirement lifestyles anywhere in the U.S. The number of health care facilities in Las Vegas is growing as fast as the number of residential developments.  More and more modern clinics and hospitals dot the landscape as more and more seniors discover the advantages of a retirement lifestyle in Las Vegas. There are also many social service agencies that provide opportunity and activities for seniors who are so inclined. Of course, sensational restaurants, big name entertainment, casino gaming excitement and retail stores from chic to cheap are only a few minutes away for any senior in Las Vegas.

Storage

    New residents arrive in Las Vegas at the rate of 6,000 a month. Las Vegas may be the only city in the United States in which anyone who has been in town for more than five years is considered a native. More than one-half of the residents have moved here within the last decade.

    Once you make the commitment to become a Las Vegan, there's no reason you can't enjoy the experience. Don't feel pressured into buying a home or signing a long-term lease. When you decide on a permanent location, you'll have a large number of companies at your disposal to help you move in.

www.storagewest.com
Storage West Self Storage with locations throughout Las Vegas. Click on the above for information and Internet specials. Come store with us!

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