The city of Las Vegas, Nevada has undergone a massive growth spurt. This
image series, done in honor of Landsat 5's twenty-eighth birthday,
shows the city sprawling across the desert over time.
Data from the expansion of Las Vegas was compiled from the fleet of Landsat satellites, and is shown as a false-color time lapse from all 40 years of data.
The first hotels went up in the 1940's, both downtown and on what became known as the Strip. That decade saw the gaming industry blossom, putting Las Vegas on the map with openings of hotel/casinos like the Desert Inn, the Sands, Hacienda, and Tropicana.
In the 60's and 70's growth continued, fueled by tourism, and the nationwide migration trend towards the sunbelt. Hotels continued to attract tourists, and Las Vegas became a major convention center in the 80's and 90's. Las Vegas-style entertainment was broadened to include amusement park rides and attractions. Hotels became theme parks. The MGM Grand, Treasure Island, the pyramid-shaped Luxor, and the Stratosphere Tower were built. Several giant hotels/casinos/attractions are being planned along with the world's largest domed stadium, a huge expansion of the convention center, and a new monorail to whisk visitors from the airport to the Strip.
In the 60's and 70's growth continued. By 1980 Clark County's population was 463,087; Las Vegas 164,674. Growth has been even more dramatic in the last several decades. Since 1980, population has more than doubled.
Today, the Valley's population tops one million, but that doesn't include the tourist population which itself is estimated at 582,000. It is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. One estimate is that the population will double by 2015.
Data from the expansion of Las Vegas was compiled from the fleet of Landsat satellites, and is shown as a false-color time lapse from all 40 years of data.
and Use History
Mormons first settled in the Las Vegas area in 1855. In 1905 the town of Las Vegas was established by auctioning of land, and in 1911 the city of Las Vegas was incorporated. For the first part of this century Las Vegas was just a stop along the railroad. The first growth spurt occured in the 1930s. The construction of Hoover Dam on the nearby Colorado River was begun in 1931 along with the legalizing of gambling. The city of Boulder, Nevada was established to house construction workers.The first hotels went up in the 1940's, both downtown and on what became known as the Strip. That decade saw the gaming industry blossom, putting Las Vegas on the map with openings of hotel/casinos like the Desert Inn, the Sands, Hacienda, and Tropicana.
In the 60's and 70's growth continued, fueled by tourism, and the nationwide migration trend towards the sunbelt. Hotels continued to attract tourists, and Las Vegas became a major convention center in the 80's and 90's. Las Vegas-style entertainment was broadened to include amusement park rides and attractions. Hotels became theme parks. The MGM Grand, Treasure Island, the pyramid-shaped Luxor, and the Stratosphere Tower were built. Several giant hotels/casinos/attractions are being planned along with the world's largest domed stadium, a huge expansion of the convention center, and a new monorail to whisk visitors from the airport to the Strip.
Population Trends
Population growth in the Las Vegas Valley was fairly slow during the first half of this century. But as the gaming and tourism industry blossomed, population growth began to increase rapidly. The population for Clark County was 48,289 in 1950. Las vegas accounted for 24,624 of the total. In 1960, Clark County's population was 127,016; Las Vegas 64,405.In the 60's and 70's growth continued. By 1980 Clark County's population was 463,087; Las Vegas 164,674. Growth has been even more dramatic in the last several decades. Since 1980, population has more than doubled.
Today, the Valley's population tops one million, but that doesn't include the tourist population which itself is estimated at 582,000. It is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. One estimate is that the population will double by 2015.
Changes in the Las Vegas Area
The built-up land data layer for Las Vegas provides a dramatic illustration of the spatial patterns and rates of change resulting from urban sprawl. The principle transportation data layer clearly demonstrates the influence that the transportation infrastructure (roads, railroads) have exerted on population development.
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