Las Vegas, which in Spanish means "The Meadows," was not originally intended to be the city that many now know as "Sin City."
Although it did not become officially a city until 1911, the Las Vegas area was first settled by missionaries of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the mid-19th century. By the early 20th century, Las Vegas had become a railroad town, an outpost on the way to Los Angeles. As more travelers came through town, some stayed and began to partake of certain activities, such as gambling, which was at the time illegal.
Once gambling became legal in 1931, Las Vegas began a period of exponential growth that still continues to this day. Hotels sprang up by the dozens, some still chugging along in the downtown section of town. Others built their hotels along the main highway into town, and in 1989, the first "megaresort" was built, the Mirage, leading to the building of dozens of these hotels which offered entertainment and gambling casinos, along with thousands of rooms, under one roof.
Of course, Las Vegas is not just about gaming. The city also offers world class entertainment, dining, and shopping. As of 2006, the estimated population of Las Vegas was over half a million.
by Ray Salloom
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