Las Vegas
Las Vegas, officially the City of Las Vegas and often known simply as Vegas, is the 28th-most populated city in the United States, the most populated city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area and is the largest city within the greater Mojave Desert. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The Las Vegas Valley as a whole serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for Nevada.
The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its mega casino-hotels and associated activities. It is a top three destination in the United States for business conventions and a global leader in the hospitality industry, claiming more AAA Five Diamond hotels than any other city in the world. Today, Las Vegas annually ranks as one of the world's most visited tourist destinations. The city's tolerance for numerous forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of "Sin City", and has made Las Vegas a popular setting for literature, films, television programs, and music videos.
Las Vegas was settled in 1905 and officially incorporated in 1911. At the close of the 20th century, it was the most populated American city founded within that century (a similar distinction was earned by Chicago in the 19th century). Population growth has accelerated since the 1960s, and between 1990 and 2000 the population nearly doubled, increasing by 85.2%. Rapid growth has continued into the 21st century, and according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had 648,224 residents in 2018, with a metropolitan population of 2,227,053.
The Stratosphere.
The Stratosphere is the pinnacle of the Las Vegas skyline. Built between 1992 and 1995, the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest building in Sin City and the tallest freestanding tower in the United States. Developed by the same engineering firm that designed the Singapore Flyer, the tower is home to four thrill rides that draw adventure seekers of all types. Guests can skydive from the top of the tower with Sky Jump Las Vegas or dangle over the edge of the 1,149-foot (350-meter) tower on Insanity.
The Mob museum.
Organized crime and Las Vegas have a long and complicated history, and the Mob Museum in downtown Vegas tells the story of organized crime’s influence not only in Sin City but throughout the United States. Visitors can use an actual Tommy gun in a simulation display, or listen to actual wiretaps.
