Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada
Las Vegas is located in Clark County, Nevada. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area consists of a large valley basin surrounded by mountains. Clark County has a population of 2.3 million residents, representing 70 percent of Nevada’s total population. Over 30 percent of Las Vegas residents were born outside the United States, with the largest immigrant groups coming from Mexico, the Philippines, El Salvador, Cuba, China, and South Korea.
Geography and Climate of Las Vegas
The city of Las Vegas has an area of 135.8 square miles, making it Nevada’s fourth largest city by area. Located in the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas sits within a basin called the Las Vegas Valley, roughly 600 square miles in size. It is surrounded by dry mountain ranges and desert vegetation, including the Spring Mountains to the west and Mount Charleston to the northwest. With an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet, Mount Charleston is the highest point in Clark County.
Las Vegas has a hot, dry climate for most of the year. Daily temperatures average 68 degrees Fahrenheit, with summer highs up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The city was founded in 1905 when a railroad company auctioned off land to create downtown Las Vegas. Today, the Las Vegas Strip south of downtown is known for its high concentration of resorts and casinos. The McCarran International Airport provides air access to the Las Vegas area.