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| Las Vegas is the largest city in Nevada, United States, the largest city founded in the 20th century, and a major vacation, shopping, and gambling destination. In the 2004 census, the city reported a population of 536,119. Las Vegas has been the county seat of Clark County since its formation in 1909. Recent figures place the population for the Las Vegas metropolitan area at around 1,950,000 people (2005 estimate), the fastest growing in the United States. |
The name Las Vegas is often applied to the unincorporated areas of Clark County that surround the city, especially the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip. This 4½ mi (7¼ km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard is mostly outside the Las Vegas city limits, in the township of Paradise.
Las Vegas is sometimes called "Sin City" due to the popularity of legalized gambling, availability of alcoholic beverages any time (like all of Nevada), various forms and degrees of adult entertainment, and legalized prostitution in nearby counties (Nevada law prohibits prostitution in counties which have populations greater than 400,000). The nickname favored by local government and promoters of tourism is The Entertainment Capital of the World. The city's glamorous image has made it a popular setting for films and television programs.
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