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Las Vegas: Overview
There are nearly 650 K people in Las Vegas proper and more than 2 M people living in the city’s greater metropolitan area. Of these, nearly 46% are between the ages of 18 and 34. City elections will be held in June and November. The neighborhoods most likely to cater to affluent creatives and families are the Arts District, Downtown, Summerlin, and Henderson.
Population Statistics
- World Population Review estimates Las Vegas’ population in 2020 as 644,644 people, and notes that this is Nevada’s most-populous city. Notably, this counts only those living in the city limits, and does not account for the total metropolitan area, which is more than 2 M people (2.23 M in 2018).
- The total number of residents falling into the 18 – 34-year-old age range is estimated to be around 295,246 for Las Vegas city-proper and 1,053,400 for the greater metropolitan area of the city, or 45.8% of the city’s population. These were estimated because no site collects this information (by the specific range of 18 – 35 particularly); calculations are shown below.
- The general demographics of this city are: White (62.17%), Other Race (12.47%), Black/African-American (12.17%), Asian (6.62%), Two+ Races (4.86%), Native American (0.92%), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.80%). The male-to-female ratio is nearly equal at 50.04% to 49.96% respectively. The median age is 37.7; for women it’s 38.2 and for men, it’s 37.1.
- Average family size is 3.45 and average household size is 2.73 persons, and the city has a 52.5% home ownership rate. The average earnings is $35,928, with males averaging $40,144 and females averaging $32,228 annually.
2020 City Elections
- Clark County, Nevada (where Las Vegas is seated) will have municipal elections in 2020 for the following: “district court judgeships, justice of the peace judgeships, water district representatives, Moapa Valley Television Maintenance District representatives, and Overton Power District representatives,” according to Ballotpedia. The primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020 with the general election following on November 3, 2020.
- Las Vegas held city elections in 2019 for “mayor and the Ward 1, 3, and 5 seats on the city council,” as well as a special election for the Ward 2 seat (after the sitting representative resigned).
Top Neighborhoods for Creatives
- Las Vegas’ Arts District is likely the best place in the city for creatives with spending power. It’s an 18-block area filled with art museums and galleries, as well as artists’ collectives. The area hosts a First Friday event each month, and “encompasses a funky stretch of Main Street that mixes antique shops with bars … plus up-and-coming culinary destinations.”
- The Downtown area of Las Vegas is host to both classic hotel-casinos and corporations, but also home to trendy bars, like the Fremont Street Experience, hip restaurants, like La Comida, and cultural outposts, like 11st Street Records where creatives of all types are sure to flock. Notably, most of the residences in this area are high (or higher-) end.
- Young (and often affluent) families like the Summerlin neighborhood, a “master-planned community” founded and built originally by Howard Hughes. This neighborhood is close to attractions like the Red Rock Resort, which is just off the gorgeous Red Rock Canyon (for the adventurous-hiking types), and the downtown area hosts “a massive shopping and dining complex,” plus the city’s ballpark.
- Henderson is another suburb area that’s likely to be home to affluent creatives and families; the area is a mix of residences and commercial sectors and has been slowly being revitalized for years. It’s home to the “booze district,” or the collection of “local breweries and distilleries,” as well as a gourmet restaurant scene.
Programs for Residents
- The city hosts a variety of programs for residents in the following categories: Neighborhood Services (like for neighborhoods, homeless folks, veterans, etc); Education Services (like before and after-school programs); Events (various); Parks & Facilities (various); Programs & Classes (like sports, educational offerings, dance, art, etc); and Arts & Culture (like visual arts museums, performing arts centers, etc).
- The city also offers helpful resources for new residents, neighborhood improvement grants, rentals (like picnic spaces or special event centers), and parking and city-based transportation options/information.
City ID Cards
- Las Vegas does not appear to have a city ID card program, though the state of Nevada offers an ID (like all states).
Questions for City Officials
- Question 1: Nearly half of the population in the city proper and metropolitan areas is under age 35. What are the biggest draws in the city for this age group and what does the city do to continue to draw them in?
- Question 2: The city has already spent over $2 M on the Badlands legal dispute and the city government just authorized additional expenditures on legal fees. How does the city justify spending what could cover “one-fifth of the operating budget for the city’s Courtyard Homeless Resource Center” on legal expenses over failed negotiations?
Calculations / Estimates
- The US Census Bureau shows the following as statistics for the age breakdown: 18-20 years old (3.8% + 3.9% = 7.7%); 21-24 years old (5.3% + 5.2% = 10.5%); 25-34 (14.3% + 13.3% = 27.6%). This adds up to equal 45.8% of the population.
- Using the Las Vegas city-proper total population: 45.8% of 644,644 = 295,246 persons
- Using the Las Vegas metropolitan area total population of 2.23 M: 45.8% of 2.23 M = 1,053,400 persons