Mighty Mouse and Las Vegas Valley: Difference between pages

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{{two other uses||the city contained therein|Las Vegas, Nevada|other uses|Las Vegas}}
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[[Image:Las Vegas Strip2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Las Vegas Strip|The Las Vegas Strip]], looking south, in 2006]]
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The '''Las Vegas metropolitan area''' includes the Las Vegas Valley, a 600-square-mile (1600 km²) basin, and surrounding areas, that is part of [[Clark County, Nevada|Clark County]] in southern [[Nevada]]. The area contains the largest [[Population density|concentration of people]] in the state. The history of the Las Vegas metropolitan area largely coincides with the history of the city of [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]. "Las Vegas" is often used generically to describe the entire area covered in this article. It is currently the [[Combined statistical area#Largest CSAs|fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation]], with a population rise of nearly 25% from 2000 to 2006, and a current population of approximately two million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?s=7453765 |title = Las Vegas Area Population Reaches 2 Million | accessdate=2007-12-10 | format= |work + }}</ref> The metropolitan includes parts of the [[Las Vegas-Paradise-Pahrump combined statistical area|Las Vegas-Paradise Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is by defined by the [[United States Census Bureau]] to include all of Clark County,<ref> {{cite web |url= http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List4.txt |title= METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, December 2005, WITH CODES |accessdate=2007-03-23 |format= |work= }}</ref> including the cities of Las Vegas, [[Henderson, Nevada|Henderson]], [[North Las Vegas, Nevada|North Las Vegas]], [[Boulder City, Nevada|Boulder City]], and the surrounding areas. In 2005, the valley hosted over 34 million visitors in a single year.
'''Mighty Mouse''' is an [[animation|animated]] [[superhero]] mouse character created by the [[Terrytoons]] studio for [[20th Century Fox]].

As of the 2007 census estimate, the Las Vegas metropolitan Statistical Area area contained over 2.0 million residents, and contains the largest ethnic Hawaiian community outside of [[Hawaii]] in the world.<ref>http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=05000US32003&-ds_name=PEP_2007_EST&-mt_name=PEP_2007_EST_G2007_T001</ref><ref> {{cite web |url=
http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List4.txt |title= METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, December 2005, WITH CODES |accessdate=2007-03-23 |format= |work= }}</ref>

Outdoor lighting displays are everywhere on the many tourist destination buildings in the area. As seen from space, Las Vegas is the brightest city on earth. The lights visible are from the entire valley and not only the city of Las Vegas.<ref name=geochange.er.usgs.gov>{{citeweb |url=http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/changes/anthropogenic/city_lights/ |title=The Extent of Urbanization in the Southwest As Viewed from Space|author=unknown|accessdate=9-7-2008}}</ref>

== History ==
== History ==
{{main|Las Vegas history}}
The character was created by storyman [[Izzy Klein]] as a super-powered housefly named "Superfly," but studio head [[Paul Terry (cartoonist)|Paul Terry]] changed the character into a [[toon]] [[mouse]] instead. Originally created as a [[parody]] of [[Superman]], he first appeared in 1942 in a theatrical animated short entitled ''The Mouse of Tomorrow''. The original name of the character was '''Super Mouse''', but it was soon changed to Mighty Mouse when Paul Terry learned that another character with the same name was being published in [[comic books]]. Super Mouse appeared briefly in the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comic book interpretation of the character, and was nicknamed "Terry the First", as he was the first version of the character.


The area was previously settled by [[Mormon]] farmers in 1854 and later became the site of a [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] fort in 1864, beginning a long relationship between southern Nevada and the U.S. military. Since the 1930s, Las Vegas has generally been identified as a [[gambling]] center as well as a [[resort destination]] primarily targeting adults. Relatively inexpensive [[real estate]] prompted a residential population boom in the Las Vegas Valley in the 1990s and continues to the present day.
[[Image:Mighty Mouse First.jpg|thumb|left|200px|First appearance of Mighty Mouse]]Mighty Mouse originally had a blue costume with a red cape, like [[Superman]]; but over time this changed to a yellow costume with a red cape. As with other imitations of Superman, Mighty Mouse's super powers allow him to fly, and make him incredibly strong and invulnerable. He has demonstrated the use of "[[X-ray vision]]" in at least one cartoon, while during several cartoons he used a form of super-[[hypnosis]] that even allowed him to command inanimate objects and turn back time (as in the cartoons ''The Johnstown Flood'' and ''[[Krakatoa]]''). Other cartoons have him leaving a red [[contrail]] as he flies which he can manipulate like a band of solid flexible matter when he so desires.


[[Nellis Air Force Base]] is located in the northeast corner of the valley. The ranges that the Nellis pilots use and various other land areas used by various federal agencies limit growth of the valley to the north.
The initial formula consisted of an extended setup of a crisis which needs extraordinary help to resolve and Mighty Mouse appears to save the day.


== Boundaries ==
Mighty Mouse was originally voiced by [[Roy Halee]], although [[Tom Morrison]] provided the character's voice in some later cartoons.
[[Image:Lasvegasmetro.png|right|300px]]
The Las Vegas Valley is an area generally defined by the [[Spring Mountains]] on the west, [[Sheep Range|Sheep Mountains]] to the north, [[Muddy Mountains]], [[Eldorado Range]] and [[Lake Mead]] to the east, and the [[Black Mountains (Nevada)|Black Mountains]] to the south.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}


== Geography and environment==
The early, operatic Mighty Mouse cartoons often portrayed Mighty Mouse as a ruthless fighter. He would dole out a considerable amount of punishment, subduing the cats to the point of giving up their evil plan and running away. Mighty Mouse would then chase down the escaping cats, and continue beating them mercilessly, usually hurling or punching them miles away to finish the fight. A favorite move is to suddenly fly up to just under a much larger opponent's chin and throw a blinding flurry of punches that leaves the enemy reeling.
[[Image:lasvegas.terra.1500pix.jpg|thumb|300px|Las Vegas viewed in false color, from 438 miles (705 km) by TERRA satellite. Grass-covered land, such as golf courses, appears in red. The picture bottom is just south of Sunset road and the airport, the Spring Mountains on the west and Sunrise Mountain on the east]]
The land in the Las Vegas Valley is sandy [[desert]] with mountains in the distance.


===Climate===
Mighty Mouse had two mouse [[girlfriend]]s named [[Pearl Pureheart]] (in the cartoons) and Mitzi (in the comics during the 50s and 60s), and his arch-enemy is an evil [[villain]] cat named [[Oil Can Harry (Terrytoons)|Oil Can Harry]] (who originated as a human in earlier Terrytoons as the enemy of [[Fanny Zilch]]). These characters were created for a series of Mighty Mouse cartoons that spoofed the old cliffhanger [[Serial (film)|serial]]s of the days of silent film; the cartoons usually began with Mighty Mouse and Pearl Pureheart already in a desperate situation, as if they were the next chapter of the serial. The characters often sang mock [[opera]] songs during these cartoons. Mighty Mouse was also known for singing "Here I come to save the day!" when flying into action. Mighty Mouse's home town is Mouseville, populated mostly by [[anthropomorphic]] [[toon]] [[mouse|mice]].
The Las Vegas Valley lies in a relatively high-altitude portion of the [[Mojave Desert]], and this can result in drastic changes of temperature between seasons, and even between day and night. The Valley generally averages less than five inches (130 mm) of rain annually. Daily summer temperatures from June through August typically exceed 100 °F (38 °C). While low ambient humidity tempers the effect of these temperatures, [[dehydration]], [[heat exhaustion]], and [[sun stroke]] can occur after even a limited time outdoors in the summer. The interiors of automobiles often prove deadly to small children and pets during the summer and surfaces exposed to the sun can cause [[burn (injury)|first- and second- degree burns]] to unprotected skin. The late summer, especially in July and August, is marked by "monsoon season" when moist winds from the [[Gulf of California]] soak much of the [[Southwestern United States]]. While raising humidity levels, these winds develop into dramatic desert thunderstorms that cause [[flash flood]]ing.


Winter temperatures are very mild with lows of around 30 °F (-1 °C). Snow accumulation at the valley floor is rare but the surrounding mountains receive as much as ten feet (3 m) in the winter.
Mighty Mouse fought other villains, though most only appeared in one or two cartoons. In at least two cartoons, he faced a huge, dim-witted but super-strong cat named Julius Pinhead "Schlabotka" (this cat's name was only spoken and never spelled out), whose strength rivaled Mighty Mouse's own. In another cartoon, titled ''The Green Line,'' the cats live on one side of the main street of a town and the mice on the other; a green line down the middle of the street serves as the dividing line. They agree to keep the peace as long as no one crosses it. An evil entity, a [[Satan]] cat, comes and starts the cats and mice fighting. Mighty Mouse appears and the evil spirit materializes tridents to attack him. This maneuver fails, and the devil cat disappears in a puff of smoke, like an air plane crashing to the ground. At the end, Mighty Mouse is cheered by mice and cats alike.


===Air quality===
In the episode "Krakatoa", Mighty Mouse lassos the super-volcano Krakatoa, saving the island's inhabitants from the pyroclastic flow. Most memorably, a love-interest for Mighty Mouse makes her appearance, Krakatoa Katy. One line of her theme song is "Krakatoa Katy, she ain't no lady".
Being located in a desert valley creates issues with [[air quality]]. From the dust the wind picks up from disturbed desert surrounding the city, to the smog produced by vehicles to the pollen in the air, the valley can have some bad air days.


[[Pollen]] can be a major issue several weeks a year with [[pollen count|counts]] occasionally in the 70,000 plus range. Local governments are trying to control this by banning plants that produce the most pollen.
Mighty Mouse was not extraordinarily popular in theatrical cartoons, but was still Terrytoons' most popular character. What made him a cultural icon was television. Paul Terry sold the Terrytoon company to [[CBS]] [[television]] in 1955. The network began running ''The Mighty Mouse Playhouse'' in late 1955; it remained on the air for nearly twelve years (and featured ''[[The Mighty Heroes]]'' during the final season). Mighty Mouse cartoons became a staple of children's TV programming for a period of over thirty years, from the 1950s through the 1980s.


The dust problems usually happen on very windy days, so they tend to be [[seasonal]] and of a short duration.
Despite the character's popularity on TV, Terrytoons produced only a handful of "Mighty Mouse" cartoons in the 1959-61 time frame; the company evidently believed that the existing library of "Mighty Mouse" episodes were enough to keep youngsters tuning-in to CBS every Saturday morning.


[[Smog]] on the other hand gets worst when there is no wind to move the air out of the valley. Also in winter it is possible to get an [[inversion (meteorology)|inversion]] in the valley air that actually traps any smog in the valley.
Some early [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] credits the original theme song to The Terrytooners, [[Mitch Miller]] and Orchestra, but recent publishing has generally credited [[The Sandpipers]].<ref>[http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2004_01_18.html#007948 news from me - ARCHIVES<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


The county is working to control these problems and has shown some success over the years. The constant tightening of [[Federal government of the United States|Federal]] requirements for allowable particles in the air, make the task of meeting [[Air pollution|air quality]] standards difficult.
== Comics ==
Several publishers put out Mighty Mouse [[comic books]]. There were two main titles, "Mighty Mouse" and the "Adventures of Mighty Mouse".


===Water===
"Mighty Mouse"
The native [[flora]] does little to help the [[soil]] retain water. During the intense rains of [[monsoon]] season or (relatively) wet months of January and February, a network of dry natural channels, called washes or [[arroyo (creek)|arroyo]]s, carved into the valley floor allows water to flow down from the mountains and converge in the [[Las Vegas Wash]] which runs through the [[Clark County Wetlands Park]]. The wash system used to form a large natural wetlands which then flowed into the [[Colorado River (U.S.)|Colorado River]] until the construction of [[Hoover Dam]] on the Colorado River led to the creation of Lake Mead. Further development in the 1980s and 1990s made [[Lake Las Vegas]], which required directing the Las Vegas Wash into tunnels which run under Lake Las Vegas and into [[Lake Mead]].
*[[Timely Comics]] #1-4 (1946)
*[[St. John Publications]] #5-67 (1947-55)
*[[Pines Comics]] #68-83 (1956-59)


The Las Vegas area is limited to about 300,000 [[acre feet]] (370,000,000 m³) of water each year from Lake Mead, with credits for water it returns to the lake. The allocations were made when Nevada had virtually no people or agriculture. The allocations were also made during a wet string of years which overstated the available water in the entire watershed. As a result, precipitation that is below normal for a few years can have a major impact on the Colorado River Reservoirs.
"The Adventures of Mighty Mouse" (renaming of ''Terry's Comics'', where Mighty Mouse appeared)
*St. John, #126-128 (1955).
*Pines Comics, #129-44 (1956-59)
*[[Dell Comics]], #145-55 (1959-61)
*[[Gold Key Comics]], #156-160 (1962-63)
*Dell Comics, #161-?? (1963-?)


Early Vegas depended on the [[aquifer]] which fed the springs, but the pumping of water from these caused a large drop in the water levels and ground subsidence over wide areas of the valley. Today, the aquifers are basically used to store water that is pumped from the lake during periods of low demand and pumped out during periods of high demand.
"Mighty Mouse", [[Marvel Comics]], #1-10, 1990, based on the [[Ralph Bakshi]] version (''[[Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures]]'').


==Revivals==
===Urbanization===
The population doubling time in the greater metropolitan area was under ten years since the early 1970s and the Las Vegas metropolitan area now has a population of over two million people{{Fact|date=July 2008}}. This rapid population growth led to a significant [[urbanization]] of desert lands into industrial and commercial areas. (''see'' [[suburbia]]).
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, [[Filmation]] made TV cartoons starring Mighty Mouse and fellow Terrytoon characters [[Heckle and Jeckle]] in a show called ''[[The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle]]'' where a new character was created: a vampire duck named Quacula (not to be confused with [[Count Duckula]]). The show premiered in 1979 and lasted for about 2 seasons. It even spawned a limited-theatrical-release matinee movie, ''[[Mighty Mouse in the Great Space Chase]]'', released December 10, 1982. In the Filmation series and movies, Mighty Mouse was voiced by veteran voice artist [[Alan Oppenheimer]].


== Economy ==
During the 1980s, animator [[Ralph Bakshi]] (who got his start at Terrytoons) created a new series of Mighty Mouse cartoons, entitled ''[[Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures]]''. In this series, Mighty Mouse had a real identity, '''Mike Mouse''' ([[Patrick Pinney]] voiced both identities of the character in this series), and a sidekick: [[Scrappy Mouse]] (voiced by actress [[Dana Hill]]), the little orphan. Its heavy [[satire|satirical]] tone and humor makes it a [[collector's item]] even today; many collectors of older TV series seek out episodes of the Bakshi Mighty Mouse. The series was cancelled after two seasons, due to the controversy surrounding an episode in which Mighty Mouse sniffed a red flower he had crushed into a powder.{{fact|date=August 2008}} Media watchdog Reverend [[Donald Wildmon]] asserted that he was actually snorting [[cocaine]].{{fact|date=August 2008}} CBS and Bakshi denied this assertion, and Wildmon was soon retired from his position as media watchdog.
[[Image:LasVegas-Casino.jpg|right|thumb|Interior of the [[Circus Circus Las Vegas|Circus Circus]] [[casino]]. A major part of the city economy is based on tourism including gambling.]]


The driving force is the [[tourism industry]]. In the past the casinos were the one major attraction. Now [[shopping]], [[Convention (meeting)|convention]]s and [[fine dining]] are also major forces in attracting the tourist dollar. With about 130,000 [[hotel]] rooms, [[as of 2005]], to fill, the conventions help fill the hotels, destination [[restaurant]]s, and [[shopping mall]]s on the Strip.
Mighty Mouse has not been seen since [[Marvel Comics]]'s 10-issue [[comic book]] series (set in the ''New Adventures'' [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]]) in 1990 and 1991 except for an [[arcade game]] by [[Atari]] and a [[2001]] "the power of cheese" TV commercial. That commercial, set in a city not unlike New York, shows Mighty Mouse dining calmly on cheese in a restaurant while utterly unconcerned with a scene of chaos and terror visibly unfolding in the street outside. The chaos and terror come in the form of an invasion by a fleet of [[flying saucers]]. The commercial was hastily pulled off the air in the wake of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]{{fact}}.


There is a balance between all of the tourist operations in town. The conventions need hotel rooms, dining, and entertainment options. The hotels need the conventions, and tourists to fill their rooms. The restaurants depend on travelers in the hotel rooms to fill their tables. Everyone depends on a good [[road system]] to get travelers into town as well as available and reasonably priced [[airline]] seats.
[[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] is currently working on a [[computer-generated imagery|CGI]] Mighty Mouse feature film (scheduled to release some time in 2010, according to IMDB), [[Barry E. Jackson]] providing conceptual art, and screenwriting by [[Maurice Chauvet]] and [[Christopher Vail]]. A CGI TV series will follow the film. A Mighty Mouse history book is in the works and will be released to tie-in with the movie. [http://www.ralphbakshi.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=625&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0]


Over the past few years, [[retire]]es have been moving to the valley driving businesses that support them, from housing to [[health care]].
The rights to Mighty Mouse are now divided as a result of the 2006 corporate split of [[Viacom]] (the former owner of the Terrytoons franchise) into two separate companies. CBS Operations (a unit of the current [[CBS Corporation]]) owns the ancillary rights and trademarks to the character, while Paramount Home Entertainment/[[CBS DVD]] holds home video rights (although any sort of home video reissue has yet to be announced), and what is now [[CBS Television Distribution]] has television syndication rights (the shorts are currently out of circulation). They are also being used under license by Apple Inc's [[Apple Mighty Mouse]].


Las Vegas has been trying to expand its [[manufacturing]] and [[research]] base. There have been some positive signs from the [[World Market Center]] being developed in the city and opening of [[Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's Institute]] in 2007 in addition to many smaller businesses.
==DVD Releases==
*While there has been no official release of the Mighty Mouse shorts or TV series on DVD, the short '''Wolf Wolf''', which is believed to be in the Public Domain, has been released on DVD numerous times.
*For a while, there was a Mighty Mouse value DVD featuring 3 hours of cartoons featuring Mighty Mouse.


While the cost of housing spiked up over 40% in 2004, the lack of [[Corporate tax|business]] and [[income tax]]es still makes Nevada an attractive place for many companies to relocate to as well as expand into. Being a true twenty-four hour town, [[call center]]s have always seemed to find Vegas a good place to find workers willing to work at all hours.
==Real Mighty Mouse==
Researchers have found that by knocking out a gene in the brain, they can create a mouse that is not bothered by situations that would ordinarily trigger instinctive or learned fear responses [http://www.nih.gov/news/radio/dec2005/12162005mice.htm][http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?rn=222561&cl=5432807&ch=222562].


[[Construction]] is strong. New strip casinos take years to build and employ thousands of workers. The same could be said of the housing boom with new home sales around 15,000 units in 2004. With the introduction of Turnburry Towers several years ago, developers discovered that there was a large demand for [[high-end]] [[condominium]]s. At the end of 2004, it was estimated that as many as eighty major condominiums were in various stages of development.
Case Western Reserve University researchers have also bred a line of "mighty mice" that have the capability of running five to six kilometers at a speed of 20 meters per minute for up to six hours before stopping[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/cwru-cwr102907.php][http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2007/10/26/mouse.mov]. These genetically engineered mice also eat 60 percent more than normal mice, but remain fitter, trimmer and live and breed longer than normal mice in a control group. Some female mice have had offspring at 2.5 years of age, an amazing feat considering most mice do not reproduce after they are one year old. The key to this remarkable alteration in energy metabolism is the over-expression of the gene for the enzyme phospheonolpyruvate carboxykinase ([[PEPCK]]-C).
=== Shopping ===
Las Vegas has expanded its attractiveness to visitors by offering high-end merchandise in many upscale shopping malls although casino gaming and theater shows remain the primary reason that most tourists come to Las Vegas. In addition to the outlying malls, most casinos on the Strip are connected to indoor malls that offer an extensive range of choices. The [[Las Vegas Monorail|monorail]] on the east side of the Strip facilitates shopping trips from the north to the south.


Major malls include:
==Other uses==
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
{{Trivia|date=July 2008}}
*[[Bonanza Gift Store]]
* Small boxes with seats in retail stores, intended for children, would play five-minute episodes of ''Mighty Mouse'' for 25¢. They disappeared from sale around 1985.
*[[The Boulevard Mall]]
*[[Galleria at Sunset]]
*[[Grand Canal Shoppes]]
*[[Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas]]
*[[Fashion Show Mall]]
*[[The Forum Shops at Caesars]]
*[[Las Vegas Premium Outlets]]
*[[Meadows Mall]]
*[[Miracle Mile Shops]]
*[[Stratosphere Tower Shops]]
*[[The Shoppes at the Palazzo]]
*[[Town Square (Las Vegas)|Town Square]]
</div>


== Housing ==
* In the 1950s, the name '''Mighty Mouse''' was unofficially applied by the [[United States Air Force]] to the 2¾-inch (70 mm) FFAR ([[Fin-Folding Aerial Rocket]]) weapons used by various [[USAF]] [[interceptor aircraft]] against [[bomber]]s. The "Mighty Mouse" rockets were carried by the [[F-86 Sabre|F-86D Sabre]], [[F-89 Scorpion]], [[F-94 Starfire]], and [[F-102 Delta Dagger]].
[[Slab-on-grade foundations]] is the common base for residential buildings in the area.


Traditionally housing consisted primarily of [[Single-family detached home|single family detached housing]]. [[Apartment complex]]es generally were two story buildings. There have been exceptions, but they were few and far between. In the 1990s, [[Turnberry Associates]] constructed the first high rise condominium. Prior to this there were only a handful of mid rise multi family housing.
* In one of his first television appearances (on the premiere of NBC's [[Saturday Night Live]], October 11, 1975), [[Andy Kaufman]] lip-synched to the '''Mighty Mouse''' theme song. He remained nervously silent throughout most of the song, carefully following along with the rhythm of the music, then mouthing just the line "Here I come to save the day!" as he made exaggerated physical gestures and affected a "heroic" grin, only to return to his nervous silence after the line passed.


By the mid 2000s, there was a major move into high rise condominiums which had a noticeable impact on the [[skyline]], especially in the area around The Strip.
* In 2005, the name "[[Apple Mighty Mouse|Mighty Mouse]]" was applied (under license from [[Viacom]], later CBS Operations) to a [[computer]] [[pointing device]] manufactured by [[Apple Inc.]]


== United States housing market correction ==
* Mighty Mouse is also the corporate mascot of the theater chain [[Famous Players]].
Las Vegas has been one of the top areas in the nation adversely affected by the recent [[subprime mortgage crisis]] and [[United States housing market correction]], resulting in a freefall in home prices and mass foreclosures. As of January 2008, 1.9% of homes in the Las Vegas area were in the foreclosure process, almost triple the rate of a year earlier.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120665586676569881.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone Buyers' Revenge: Trash the House After Foreclosure - WSJ.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The problem was exacerbated by [[Flipping|rampant speculation from house flippers]], who sought quick profits and never intended to live in the homes they purchased. As of April 2008, 51% of the more than 22,000 homes for sale in the area were vacant, according to Las Vegas real estate research firm SalesTraq.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-vegas8apr08,1,3818352.story Pricy Las Vegas homes quickly lose their luster - Los Angeles Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Las Vegas neighborhoods==
* NBA point guard [[Damon Stoudamire]] is nicknamed Mighty Mouse, based on his relatively short stature (5'10") and tattoo of the character on his right arm.


<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* Tommy Lee said in his band Mötley Crüe's joint-autobiography that his first tattoo was one of Mighty Mouse.
*Aliante
*Alta Drive/Scotch 80's/Rancho Circle/Rancho Bel Air
*Anthem
*[[Blue Diamond, Nevada|Blue Diamond]]
*[[Centennial Hills]]
*[[Desert Shores, Las Vegas|Desert Shores]]
*[[Green Valley, Henderson|Green Valley]]
*Lake Las Vegas
*Los Prados
*[[Painted Desert, Nevada|Painted Desert]]
*[[Paradise Palms]]
*Paradise Vista
*Mountains Edge
*Queensridge
*Rancho Sierra Estates
*Seven Hills
*Silverado Ranch
*Southern Highlands
*[[Summerlin]]
*[[The Lakes, Las Vegas|The Lakes]]
*West Las Vegas — area bordered by Carey to the North, Bonanza to the South, Rancho Drive to the West, and I-15 to the East.<ref>{{cite news |first=ALAN |last= CHOATE |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Struggling district first needs residents |url= http://www.lvrj.com/news/18326474.html |work= [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2008-04-28 }}</ref> Contains many "letter" streets, streets named after Presidents, and streets named after jewelry.
</div>


== Incorporated cities ==
* Mighty Mouse was going to have a cameo in ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'', but was droped later on due to copyright issues.


*[[Boulder City, Nevada|Boulder City]]
* In the 1995 film ''[[Mallrats]]'', the character Rene(played by [[Shannen Doherty]]) mentions that she once performed a striptease to the theme from Mighty Mouse.
*[[Henderson, Nevada|Henderson]]
*[[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]
* Mighty Mouse is also mentioned in the movie ''[[Dreamcatcher (film)|Dreamcatcher]]'' based on a book by [[Stephen King]] as well as in his film [[Stand by Me (film)|Stand by Me]] where two characters discuss who would win in a [[fight]], [[Superman]] or Mighty Mouse.
*[[North Las Vegas, Nevada|North Las Vegas]]


== Unincorporated communities ==
* In one episode of [[Biker Mice From Mars]], the biker mice burst out of hiding on their motorcycles, singing "Here the Biker Mice come to save the day!", a nod to Mighty Mouse's battle cry.
* [[Enterprise, Nevada|Enterprise]]
* [[Paradise, Nevada|Paradise]]
* [[Spring Valley, Nevada|Spring Valley]]
* [[Summerlin South, Nevada|Summerlin South]]
* [[Sunrise Manor, Nevada|Sunrise Manor]]
* [[Whitney, Nevada|Whitney]]
* [[Winchester, Nevada|Winchester]]


== Media ==
*Mighty Mouse is listed as #91 in the [[100 Greatest Cartoons]] of all time.
=== Broadcast ===


* [[Template:Las Vegas Radio|Radio stations in Las Vegas]]
* In the movie [[Liar Liar]], when Samantha Cole ([[Jennifer Tilly]]) walks in to her divorce settlement trial a few minutes late, Fletcher Reede ([[Jim Carrey]]) sings "Here she comes to wreck the daaaaay!" to the tune of "Here I come to save the day!".
* [[Template:Las Vegas TV|Television stations in Las Vegas]]


==Bibliography==
=== Newspapers ===


* ''[[Boulder City News]]'' is a weekly newspaper, serving Boulder City
*''The Animated Movie Guide'' by [[Jerry Beck]], 2005
* ''[[Gamingwire]]'' an online news service about gaming and related topics
* ''[[Henderson Home News]]'' is a weekly newspaper, serving the Henderson, owned by [[Greenspun Media Group]], publishers of the ''Sun''.
* ''[[Las Vegas Advisor]]''
* ''[[Las Vegas Business Press]]''
* ''[[Las Vegas CityLife]]'' weekly paper
* ''[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]''
* ''[[Las Vegas Sun]]''
* ''[[Las Vegas Weekly]]'' is an alternative weekly paper owned by Greenspun Media Group, publishers of the ''Sun''.
* ''[[Summerlin News]]'' and its sister ''West Valley News'' serving Summerlin and Spring Valley, owned by Greenspun Media Group, publishers of the ''Sun''.
* '''''Valley Times''''' is a defunct newspaper that was discontinued around 1985. It covered the North Las Vegas area in the 1970s and 1980s.


===Magazines===
* Marvel's ''Mighty Mouse'' Comic Book, Issue #2, 1990
*''[[Las Vegas Style]]''
* Mighty Mouse [http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?rn=222561&cl=5432807&ch=222562]
*''[[S Las Vegas|S]]''
*
*''[[215-South]]''
Keith hall the man who sang Here I come to save the day for one of the chartoons died September 8th 2008 after a long fight with cancer.
*''[[QVegas]]''
*''[[944]]''


== References ==
== Transportation ==
<div style="-moz-column-count:3;">
*[[Citizens Area Transit]]
*[[Las Vegas Monorail]]
</div>
=== Airports ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3;">
* [[McCarran International Airport]]
* [[North Las Vegas Airport]]
* [[Henderson Executive Airport]]
</div>
=== Roads ===
[[Image:Primm NV 24-08-01.jpg|thumb|right|Interstate 15 traverses Primm at Exit 1 near the [[California]]-[[Nevada]] state line]]
Two major [[freeway]]s - [[Interstate 15 (Nevada)|Interstate 15]] and [[Interstate 515]]/[[U.S. Route 95 (Nevada)|U.S. Route 95]] - cross in downtown Las Vegas. I-15 connects Las Vegas to [[Los Angeles, CA|Los Angeles]] and [[San Diego, California]], and heads northeast to and beyond [[Salt Lake City, Utah]]. I-515 goes southeast to [[Henderson, NV|Henderson]], beyond which [[US 93 (NV)|US 93]] continues over the [[Hoover Dam]] towards [[Phoenix, Arizona]]. US 95 connects the city to northwestern Nevada, including [[Carson City, NV|Carson City]] and [[Reno, NV|Reno]]. US 93 splits from I-15 northeast of Las Vegas and goes north through the eastern part of the state, serving [[Ely, NV|Ely]] and [[Wells, NV|Wells]], and US 95 heads south from US 93 near Henderson through far eastern California. A three-quarters [[beltway]] has been built, consisting of [[Interstate 215 (Nevada)|Interstate 215]] on the south and [[Clark County 215]] on the west and north. Other radial routes include [[SR 160 (NV)|SR 160]] to [[Pahrump, Nevada|Pahrump]] and [[SR 147 (NV)|SR 147]] to [[Lake Mead]].


With the notable exceptions of [[Las Vegas Boulevard]], [[Boulder Highway]], and [[Tonopah Highway]] (better known as the northern part of Rancho Drive), the majority of surface streets outside downtown Las Vegas are laid out along [[Public Land Survey System]] [[section line]]s. Many are maintained by the [[Nevada Department of Transportation]] as [[state highway]]s.
<references/>

;East-west roads, north to south<ref>Most [[arterial road]]s are shown, as indicated on the [[Nevada Department of Transportation]]'s [http://www.nevadadot.com/reports_pubs/Class_maps/pdfs/FCM_LasVegas.pdf 2004 Roadway Functional Classification map], accessed May 2008.</ref>
<div style="-moz-column-count:3;">
*[[Image:Cc215.png|25px]] [[Las Vegas Beltway]] ([[CC 215]])
*[[Ann Road]]
*[[Image:Nevada 573.svg|25px]] [[Craig Road (Las Vegas)|Craig Road]] ([[SR 573 (NV)|SR 573]])
*[[Image:Nevada 574.svg|25px]] [[Cheyenne Avenue]] ([[SR 574 (NV)|SR 574]])
*[[Carey Avenue]]
*[[Image:Nevada 147.svg|25px]] [[Lake Mead Boulevard]] ([[SR 147 (NV)|SR 147]])<!--FAU 576-->
*[[Image:Nevada 578.svg|25px]] [[Washington Avenue (Las Vegas)|Washington Avenue]] ([[SR 578 (NV)|SR 578]])
*[[Summerlin Parkway]]
*[[Image:Nevada 579.svg|25px]] [[Bonanza Road]] ([[SR 579 (NV)|SR 579]])
*[[Image:Nevada 159.svg|25px]] [[Charleston Boulevard]] ([[SR 159 (NV)|SR 159]])<!--FAU 587-->
*[[Image:Nevada 589.svg|25px]] [[Sahara Avenue]] ([[SR 589 (NV)|SR 589]])
*[[Desert Inn Road]]<!--FAU 590-->
*[[Image:Nevada 591.svg|25px]] [[Spring Mountain Road]] ([[SR 591 (NV)|SR 591]])
*[[Image:Nevada 592.svg|25px]] [[Flamingo Road (Las Vegas)|Flamingo Road]] ([[SR 592 (NV)|SR 592]])
*[[Image:Nevada 593.svg|25px]] [[Tropicana Avenue]] ([[SR 593 (NV)|SR 593]])
*[[Image:Nevada 594.svg|25px]] [[Russell Road (Las Vegas)|Russell Road]] ([[SR 594 (NV)|SR 594]])
*[[Image:Nevada 562.svg|25px]] [[Sunset Road]] ([[SR 562 (NV)|SR 562]])
*[[Warm Springs Road]]
*[[Image:Nevada 160.svg|25px]] [[Blue Diamond Road]] ([[SR 160 (NV)|SR 160]])
*[[Image:I-215 (NV).svg|25px]] [[Las Vegas Beltway]]
*[[Image:Nevada 564.svg|25px]] [[Lake Mead Parkway]] (formerly Lake Mead Drive) ([[SR 564 (NV)|SR 564]])
*[[Horizon Ridge Parkway]]
*[[Image:Nevada 146.svg|25px]] [[St. Rose Parkway]] (formerly Lake Mead Drive) ([[SR 146 (NV)|SR 146]])
</div>
;North-south roads, west to east
<div style="-moz-column-count:3;">
*[[Image:Cc215.png|25px]] [[Las Vegas Beltway]] ([[CC 215]])
*[[Durango Drive]]
*[[Buffalo Drive]]
*[[Image:Nevada 595.svg|25px]] [[Rainbow Boulevard (Las Vegas)|Rainbow Boulevard]] ([[SR 595 (NV)|SR 595]])
*[[Image:Nevada 596.svg|25px]] [[Jones Boulevard]] ([[SR 596 (NV)|SR 596]])
*[[Decatur Boulevard]]<!--FAU 597-->
*[[Valley View Boulevard]]
*[[Dean Martin Drive]]
*[[Image:Nevada 604.svg|25px]] [[Las Vegas Boulevard]] ([[SR 604 (NV)|SR 604]])
*[[Image:Nevada 599.svg|25px]] [[Rancho Drive]] ([[SR 599 (NV)|SR 599]])
*[[Image:Nevada 605.svg|25px]] [[Paradise Road (Las Vegas)|Paradise Road]] ([[SR 605 (NV)|SR 605]])
*[[Maryland Parkway]]<!--FAU 606-->
*[[Image:Nevada 607.svg|25px]] [[Eastern Avenue (Las Vegas)|Eastern Avenue]] ([[SR 607 (NV)|SR 607]])
*[[Pecos Road]]
*[[Image:Nevada 610.svg|25px]] [[Lamb Boulevard]] ([[SR 610 (NV)|SR 610]])
*[[Image:Nevada 612.svg|25px]] [[Nellis Boulevard]] ([[SR 612 (NV)|SR 612]])
</div>

== Culture ==
=== Wildlife ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[Las Vegas Zoo]]
* [[Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat]]
* [[Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay]]
</div>

=== Festivals ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
*[[CineVegas]]
*[[Las Vegas Music Festival]]
*[[Las Vegas Bike Fest]]
*[[Vegoose]]
</div>

=== Gardens ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[Ethel M's Botanical Cactus Gardens]]
* [[Bellagio (hotel and casino)#Conservatory and Botanical Gardens|Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens]]
* [[The Gardens at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve]]
</div>

=== Libraries ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[Architecture Studies Library]]
* [[Boulder City Public Library]]
* [[Community College of Southern Nevada Libraries]]
* [[Henderson District Public Libraries]]
* [[Las Vegas-Clark County Library District]]
* [[Lied Library]]
* [[North Las Vegas Library District]]
</div>

=== Museums ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
*[[Atomic Testing Museum]]
*[[Burlesque Hall of Fame]]
*[[Clark County Heritage Museum]]
*[[Erotic Heritage Museum]]
*[[Guinness World of Records]]
*[[Hollywood Movie Museum]]
*[[Hoover Dam Museum]]
*[[Imperial Palace Auto Collection]]
*[[Las Vegas Art Museum]]
*[[Las Vegas Gambling Museum]]
*[[Las Vegas Natural History Museum]]
*[[Liberace Museum]]
*[[Lied Discovery Children's Museum]]
*[[The Lost City Museum]]
*[[Madame Tussauds Las Vegas]]
*[[Marjorie Barrick Museum]]
*[[Neon Museum at the Fremont Street Experience]]
*[[Nevada State Museum]]
*[[Nevada State Railroad Museum]]
*[[Pinball Hall of Fame]]
*[[Shelby Museum]]
*[[Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art]]
</div>

=== Parks ===
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
* [[The Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center]]
* [[Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex]]
* [[Clark County Shooting Park]]
* [[Clark County Wetlands Park]]
* [[Desert Breeze Park]]
* [[Sunset Park, Las Vegas|Sunset Park]]
</div>

=== Sports ===
{{main|Sports in Las Vegas}}
Las Vegas is the home of the following minor league teams:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Club
!League
!Venue
!Established
!Championships
|-
|[[Las Vegas 51s]]
|[[Pacific Coast League]]
|[[Cashman Field]]
|align="center"|1983
|align="center"|2
|-
|[[Las Vegas Wranglers]]
|[[ECHL]]
|[[Orleans Arena]]
|align="center"|2003
|align="center"|0
|-
|[[Las Vegas Gladiators]]
|[[Arena Football League]]
|Orleans Arena
|align="center"|2003
|align="center"|0
|}

==Education==
===Primary and secondary===
*Public schools
:The [[Clark County School District]] operates all of the public primary and secondary schools in the county with the exception of a few which are contracted out to a private organization.

*Private schools:<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
**'''The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain'''
**[[Bishop Gorman High School]]
**[[Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School]]
**'''Calvary Chapel Christian School'''
**'''Calvary Church Christian School'''
**'''The Milton I. Schwartz Hebrew Academy'''
**'''Las Vegas Day School'''
**[[The Meadows School]]
**'''Merryhill School'''
**'''Mountain View Christian School'''
**'''Paradise Christian Academy'''[http://www.paradisechristianacademy.org]
**'''Shiloh Christian School'''
**[[St. Viator School (Las Vegas, Nevada)|St. Viator School]]
**'''Trinity Christian School'''
**'''New Horizons Academy'''
**'''University Baptist Academy'''
</div>

===Colleges and universities===

*Public Schools
**[[University of Nevada, Las Vegas]] (UNLV) is the major higher education institution in Las Vegas;
**[[University of Nevada, Reno]] (UNR) also has a campus for the School of Medicine in Las Vegas;
**[[Nevada State College]] located in Henderson, Nevada;
**[[College of Southern Nevada]] - formerly known as the Community College of Southern Nevada and Clark County Community College.

*Private schools 4 year+
**[[Design Institute]]
**[[National University of Nevada]]
**[[Touro University Nevada]]
**[[University of Phoenix, Nevada|University of Phoenix-Nevada]]
**[[University of Southern Nevada]], Doctor of Pharmacy degree

== Hospitals ==

{{Las Vegas hospitals}}

==Venues in Las Vegas==

* [[:Category:Music venues in Las Vegas|Music venues in Las Vegas]]
* [[:Category:Sports venues in Las Vegas|Sports venues in Las Vegas]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


{{Nevada}}
==External links==
<!-- Doesn't exists? 20080421 *[http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=classic_cartoons&collectionid=mighty_mouse_wolf_wolf Freely downloadable Mighty Mouse cartoon] -->
*[http://www.imdb.com/find?q=mighty%20mouse;s=all Mighty Mouse at IMDB]
*[http://www.tv.com/search.php?type=11&stype=all&qs=Mighty+Mouse+ Mighty Mouse at TV.com]


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[[es:Área metropolitana de Las Vegas]]
[[de:Mighty Mouse (Zeichentrick)]]
[[id:Wilayah metropolitan Las Vegas]]
[[es:Super Ratón]]

Revision as of 16:52, 12 October 2008

Template:Two other uses

The Las Vegas Strip, looking south, in 2006

The Las Vegas metropolitan area includes the Las Vegas Valley, a 600-square-mile (1600 km²) basin, and surrounding areas, that is part of Clark County in southern Nevada. The area contains the largest concentration of people in the state. The history of the Las Vegas metropolitan area largely coincides with the history of the city of Las Vegas. "Las Vegas" is often used generically to describe the entire area covered in this article. It is currently the fastest growing metropolitan area in the nation, with a population rise of nearly 25% from 2000 to 2006, and a current population of approximately two million.[1] The metropolitan includes parts of the Las Vegas-Paradise Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is by defined by the United States Census Bureau to include all of Clark County,[2] including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and the surrounding areas. In 2005, the valley hosted over 34 million visitors in a single year.

As of the 2007 census estimate, the Las Vegas metropolitan Statistical Area area contained over 2.0 million residents, and contains the largest ethnic Hawaiian community outside of Hawaii in the world.[3][4]

Outdoor lighting displays are everywhere on the many tourist destination buildings in the area. As seen from space, Las Vegas is the brightest city on earth. The lights visible are from the entire valley and not only the city of Las Vegas.[5]

History

Main article: Las Vegas history

The area was previously settled by Mormon farmers in 1854 and later became the site of a U.S. Army fort in 1864, beginning a long relationship between southern Nevada and the U.S. military. Since the 1930s, Las Vegas has generally been identified as a gambling center as well as a resort destination primarily targeting adults. Relatively inexpensive real estate prompted a residential population boom in the Las Vegas Valley in the 1990s and continues to the present day.

Nellis Air Force Base is located in the northeast corner of the valley. The ranges that the Nellis pilots use and various other land areas used by various federal agencies limit growth of the valley to the north.

Boundaries

The Las Vegas Valley is an area generally defined by the Spring Mountains on the west, Sheep Mountains to the north, Muddy Mountains, Eldorado Range and Lake Mead to the east, and the Black Mountains to the south.[citation needed]

Geography and environment

Las Vegas viewed in false color, from 438 miles (705 km) by TERRA satellite. Grass-covered land, such as golf courses, appears in red. The picture bottom is just south of Sunset road and the airport, the Spring Mountains on the west and Sunrise Mountain on the east

The land in the Las Vegas Valley is sandy desert with mountains in the distance.

Climate

The Las Vegas Valley lies in a relatively high-altitude portion of the Mojave Desert, and this can result in drastic changes of temperature between seasons, and even between day and night. The Valley generally averages less than five inches (130 mm) of rain annually. Daily summer temperatures from June through August typically exceed 100 °F (38 °C). While low ambient humidity tempers the effect of these temperatures, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and sun stroke can occur after even a limited time outdoors in the summer. The interiors of automobiles often prove deadly to small children and pets during the summer and surfaces exposed to the sun can cause first- and second- degree burns to unprotected skin. The late summer, especially in July and August, is marked by "monsoon season" when moist winds from the Gulf of California soak much of the Southwestern United States. While raising humidity levels, these winds develop into dramatic desert thunderstorms that cause flash flooding.

Winter temperatures are very mild with lows of around 30 °F (-1 °C). Snow accumulation at the valley floor is rare but the surrounding mountains receive as much as ten feet (3 m) in the winter.

Air quality

Being located in a desert valley creates issues with air quality. From the dust the wind picks up from disturbed desert surrounding the city, to the smog produced by vehicles to the pollen in the air, the valley can have some bad air days.

Pollen can be a major issue several weeks a year with counts occasionally in the 70,000 plus range. Local governments are trying to control this by banning plants that produce the most pollen.

The dust problems usually happen on very windy days, so they tend to be seasonal and of a short duration.

Smog on the other hand gets worst when there is no wind to move the air out of the valley. Also in winter it is possible to get an inversion in the valley air that actually traps any smog in the valley.

The county is working to control these problems and has shown some success over the years. The constant tightening of Federal requirements for allowable particles in the air, make the task of meeting air quality standards difficult.

Water

The native flora does little to help the soil retain water. During the intense rains of monsoon season or (relatively) wet months of January and February, a network of dry natural channels, called washes or arroyos, carved into the valley floor allows water to flow down from the mountains and converge in the Las Vegas Wash which runs through the Clark County Wetlands Park. The wash system used to form a large natural wetlands which then flowed into the Colorado River until the construction of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River led to the creation of Lake Mead. Further development in the 1980s and 1990s made Lake Las Vegas, which required directing the Las Vegas Wash into tunnels which run under Lake Las Vegas and into Lake Mead.

The Las Vegas area is limited to about 300,000 acre feet (370,000,000 m³) of water each year from Lake Mead, with credits for water it returns to the lake. The allocations were made when Nevada had virtually no people or agriculture. The allocations were also made during a wet string of years which overstated the available water in the entire watershed. As a result, precipitation that is below normal for a few years can have a major impact on the Colorado River Reservoirs.

Early Vegas depended on the aquifer which fed the springs, but the pumping of water from these caused a large drop in the water levels and ground subsidence over wide areas of the valley. Today, the aquifers are basically used to store water that is pumped from the lake during periods of low demand and pumped out during periods of high demand.

Urbanization

The population doubling time in the greater metropolitan area was under ten years since the early 1970s and the Las Vegas metropolitan area now has a population of over two million people[citation needed]. This rapid population growth led to a significant urbanization of desert lands into industrial and commercial areas. (see suburbia).

Economy

Interior of the Circus Circus casino. A major part of the city economy is based on tourism including gambling.

The driving force is the tourism industry. In the past the casinos were the one major attraction. Now shopping, conventions and fine dining are also major forces in attracting the tourist dollar. With about 130,000 hotel rooms, as of 2005, to fill, the conventions help fill the hotels, destination restaurants, and shopping malls on the Strip.

There is a balance between all of the tourist operations in town. The conventions need hotel rooms, dining, and entertainment options. The hotels need the conventions, and tourists to fill their rooms. The restaurants depend on travelers in the hotel rooms to fill their tables. Everyone depends on a good road system to get travelers into town as well as available and reasonably priced airline seats.

Over the past few years, retirees have been moving to the valley driving businesses that support them, from housing to health care.

Las Vegas has been trying to expand its manufacturing and research base. There have been some positive signs from the World Market Center being developed in the city and opening of Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's Institute in 2007 in addition to many smaller businesses.

While the cost of housing spiked up over 40% in 2004, the lack of business and income taxes still makes Nevada an attractive place for many companies to relocate to as well as expand into. Being a true twenty-four hour town, call centers have always seemed to find Vegas a good place to find workers willing to work at all hours.

Construction is strong. New strip casinos take years to build and employ thousands of workers. The same could be said of the housing boom with new home sales around 15,000 units in 2004. With the introduction of Turnburry Towers several years ago, developers discovered that there was a large demand for high-end condominiums. At the end of 2004, it was estimated that as many as eighty major condominiums were in various stages of development.

Shopping

Las Vegas has expanded its attractiveness to visitors by offering high-end merchandise in many upscale shopping malls although casino gaming and theater shows remain the primary reason that most tourists come to Las Vegas. In addition to the outlying malls, most casinos on the Strip are connected to indoor malls that offer an extensive range of choices. The monorail on the east side of the Strip facilitates shopping trips from the north to the south.

Major malls include:

Housing

Slab-on-grade foundations is the common base for residential buildings in the area.

Traditionally housing consisted primarily of single family detached housing. Apartment complexes generally were two story buildings. There have been exceptions, but they were few and far between. In the 1990s, Turnberry Associates constructed the first high rise condominium. Prior to this there were only a handful of mid rise multi family housing.

By the mid 2000s, there was a major move into high rise condominiums which had a noticeable impact on the skyline, especially in the area around The Strip.

United States housing market correction

Las Vegas has been one of the top areas in the nation adversely affected by the recent subprime mortgage crisis and United States housing market correction, resulting in a freefall in home prices and mass foreclosures. As of January 2008, 1.9% of homes in the Las Vegas area were in the foreclosure process, almost triple the rate of a year earlier.[6] The problem was exacerbated by rampant speculation from house flippers, who sought quick profits and never intended to live in the homes they purchased. As of April 2008, 51% of the more than 22,000 homes for sale in the area were vacant, according to Las Vegas real estate research firm SalesTraq.[7]

Las Vegas neighborhoods

  • Aliante
  • Alta Drive/Scotch 80's/Rancho Circle/Rancho Bel Air
  • Anthem
  • Blue Diamond
  • Centennial Hills
  • Desert Shores
  • Green Valley
  • Lake Las Vegas
  • Los Prados
  • Painted Desert
  • Paradise Palms
  • Paradise Vista
  • Mountains Edge
  • Queensridge
  • Rancho Sierra Estates
  • Seven Hills
  • Silverado Ranch
  • Southern Highlands
  • Summerlin
  • The Lakes
  • West Las Vegas — area bordered by Carey to the North, Bonanza to the South, Rancho Drive to the West, and I-15 to the East.[8] Contains many "letter" streets, streets named after Presidents, and streets named after jewelry.

Incorporated cities

Unincorporated communities

Media

Broadcast

Newspapers

Magazines

Transportation

Airports

Roads

Interstate 15 traverses Primm at Exit 1 near the California-Nevada state line

Two major freeways - Interstate 15 and Interstate 515/U.S. Route 95 - cross in downtown Las Vegas. I-15 connects Las Vegas to Los Angeles and San Diego, California, and heads northeast to and beyond Salt Lake City, Utah. I-515 goes southeast to Henderson, beyond which US 93 continues over the Hoover Dam towards Phoenix, Arizona. US 95 connects the city to northwestern Nevada, including Carson City and Reno. US 93 splits from I-15 northeast of Las Vegas and goes north through the eastern part of the state, serving Ely and Wells, and US 95 heads south from US 93 near Henderson through far eastern California. A three-quarters beltway has been built, consisting of Interstate 215 on the south and Clark County 215 on the west and north. Other radial routes include SR 160 to Pahrump and SR 147 to Lake Mead.

With the notable exceptions of Las Vegas Boulevard, Boulder Highway, and Tonopah Highway (better known as the northern part of Rancho Drive), the majority of surface streets outside downtown Las Vegas are laid out along Public Land Survey System section lines. Many are maintained by the Nevada Department of Transportation as state highways.

East-west roads, north to south[9]
North-south roads, west to east

Culture

Wildlife

Festivals

Gardens

Libraries

Museums

Parks

Sports

Main article: Sports in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the home of the following minor league teams:

Club League Venue Established Championships
Las Vegas 51s Pacific Coast League Cashman Field 1983 2
Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL Orleans Arena 2003 0
Las Vegas Gladiators Arena Football League Orleans Arena 2003 0

Education

Primary and secondary

  • Public schools
The Clark County School District operates all of the public primary and secondary schools in the county with the exception of a few which are contracted out to a private organization.

Colleges and universities

Hospitals

Venues in Las Vegas

References

  1. ^ "Las Vegas Area Population Reaches 2 Million". Retrieved 2007-12-10. {{cite web}}: Text "work +" ignored (help)
  2. ^ "METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, December 2005, WITH CODES". Retrieved 2007-03-23.
  3. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=05000US32003&-ds_name=PEP_2007_EST&-mt_name=PEP_2007_EST_G2007_T001
  4. ^ "METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, December 2005, WITH CODES". Retrieved 2007-03-23.
  5. ^ unknown. "The Extent of Urbanization in the Southwest As Viewed from Space". Retrieved 9-7-2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ Buyers' Revenge: Trash the House After Foreclosure - WSJ.com
  7. ^ Pricy Las Vegas homes quickly lose their luster - Los Angeles Times
  8. ^ CHOATE, ALAN. "Struggling district first needs residents". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2008-04-28. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Most arterial roads are shown, as indicated on the Nevada Department of Transportation's 2004 Roadway Functional Classification map, accessed May 2008.
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