This article has all sorts of fascinating facts about Las Vegas that will appeal to tourists and those who live here.
There is much to learn about the city of Las Vegas: what there is to do, where to eat, and even where the best places are to stay. You could spend a lot of time as a new person in Las Vegas searching for the best places to visit or perhaps you just want something fun to tell your relatives about when they come for a visit.
Whatever your motive, you have come to the right place.
DID YOU KNOW?
LAS VEGAS MEANS “THE MEADOWS”
Facts about Las Vegas #1: It’s true! The name comes from the Spanish word “vegas” which means “meadows”.
The name was chosen in 1821 by Rafael Rivera, who was exploring the area at the time. He was a scout for the Spanish army who discovered springs of water while traveling through what is now Nevada. He named it after a large number of spring-watered grasses that he found in the area.
In modern times, Las Vegas has become known for its casinos and nightlife, but its history is much more than that.
THE LIGHTS OF LAS VEGAS ARE BRIGHTER THAN ANY CITY IN THE WORLD
Facts about Las Vegas #2: One of the facts about Las Vegas is this is a city of lights, but did you know that the brightest spot on Earth is actually in Las Vegas? The city’s famous Las Vegas Strip is a glowing beacon that can be seen from space. That’s right—if you had X-ray vision and could see through the Earth to its core, your eyes would land right on the Strip!
Now that’s something to gamble on.
THE OLDEST HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS
Facts about Las Vegas #3: The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is the oldest and smallest hotel and casino in Las Vegas. It opened in 1906, which means it’s been open for over a century. It was called Hotel Nevada and the hotel and casino are owned by Derek & Greg Stevens. It has 122 rooms.
The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino is located at 1 E Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. It’s right across the street from the Fremont Street Experience and just a few blocks away from the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino is considered to be a local casino because most of its customers are residents of Las Vegas or close-by areas such as Henderson or North Las Vegas, which are suburbs of Las Vegas.
CLARK COUNTY IS WHERE THE FAMOUS LAS VEGAS STRIP IS LOCATED
Facts about Las Vegas #4: Did you know that Clark County is where the famous Las Vegas Strip is located and not within the city limits of Las Vegas?
In fact, the city of Las Vegas has a population of 646, 790.
The Las Vegas Strip is the most famous stretch of road in the world. It runs 6.1 miles from the South end of Downtown to the North end and is home to some of the biggest hotels and casinos in the world, including Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio, and The Mirage.
It’s hard to believe that all this glitz and glamour started as a dusty desert town with only ten buildings at its core. But what’s even harder to believe is that it wasn’t even part of Las Vegas!
Las Vegas proper was founded in 1905, but Clark County didn’t come into existence until 1908.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 38 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VISIT LAS VEGAS EACH YEAR FOR THE SAME THING: TO HAVE A GOOD TIME
Facts about Las Vegas #5: You know what they say: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
But if you’ve ever been to Sin City, you already know that it’s not true. Because whether it’s the lights and sounds of the Strip or the incredible food options that await your taste buds, there’s something about Las Vegas that makes you want to share it with everyone.
It is the city that practically exists to have a good time. It’s the kind of place where you can get married or head over to watch a show—all in a day’s work. But despite its reputation as a party town, there are still some things about Las Vegas that you might not know.
HARRY REID INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE EIGHTH BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE UNITED STATES
Facts about Las Vegas #6: Harry Reid International Airport formerly known as McCarran International Airport, is the eighth busiest airport in the United States. It is located in Paradise, Nevada and it serves over 52.5 million passengers in the last year. The airport is named after Harry Reid, who was a former senator from Nevada.
THERE ARE 50 WEDDING CHAPELS IN LAS VEGAS. THE ONLY LIMIT IS YOUR IMAGINATION
Facts about Las Vegas #7: Las Vegas has been called the “Wedding Capital of the World” because of its many wedding chapels and wedding-related attractions. There are nearly 3000 weddings happening each day in Las Vegas! The city boasts more than 30 wedding chapels on The Strip alone, with hundreds more scattered throughout the city.
In addition to the thousands of weddings held every day in Las Vegas, there are also countless weddings held at nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and more throughout the city every year.
LAS VEGAS IS THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR CONVENTIONS, TRADE SHOWS, AND MORE
Facts about Las Vegas #8: There are over 22,000 conventions held in Las Vegas every year. If you’re not familiar with conventions, they’re when people gather to discuss and learn about a particular topic. Examples include comic book conventions, auto shows, and even the CES (Consumer Electronics Show).
Las Vegas is one of the most popular convention cities in the U.S. because of its convenient location, a wide range of hotel options, and varied entertainment options. The city has many hotels with huge convention centers that easily accommodate large groups of people and offer plenty of amenities to keep everyone entertained during your stay.
AT GOLDEN GATE, THE BIGGEST ROULETTE BET IN LAS VEGAS HISTORY WAS MADE AT $250,000
Facts about Las Vegas #9: For those who love the thrill of a big bet, the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is a must-see. It’s home to the biggest roulette table on the Strip and was recently the scene of an impressive $270,600 wager that set a new record.
The man behind this massive bet was Ashley Revell. Revell put down $135,000 on a single number: 7 Red. The wheel spun, and the ball landed on 7 Red!
There were cheers from all around as Revell collected his winnings. The casino made sure he got every penny he had come to him after such an amazing feat of luck (or skill).
GAMING AND GAMBLING ACCOUNTS FOR 43% OF LAS VEGAS CASINOS’ REVENUE
Facts about Las Vegas #10: Gaming and gambling generally account for slightly over 43 percent of Las Vegas casinos’ revenue. The rest of the money comes from food, drinks, and other entertainment options like shows and attractions.
Las Vegas is known as the “entertainment capital of the world”. The majority of people who visit Las Vegas do not gamble at all—they just come to see shows or shop at malls or take advantage of other non-gaming activities. But even though most visitors don’t gamble during their stay in Sin City, those who do gamble spend a lot more than those who don’t.
Now that you know some of the random mind-blowing about Las Vegas, we hope you’ll go out and see it for yourself! We can’t wait to see what happens when you get here.
If you’re thinking about visiting Las Vegas or if you’re a local who wants to learn more about the history of our city, we highly recommend taking one of our tours! You’ll get to see all the most iconic landmarks in Las Vegas and learn about their history, as well as some fun facts.
