Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada is located in the southern part of the state and is bordered by Nye County to the north, Lincoln County to the east, Mohave County, Arizona to the southeast, and San Bernardino County, California to the southwest. It is also home to a portion of Death Valley National Park. See Countryaah – Counties in Nevada. The county seat is Las Vegas, which is also its largest city.
The area that would become Clark County was first explored by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s and was later colonized by ranchers in the 1800s. The county was officially established by Nevada’s legislature in 1909 and named for William Andrews Clark who had made significant financial contributions to establish a university in Las Vegas.
The county encompasses 8,896 square miles and has a population of over 2 million people. It is home to numerous cities including Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, Mesquite and Laughlin. The county also includes several unincorporated towns such as Moapa Valley and Cal-Nev-Ari.
Clark County offers plenty of outdoor activities including hiking at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area; camping at Lake Mead National Recreation Area; fishing at Lake Mohave; golfing at numerous courses throughout the county; skiing or snowboarding at Mt Charleston Ski Resort; kayaking or canoeing on the Colorado River; or exploring Death Valley National Park. There are also many cultural attractions such as museums, galleries and performing arts centers throughout Clark County.
Demographics of Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada is the most populous county in the state, with a population of over 2 million people. The largest city in the county is Las Vegas, which is home to around two-thirds of Clark County’s population. The remaining third is spread across numerous other cities and unincorporated areas throughout the county.
The racial makeup of Clark County is diverse, with White (non-Hispanic) making up 52.2% of the population, Hispanic or Latino at 29.5%, African American at 11.0%, Asian at 6.1%, and Native American at 1.0%. Clark County also has a large immigrant population, with nearly 18% of residents being foreign-born.
The median household income in Clark County is $60,948 and the poverty rate stands at 13%. The unemployment rate here is 4%, which is slightly lower than the national average of 5%. Around 35% of households have children under 18 years old living with them, while 44% are married couples living together and 15% are non-family households.
In terms of education attainment levels, 68% of adults aged 25 or older in Clark County have earned a high school diploma or higher and 21% have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are several universities located in the county including University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), College of Southern Nevada (CSN), National University Las Vegas (NULV), Touro University Nevada (TUN), Roseman University College Medicine Henderson Campus (RUCMC) and DeVry University Henderson Campus (DUHC).
Places of Interest in Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada is home to a variety of attractions that appeal to both visitors and locals alike. Las Vegas is the county’s largest city and it has plenty of sights and activities to offer. The iconic Las Vegas Strip is the ultimate destination for entertainment, featuring world-famous casinos, luxurious hotels, and vibrant nightlife. Other popular attractions in the city include the Fremont Street Experience, Bellagio Fountains, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Hoover Dam.
Those looking for an outdoor adventure will find plenty of options in Clark County as well. Popular activities include camping at Lake Mead National Recreation Area; fishing at Lake Mohave; golfing at numerous courses throughout the county; skiing or snowboarding at Mt Charleston Ski Resort; kayaking or canoeing on the Colorado River; or exploring Death Valley National Park.
For those interested in culture, there are several museums throughout Clark County such as The Mob Museum, The Neon Museum and Las Vegas Natural History Museum. Additionally, there are numerous galleries located in the area showcasing contemporary art from local artists as well as performing arts centers such as Smith Center for the Performing Arts and Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.
No matter what interests you have, Clark County has something for everyone to enjoy.
Notable People of Clark County, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada is home to a number of famous people.
The most famous resident of the county is undoubtedly the legendary entertainer and performer, Elvis Presley. He moved to Las Vegas in the 1960s and performed at The International Hotel (now known as The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino). He was known for his extravagant performances and showmanship that helped define the Las Vegas entertainment scene.
Other notable figures from Clark County include musician Liberace, who was born in West Virginia but moved to Las Vegas to pursue a career in music; actor Nicolas Cage, who has starred in numerous films; singer Wayne Newton, who has been performing in Las Vegas since 1959; and boxer Mike Tyson, whose career started when he trained at the Olympic Training Center located in Henderson.
Additionally, several politicians have called Clark County home such as former US Senator Harry Reid; current US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto; former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn; current US Representative Dina Titus; and former US Representative Shelley Berkley.
The county also boasts a number of successful business leaders such as casino mogul Steve Wynn and computer engineer Nolan Bushnell.
These are just some of the notable people from Clark County that have had an impact on society.
