First named by Spaniards in the 1800s, Las Vegas translates to 'The Meadows' or 'The Grasslands, and was named after the extensive meadows supported by underground wells and springs. Las Vegas was established as a railroad town on May 15, 1905, it was nearly 30 years before gambling was legalized in the city. The Hoover Dam, which supplies power to Nevada, Arizona and parts of California, was completed on October 9, 1936. In 1941, the Las Vegas Army Air Field began construction: This air field is now known as Nellis Air Force Base, and the flow of military personnel, along with casino job-hunters, into the area caused a land building boom that still is in progress.
The Flamingo Hotel opened on December 26th, 1946, on what would later become the Las Vegas Strip. The Mirage was the first 'megaresort' casino, and opened on November 22nd, 1989. The opening of The Mirage sparked a movement of construction from the downtown of Las Vegas to the area of the Las Vegas Strip: A move which the downtown is still trying to recover from, as the move of construction resulted in a move in tourism as well.
Las Vegas celebrated its 100th birthday in 2005.
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