Clark County, Nevada
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| Clark County, Nevada | |
| |
| Map | |
| Image:Map of Nevada highlighting Clark County.svg Location in the state of Nevada | |
| Statistics | |
| Formed | February 5, 1908 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Las Vegas |
| Area - Total - Land - Water | 20,955 km² (8,091 mi²) 20,488 km² (7,910 mi²) 467 km² (180 mi²), 2.23% |
| Population - (2005) - Density | 1,710,551 70/km² |
| Website: www.accessclarkcounty.com | |
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. It is the most populous county in Nevada (2005 population estimate 1,710,551), and contains the city of Las Vegas. Las Vegas has been the county seat since the county was created by splitting off a portion of Lincoln County on February 5, 1908. Much of the county was originally part of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory before Nevada became a state.
Residents of the Las Vegas Valley area often do not make a distinction between the Clark County and the city of Las Vegas, using Las Vegas to describe both.
Clark County is a major tourist destination having 150,000 hotel and motel rooms as of 2005.
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 20,955 km² (8,091 mi²). 20,488 km² (7,910 mi²) of it is land and 467 km² (180 mi²) of it (2.23%) is water.
The Colorado River forms the county's southeastern boundary, with Hoover Dam forming Lake Mead along much of its length. Las Vegas is frequently, yet incorrectly labeled a valley. By definition, Greater Las Vegas is a land basin or bowl, surrounded by four mountain ranges, with nearby Mount Charleston being the highest elevation at 11,918 ft, located to the northwest. Other than the forests on Mount Charleston, the geography in Clark County is a desert. Creosote bushes are the main native vegetation, and the mountains are mostly rocky with little vegetation.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Lincoln County, Nevada - north
- Nye County, Nevada - west
- Inyo County, California - southwest
- San Bernardino County, California - south
- Mohave County, Arizona - east
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,623 families residing in the county. The population density was 67/km² (174/mi²). There were 559,799 housing units at an average density of 27/km² (71/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 71.58% white, 9.08% black or African American, 5.27% Asian, 0.79% Native American, 0.47% Pacific Islander, 8.61% from other races, and 4.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents, who may be of any race, were 21.96% of the population.
There were 512,253 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,616, and the median income for a family was $50,485. Males had a median income of $35,243 versus $27,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,785. About 7.90% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Law and government
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provides most law enforcement services in the county. Exceptions include agencies that have their own police forces including; UNLV, the Clark County School District, and some other cities like Henderson, Mesquite, Boulder City and North Las Vegas.
Clark County Government is run by the Clark County Commission which consists of 7 members who are elected to serve staggered 4 year terms in biannual nonpartisan elections. After each election, the members elect a Chairperson who runs the Commission Meetings. Actual day to day operations are handled by the County Manager who is hired by the Commission.
The County operates out of the Clark County Government Center located in the City of Las Vegas. The building is unusual in shape, and includes an outdoor amphitheater where concerts and other events are held.
The Regional Justice Center replaced the Clark County Courthouse in 2005, and is located about 3 blocks from downtown Fremont Street, at 200 Lewis Avenue. Marriage licenses are issued at the Clark County Clerk's Marriage License Bureau located on the Clark Street side of the Regional Justice Center. The Marriage License Bureau is open from 8:00 am to Midnight Monday through Thursday, Friday 8:00 am to Midnight Sunday, and is open 24 hours on holidays. See the Clark County Clerk Marriage License Bureau Homepage
The Clark County Detention Center (CCDC) is located another block away at 300 S. Casino Center Blvd. Visitation is by a schedule defined by the housing location of the inmate. Visitors must arrive one hour prior to visitation for check in. Visits are 30 minutes long. Two persons per visit. Each inmate is allowed two visits per week. Valid state or federal issued picture identification is required for all visitors. Persons entering will be searched and checked for warrants (and if needed, arrested). Inmate conversations are monitored since all communications are done via closed-circuit television.
The unincorporated townships also have appointed boards that provide advice to the Clark County Commission.
[edit] Clark County Commission
Each Commissioner is elected to represent 1 of 7 districts, designated A-G.
The Commissioners also serve as the Board of the University Medical Center.
Members as of 2005
| District | Expires | Commissioner |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2009 | Bruce L. Woodbury |
| B | 2009 | Tom Collins |
| C | 2009 | Chip Maxfield |
| D | 2009 | Yvonne Atkinson Gates |
| E | 2007 | Myrna Williams - Chris Giunchigliani to serve new term ending in 2011 |
| F | 2007 | Lynette Boggs - Susan Brager to serve new term ending in 2011 |
| G | 2011 | Rory Reid |
[edit] Regional Agencies
[edit] Clark County Regional Flood Control District
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) was created in 1985 by the Nevada state legislature allowing Clark County to provide broad solutions to flooding problems.
[edit] Clark County School District
Public primary and secondary education is the responsibility of the Clark County School District.
[edit] Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Operates the Cat Bus and does planning for most major roadways.
[edit] Southern Nevada Water Authority
A multi-agency group that manages the water distribution for the Las Vegas valley.
[edit] Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee
The group that manages and protects the Las Vegas Wash.
Since 1999 the group has added more the 15,000 plants to stabilize the wash's banks and restore and expand the wetlands surrounding the wash. As part of the effort to restore the wash to a more natural state, they have also removed more than 500,000 pounds of trash.
[edit] Cities and Unincorporated Places (townships)
[edit] Incorporated cities
- Boulder City
- Henderson
- Las Vegas (County seat)
- North Las Vegas
- Mesquite
[edit] Unincorporated Areas (Census Designated Places) or Townships
- Arden
- Blue Diamond
- Bunkerville
- Cactus Springs
- Cal-Nev-Ari
- Cottonwood Cove
- Enterprise
- Glendale
- Goodsprings
- Indian Springs
- Jean
- Laughlin
- Logandale
- Moapa Town
- Moapa Valley
- Mount Charleston
- Mountain Springs
- Nelson also called Nelson Landing
- Overton
- Paradise
- Primm
- Sandy Valley
- Searchlight
- Sloan
- Spring Valley
- Summerlin South
- Sunrise Manor
- Whitney (Formerly East Las Vegas)
- Winchester
Federal land:
- Creech AFB
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Mount Charleston Wilderness Area
- Nellis AFB
- Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Major Highways
- Image:I-15.svg Interstate 15
- Image:I-215.svg Interstate 215
- Image:I-515.svg Interstate 515
- Image:US 91.svg U.S. Route 91
- Image:US 93.svg U.S. Route 93
- Image:US 95.svg U.S. Route 95
- Image:Nevada 16.png Nevada State Route 16
- Image:Nevada 157.svg Nevada State Route 157
- Image:Nevada 159.svg Nevada State Route 159
- Image:Nevada 160.svg Nevada State Route 160
[edit] Environmental factors
Clark County contains a diverse desert flora and fauna, including higher elevation mountain areas, the desert floor and the Colorado River/Lake Mead ecosystems. Variations in diurnal temperature as well as seasonal swings in temperature create demanding adaptation elements on the species of this county. Additional pressure has been placed on species survival by the rapid human population expansion, especially since 1970.
Correspondingly air quality levels prior to the 1960s were in a favourable range, but the proliferation of automobiles with the human population expansion created circumstances where some Ferderal Air Quality Standards began to be violated in the 1980s.
To plan for the wave of development forecast by 1980, Clark County embarked on a regional Environmental Impact Assessment funded by a Federal Section 208 program, with Sedway Cooke conducting the planning work and Earth Metrics performing environmental analysis. This endeavor projected future population growth, land use changes and environmental impacts.
[edit] Notable government buildings
[edit] See also
A list of Clark County Airports.
[edit] External links
- Clark County, Nevada Government and Services
- Clark County Television (County of Clark owned television station with Live Internet Feed)
- Detailed map of Clark County (Census Bureau Map, little street detail) (pdf, 32 Mb)
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