Editing Las Vegas (section)

==Economy==
The primary drivers of the Las Vegas economy are tourism, [[Downtown (Nevada gaming area)|gaming]], and conventions, which in turn feed the retail and restaurant industries.

===Tourism===
[[File:Golden Nugget 2008.jpg|thumb|The [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas]]]]
[[File:Night aerial view, Las Vegas, Nevada, 04649u.jpg|thumb|The [[Las Vegas Strip]], primarily located in [[Paradise, Nevada|Paradise]]]]
[[File:Las Vegas at night (9118927988).jpg|thumb|A view of the [[Las Vegas Valley]] looking north from the [[Stratosphere Tower]]]]
The major attractions in Las Vegas are the casinos and the hotels, although in recent years other new attractions have begun to emerge.

Most casinos in the downtown area are on [[Fremont Street]], with [[Stratosphere Las Vegas|The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Skypod]] as one of the few exceptions. [[Fremont East]], adjacent to the Fremont Street Experience, was granted variances to allow bars to be closer together, similar to the [[Gaslamp Quarter]] of San Diego, the goal being to attract a different demographic than the Strip attracts.

====Downtown casinos====
{{Main|Downtown (Nevada gaming area)}}
The [[Golden Gate Hotel and Casino]], downtown along the Fremont Street Experience, is the oldest continuously operating hotel and casino in Las Vegas; it opened in 1906 as the Hotel Nevada.

In 1931, the [[Northern Club (casino)|Northern Club]] (now the [[La Bayou]]) opened.<ref name=lvrj20000727>{{cite news |first=Heidi Knapp |last=Rinella |title=New book raises questions about Silver State |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=July 27, 2000 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/fse/fse01.html |title=Fremont Street Experience Brings Downtown Las Vegas into Next Century |access-date=December 8, 2008 |publisher=[[Fremont Street Experience]] |archive-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310095204/http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/fse/fse01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The most notable of the early casinos may have been [[Binion's Horseshoe]] (now [[Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel]]) while it was run by [[Benny Binion]].

[[Boyd Gaming]] has a major presence downtown operating the [[California Hotel & Casino]], the [[Fremont Hotel & Casino]], and the [[Main Street Casino]]. The [[Four Queens]] also operates downtown along the Fremont Street Experience.

Downtown casinos that have undergone major renovations and revitalization in recent years include the [[Golden Nugget Las Vegas]], [[The D Las Vegas]] (formerly Fitzgerald's), the [[Downtown Grand|Downtown Grand Las Vegas]] (formerly Lady Luck), the [[El Cortez (Las Vegas)|El Cortez Hotel & Casino]], and the [[Plaza Hotel & Casino]].<ref>2013 Fiscal Year in Review, city of Las Vegas Economic and Urban Development Projects, "A New Downtown Emerges."</ref>

In 2020, [[Circa Resort & Casino]] opened, becoming the first all-new hotel-casino to be built on Fremont Street since 1980.<ref name=Kat>{{cite news |last=Katsilometes |first=John |title=Circa is Las Vegas pioneer Derek Stevens' chosen title |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/circa-is-las-vegas-pioneer-derek-stevens-chosen-title-video-1570930/ |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=January 10, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813060904/https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/circa-is-las-vegas-pioneer-derek-stevens-chosen-title-video-1570930/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Las Vegas Strip====
<!--The Las Vegas Strip is not actually located in city limits. Please keep this section short-->
{{main|Las Vegas Strip}}
The center of the gambling and entertainment industry is the [[Las Vegas Strip]], outside the city limits in the surrounding unincorporated communities of [[Paradise, Nevada|Paradise]] and [[Winchester, Nevada|Winchester]] in Clark County. Some of the largest casinos and buildings are there.<ref name="LVS 2008-05-15">{{cite news |url=https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/evolution-worlds-entertainment-capital/ |title=Showtime: How Sin City evolved into 'The Entertainment Capital of the World' |last1=Koch |first1=Ed |last2=Manning |first2=Mary |date=May 15, 2008 |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Sun]] |access-date=March 3, 2019 |last3=Toplikar |first3=Dave |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043145/https://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/15/evolution-worlds-entertainment-capital/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Welcome signs====
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas.jpg
| caption1 = The original Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
| image2 = City of Las Vegas Sign.jpg
| caption2 = Gateway Arches
}}
In 1929, the city installed a welcome arch over [[Fremont Street]], at the corner of Main Street.<ref>{{cite news |title=Great 'Welcome' Arch Planned For Officials |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86076141/1929-06-13/ed-1/seq-1/ |work=Las Vegas Age |date=June 13, 1929 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |page=1 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183731/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86076141/1929-06-13/ed-1/seq-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Welcome Arch Material Fund Grows Rapidly |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86076141/1929-06-15/ed-1/seq-1/ |work=Las Vegas Age |date=June 15, 1929 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |page=1 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183731/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86076141/1929-06-15/ed-1/seq-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Put a Star on It: A Brief History of the Welcome Sign |url=https://www.neonmuseum.org/the-collection/blog/put-a-star-on-it |website=[[Neon Museum]] |access-date=December 11, 2023 |date=January 2, 2019 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183731/https://www.neonmuseum.org/the-collection/blog/put-a-star-on-it |url-status=live }}</ref> It remained in place until 1931.<ref>{{cite news |title=Welcome Arch Will be Razed |url=https://reviewjournal.newsbank.com/search?text=%22Welcome%20Arch%20Will%20be%20Razed%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=1508AFD0E83DBED6 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=April 2, 1931 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183732/https://reviewjournal.newsbank.com/search?text=%22Welcome%20Arch%20Will%20be%20Razed%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=1508AFD0E83DBED6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Welcome Arch is Razed Last Eve |url=https://reviewjournal.newsbank.com/search?text=%22Welcome%20Arch%20is%20Razed%20Last%20Eve%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=1508AFD0E83DBED6 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=April 4, 1931 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183731/https://reviewjournal.newsbank.com/search?text=%22Welcome%20Arch%20is%20Razed%20Last%20Eve%22&content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%5B0%5D=1508AFD0E83DBED6 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1959, the {{Convert|25|ft|m|-tall|adj=mid}} [[Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign]] was installed at the south end of the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. A replica welcome sign, standing nearly {{Convert|16|ft|m}} tall, was installed within city limits in 2002, at [[Las Vegas Boulevard]] and Fourth Street.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Other Las Vegas |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-04-Wed-2002/news/20202414.html |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=December 4, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908080804/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-04-Wed-2002/news/20202414.html |archive-date=September 8, 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/garden/13VEGA.html |title=A Neon Come-Hither, Still Able to Flirt |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=Patricia Leigh |last=Brown |date=January 13, 2005 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=April 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424060902/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/garden/13VEGA.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ask Mr. Sun: The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/nov/25/ask-mr-sun/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 25, 2008 |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323170426/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/nov/25/ask-mr-sun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The replica was destroyed in 2016, when a pickup truck crashed into it.<ref>{{cite news |last=Michor |first=Max |title='Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas' sign destroyed by truck |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/welcome-to-fabulous-downtown-las-vegas-sign-destroyed-by-truck/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=July 17, 2016 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183731/https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/welcome-to-fabulous-downtown-las-vegas-sign-destroyed-by-truck/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, the city approved plans for a new gateway landmark in the form of neon arches. It was built within city limits, in front of the [[The Strat|Strat]] resort and north of [[Sahara Avenue]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Akers |first=Mick |title=Neon arches to welcome visitors to downtown Las Vegas |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/18/neon-arches-to-welcome-visitors-to-downtown-las-ve/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=May 18, 2018 |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220182555/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/may/18/neon-arches-to-welcome-visitors-to-downtown-las-ve/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The project, built by [[YESCO]], cost $6.5&nbsp;million and stands {{Convert|80|ft|m}} high.<ref>{{cite news |last=Akers |first=Mick |title=Downtown Las Vegas gateway arch construction to start this month |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/downtown-las-vegas-gateway-arch-construction-to-start-this-month-1970233/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=March 2, 2020 }}</ref> Officially known as the Gateway Arches, the project was completed in 2020. The steel arches are blue during the day, and light up in a variety of colors at night.<ref>{{cite news |last=Forgione |first=Mary |title=Can Sin City's new Gateway Arches outshine the Welcome to Las Vegas sign? |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2020-11-19/meet-gateway-arches-newest-landmark-las-vegas |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=November 19, 2020 |archive-date=January 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240101085728/https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2020-11-19/meet-gateway-arches-newest-landmark-las-vegas |url-status=live }}</ref>

Also located just north of the Strat are a pair of giant neon showgirls, initially added in 2018 as part of a $400,000 welcome display. The original showgirls were {{Convert|25|ft|m}} tall, but were replaced by new ones in 2022, rising {{Convert|50|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lane |first=Taylor |title=50-foot showgirls coming to north Strip |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/50-foot-showgirls-coming-to-north-strip-2617126/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=August 2, 2022 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183732/https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/the-strip/50-foot-showgirls-coming-to-north-strip-2617126/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Garcia>{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Tony |title=Pair of 50-foot-tall showgirls make downtown debut |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/pair-of-50-foot-tall-showgirls-make-downtown-debut-photos-2632539/ |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=August 31, 2022 |archive-date=December 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211183733/https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/downtown/pair-of-50-foot-tall-showgirls-make-downtown-debut-photos-2632539/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The originals were refurbished following weather damage and installed at the [[Las Vegas Arts District]].<ref name=Garcia/><ref>{{cite news |title=25-foot-tall showgirls relocated to Las Vegas Arts District gateway |url=https://news3lv.com/news/local/25-foot-tall-showgirls-relocated-to-las-vegas-arts-district-gateway-city-of-lv-southern-nevada-clark-county-the-strat-casino-center |access-date=December 11, 2023 |work=KSNV |date=March 14, 2023 }}</ref>

===Development===
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Las Vegas}}
When [[The Mirage]] opened in 1989, it started a trend of major resort development on the Las Vegas Strip outside of the city. This resulted in a drop in tourism in the downtown area, but many recent projects have increased the number of visitors to downtown.

An effort has been made by city officials to diversify the economy by attracting health-related, high-tech and other commercial interests. No state tax for individuals or corporations, as well as a lack of other forms of business-related taxes, have aided the success of these efforts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lvrda.org/ |title=Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency |website=City of Las Vegas |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504162022/http://lvrda.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Fremont Street Experience was built in an effort to draw tourists back to the area and has been popular since its startup in 1995.

The city conducted a land-swap deal in 2000 with [[Lehman Brothers]], acquiring {{convert|61|acre}} of property near downtown Las Vegas in exchange for {{Convert|91|acre|ha}} of the Las Vegas Technology Center.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neff |first=Erin |date=July 20, 2000 |title=LV Council OKs Talks for Downtown Land Deal |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2000/jul/20/lv-council-oks-talks-for-downtown-land-deal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502142243/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2000/jul/20/lv-council-oks-talks-for-downtown-land-deal/ |archive-date=May 2, 2008 |work=[[Las Vegas Sun]]}}</ref> In 2004, Las Vegas Mayor [[Oscar Goodman]] announced that the area would become home to [[Symphony Park]] (originally called "Union Park"<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 21, 2009 |title=Area in downtown Las Vegas renamed Symphony Park |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/area-in-downtown-las-vegas-renamed-symphony-park/ |work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]}}</ref>), a mixed-use development. The development is home to the [[Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health]], [[The Smith Center for the Performing Arts]], the [[Discovery Children's Museum]], the Las Vegas [[Chamber of commerce|Chamber of Commerce]], and four residential projects totaling 600 residential units as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Symphony Park |url=https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business/Economic-Development/Symphony-Park |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905165352/https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Business/Economic-Development/Symphony-Park |archive-date=September 5, 2024 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=City of Las Vegas}}</ref>

[[File:World Market Center - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|[[World Market Center Las Vegas|World Market Center]] Building A]]
In 2005, the [[World Market Center]] opened, consisting of three large buildings taking up  {{Convert|5,400,000|sqft|m2|spell=}}. Trade shows for the furniture and furnishing industries are held there semiannually.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gillan |first=Jeff |date=April 30, 2018 |title=You've seen it a million times. What's inside the World Market Center? |url=https://news3lv.com/news/local/can-you-fly-drones-near-a-firefighting-operation-sort-of |work=[[KSNV-TV]]}}</ref>

Also nearby is the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets. With a second expansion, completed in May 2015, the mall currently offers 175 stores.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premiumoutlets.com/lasvegas |title=Premium Outlets: Las Vegas |website=[[Simon Property Group]] |access-date=September 13, 2014 |archive-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012111451/http://www.premiumoutlets.com/lasvegas/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

City offices moved to a new [[Las Vegas City Hall]] in February 2013 on downtown's Main Street. The former city hall building is now occupied by the corporate headquarters for the online retailer [[Zappos.com]], which opened downtown in 2013. Zappos CEO [[Tony Hsieh]] took an interest in the urban area and contributed $350 million toward a revitalization effort called the Downtown Project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Revitalizing Downtown Las Vegas |url=http://www.downtownproject.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912234208/http://downtownproject.com/ |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |access-date=September 13, 2014 |website=Downtown Project}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=What Happens in Brooklyn Moves to Vegas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/magazine/what-happens-in-brooklyn-moves-to-vegas.html |first=Timothy |last=Pratt |date=October 19, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |url-access=subscription |journal=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205011331/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/magazine/what-happens-in-brooklyn-moves-to-vegas.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Projects funded include Las Vegas's first independent bookstore, [[The Writer's Block]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://knpr.org/knpr/2014-12/despite-e-books-independent-bookstore-gambling-downtown-las-vegas |title=Despite E-Books, Independent Bookstore Gambling on Downtown Las Vegas |first=Chris |last=Sieroty |publisher=[[KNPR]] News |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530082035/http://knpr.org/knpr/2014-12/despite-e-books-independent-bookstore-gambling-downtown-las-vegas |archive-date=May 30, 2015 }}</ref>

===Other industries===

A number of new industries have moved to Las Vegas in recent decades. [[Zappos.com]] (now an [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] subsidiary) was founded in San Francisco but by 2013 had moved its headquarters to downtown Las Vegas. [[Allegiant Air]], a low-cost air carrier, launched in 1997 with its first hub at [[Harry Reid International Airport]] and headquarters in nearby Summerlin.

[[Planet 13 Holdings]], a cannabis company, opened the world's largest [[Cannabis shop|cannabis dispensary]] in Las Vegas at {{cvt|112,000|sqft|m2}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/planet-13-worlds-largest-cannabis-dispensary-opens-in-las-vegas.html |title=The world's largest cannabis dispensary just opened in Vegas—and it has an entertainment complex attached |last=Im |first=Jimmy |date=November 3, 2018 |website=[[CNBC]] |language=en |access-date=June 25, 2019 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624135908/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/planet-13-worlds-largest-cannabis-dispensary-opens-in-las-vegas.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/15/18096082/planet-13-marijuana-dispensary-las-vegas-luxury-marketing-branding-cannabis |title=We visited the world's largest cannabis dispensary |last=Chen |first=Angela |date=November 15, 2018 |journal=[[The Verge]] |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624135911/https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/15/18096082/planet-13-marijuana-dispensary-las-vegas-luxury-marketing-branding-cannabis |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Effects of growth on water supply ===
A growing population means the Las Vegas Valley used {{convert|1.2|e9USgal|e9L|abbr=unit}} more water in 2014 than in 2011. Although water conservation efforts implemented in the wake of a 2002 drought have had some success, local [[Water footprint|water consumption]] remains 30&nbsp;percent greater than in Los Angeles, and over three times that of San Francisco metropolitan area residents. The [[Southern Nevada Water Authority]] is building a $1.4&nbsp;billion tunnel and pumping station to bring water from [[Lake Mead]], has purchased water rights throughout Nevada, and has planned a controversial $3.2&nbsp;billion [[Water transportation|pipeline]] across half the state. By law, the Las Vegas Water Service District "may deny any request for a water commitment or request for a water connection if the District has an inadequate supply of water." But limiting growth on the basis of an inadequate water supply has been unpopular with the casino and building industries.<ref name=":0" />