A Brief History of Las Vegas

A Brief History of Las Vegas NV

If you are a Vegas resident with power troubles at home, typing /https://calliduselectric.com/las-vegas-electrician/ on your search tool will yield a host of results. Electricity is such a vital utility in the city that it gave rise to several other industries, all of which are contributing to the efficiency of its distribution. This efficiency can make one almost forget that this bustling city is sitting in the middle of a desert valley. Without electricity, Las Vegas will simply collapse.

This is not to say that this region in Nevada will be uninhabitable without electricity. Archaeological evidence suggest that Native Americans have been living in this region since thousands of years ago. You may be wondering what Las Vegas was like before its casino resorts and entertainment centers came to be.

Here’s a look at the brief history of Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Prehistory to the 1700s

Las Vegas valley used to have a marshland where vegetation thrived. At some point, the river that gave the marshland water receded to the ground, which dried up the valley and turned it into a desert plain. The water would resurface again to turn the valley into a wetland oasis with rich plant life amid the Mojave Desert.

As mentioned earlier, Native Americans have been living in the area for thousands of years. The Paiutes were among the most notable tribes to have thrived in the area since 700 C.E. This group of Native Americans would come to the valley near Big Springs from the mountains during winter and then back up the mountains during the summer months. This way of life remained constant for the Paiutes right up until the end of the 1700s.

The Meadows

The early 1800s marked the first time that an outsider set eyes on Las Vegas valley. An expedition led by Antonio Armijo stumbled upon the valley in 1829. In search of a new trade route between New Mexico and California, a scout named Rafael Rivera was the first to scout the valley. Rivera gave the name Las Vegas to the valley, which is Spanish for “the meadows,” inspired by the valley’s spring waters and wild grasses.

In 1844, the famed American explorer John Fremont explored the valley in the second leg of his expeditions. Many believe that his journals about Las Vegas valley encouraged the influx of more settlers in the area.

Early 1900s

Since the exploration of John Fremont, the Las Vegas valley has become the location of a Mormon fort, which the religious group soon abandoned. After the Civil War and with the commission of the federal government, American businessman re-occupied the fort. He started irrigating the old fields, made wine and renamed it Las Vegas Rancho. Ownership of Las Vegas valley changed hands several times until the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad bought it in 1902.

Three years later, the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad was completed, which linked southern California with Salt Lake City. This same year, Las Vegas was officially founded as a city. In 1906, Nevada Power was inaugurated, which spurred economic growth in the valley along with the construction of more railroads.

Casino Resort Destination

Unknown to many, the construction of Hoover Dam served as inspiration to modern day Las Vegas. As a form of entertainment for dam workers, small gambling spots sprouted near the area. As county officials saw the potential of gambling as a revenue generator, the officials issued its first gambling license in 1931.

After the end of the Second World War, the gambling industry in Las Vegas rose in popularity earning the city some $200 million in revenues each year. The casino resort industry has since continued to thrive, making the city the most popular gaming and entertainment destination in the world.

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