Las Vegas Communities - In and Around Las Vegas

Why do so many people love living in Las Vegas? Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing, most livable cities in America. From 2003 to 2004, the population grew to 1.7 million, a 6.4 percent increase from the previous year. In 2004, 29,472 new homes and 64,168 resale homes were purchased. The rapid growth of the Las Vegas metropolitan area has transformed numerous locations from raw desert into finely-tuned, well-established neighborhoods, each with its own unique style and personality.

Homes to fit every lifestyle, income and location preference can be found in the Las Vegas Valley. From the heart of the city to the furthest outlying neighborhoods, new residents can choose from existing homes in and around Las Vegas to newly furnished models in master-planned communities. There are also several corporate, short-term and seasonal housing options for part-time residents.

While large and mid-sized, single-family homes dominate the Las Vegas area, apartments and condominium units are typically grouped within the development of each community, creating an even greater diversity of living options.

Many of the larger developments subscribe to the master-planned community philosophy of offering an orchestrated mix of homes and neighborhood amenities. These communities enjoy a look and feel that promotes integrity of design and appearance.

Parks and recreation areas are strategically sprinkled throughout projects to create a warm and welcoming sense of community. Also on offer are numerous amenities such as shopping centers, medical facilities, golf courses and tennis courts.

In addition to the abundance of housing to choose from, more than half of the new homes built in the Las Vegas Valley in 2004 were ENERGY STAR homes. ENERGY STAR is a voluntary coalition of Southern Nevada home builders, developers, retailers, mortgage providers, energy consultants and local utilities promoting energy conservation.

The label recognizes ENERGY STAR-rated homes as 30 percent more energy-efficient than non-ENERGY STAR-rated homes, saving consumers money on utility bills as well as protecting the Earth's climate for years to come.

Although property values continue to increase faster than the national average in many neighborhoods, median sale prices of homes in Las Vegas are among the most reasonable in the country, as are property taxes.

Clark County and Las Vegas
One of the fastest growing areas in the country, Clark County welcomes more than 38 million tourists and more than 50,000 new residents each year. The cities of Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite and North Las Vegas, as well as 19 unincorporated communities, make up most of Clark County's more than 1.7 million residents. In fact, Clark County's population makes up 70 percent of the state's population.

The urban areas of Clark County's population provide services to a large unincorporated urban area that includes the Las Vegas Strip, McCarran International Airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and many urban residential areas. More than 680,000 people live in unincorporated Clark County. Residents living south of Sahara Avenue (the municipal boundary for the city of Las Vegas), receive traditional urban services from the county.

The Clark County School District is the sixth largest in the nation and has more than 282,632 students and 301 elementary, middle and senior high schools. The area also boasts a number of parochial and private schools.

Clark County plays a major role in the areas of tourism, transportation, public health and flood control and education. The county also aids in the operation of McCarran International Airport, other local aviation facilities and oversees Southern Nevada's only public hospital, University Medical Center. In addition, Clark County provides services for unincorporated townships such as Laughlin and rural communities such as Goodsprings and Searchlight.

Home to the "entertainment capital of the world" and 14 of the nation's 15 largest hotels in 2004, Clark County experienced an economic impact from the tourism industry of $33 billion. Tourism drives the state's economy. Nearly 24 percent of the jobs in Clark County are in the hotel and gaming industries.

Clark County is home to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Hoover Dam, Mount Charleston and the Toiyabe National Forest, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire and many other parks, museums, recreational and cultural attractions.

Southern Nevada is home to several incorporated cities, including the city of Las Vegas. Each city is self-contained with its own city government, police and fire departments, hospitals, and school systems. The Las Vegas Valley is comprised of several jurisdictions and includes the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and unincorporated Clark County.

Las Vegas
The fastest growing city in the U.S. for 15 straight years, the city of Las Vegas enjoys a world-wide reputation for its gaming and entertainment industries.

Factors contributing to the metro area's growth include the exceptional climate, a prosperous and stable economy and a wealth of job opportunities. World-class amenities include luxurious hotels, fine dining restaurants, amazing shopping experiences and sensational live entertainment venues. Las Vegas is also in close proximity to the Red Rock National Conservation area, Lake Mead National Recreation area, Toiyabe National Forest, Desert National Wildlife Range and the Colorado River.

In addition, the area has more than 50 performing arts centers and cultural organizations that enrich the lives of residents and visitors. For those on the fast track, the new 107,000-seat Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located just eight miles north of downtown Las Vegas, adds to the attraction of the area.

The university district contains reasonably-priced housing for University of Nevada, Las Vegas students as well as an eclectic selection of bookstores and cafes. The new Las Vegas Beltway connects the southeastern part of the Las Vegas Valley with the rest of the city. Residents enjoy the convenience of neighborhood restaurants, casinos, business centers and shopping areas.

Southeast Las Vegas
Southeastern Las Vegas and the neighboring city of Henderson are experiencing much of the new building activity in the Las Vegas Valley.

Green Valley Ranch is an established neighborhood with mid-range single family homes. A substantial selection of short-term rentals and corporate housing also are found in this region.
Lake Las Vegas, a $3.8 billion residential/resort community, features luxury custom home sites and four golf courses, two of which are designed by Jack Nicklaus. Golf Digest named the South Shore course one of the top 10 private golf courses in the United States. Lake Las Vegas boasts a Mediterranean-themed upscale shopping district, world-class spas and restaurants and a man-made lake.

The Seven Hills development is comprised of homes priced from the $200s and includes uniquely designed parks and trails. Many homes in this community offer elegant Italian and Mediterranean architectural features.

The MacDonald Ranch retirement community has its own golf course, Desert Willow, as well as a variety of outstanding amenities. The MacDonald Ranch Country Club, a new 1,200-acre golf course community, is now under construction. Other notable communities include:

Del Webb Corp.'s master-planned Anthem community offers a variety of upscale tract and custom homes. The area boasts a country club, numerous parks and growing neighborhood retail shops. Sun City Anthem is a master-planned senior living community. The Anthem area is undergoing significant new home construction due to the recent acquisition of neighboring Bureau of Land Management property.

Henderson
Henderson provides residents and visitors with numerous, year-round opportunities for leisure activities. Lake Mead – the largest manmade lake in the world – is just a mile from Henderson and consists of 500 miles of shoreline.

Henderson is also home to award-winning parks and recreational programs, golf courses and community recreational facilities such as the Henderson Multigenerational Center/Aquatic Complex. The 84,120-square-foot center includes an art gallery, teaching kitchen, computer lab, multi-sport area, suspended jogging track, fitness/dance room and a game room. The aquatic complex has indoor and outdoor areas.

Some of Henderson's more notable communities include:

Anthem Highlands
Anthem Highlands is a new community located within the prestigious master-planned community of Anthem.

Anthem Highlands features five collections of homes and a location adjacent to the popular Anthem Country Club and Sun City Anthem. Home sizes range from 1,923 to 3,483 square feet. Home prices range from the $300s to the $600s.

The Hills
Located on the bluffs in the growing family-oriented city of Henderson, The Hills is a new community, offering homes overlooking the valley below. The Hills is close to some of the city's nationally known parks, as well as an increasing number of major shopping malls, movie theater complexes, restaurants and casino resorts.

The homes at The Hills are up to 3,045 square feet, and some have as many as seven bedrooms. Home prices start in the mid-$200s.

Sun City Anthem
Sun City Anthem is an active adult community that offers homes priced from the $200s to more than $500,000.

The 75,000-square-foot Anthem Center is the heart of the community. Amenities include: an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and spa, fitness/exercise/wellness center, indoor walking track, massage therapy, aerobics studio, ceramics studio and resource library. Other amenities include a restaurant, billiards and shuffleboard, a ballroom, tennis center, bocce ball courts, walking paths, art studio, "tot lot" for visiting grandchildren and a computer lab.

Boulder City
Boulder City is located 25 miles southeast of downtown Las Vegas and 10 miles southeast of Henderson. Boulder City is best known as the city that was born during the construction of Hoover Dam. The town housed more than 4,000 workers during construction, which took place from 1931 to 1935.
The triangular-shaped Boulder City is the only city in Nevada without gaming. The city's residents enjoy security, lush parks and a small-town atmosphere. Strict regulations govern further growth. Instead of master-planned communities and mega-resorts, the city fathers are implementing a 15,000-tree program – an effort to plant one tree for every resident in the city.

Boulder City offers quality recreational facilities such as golf courses, a year-round swimming pool, tennis courts, world-class mountain bike facilities at Bootleg Canyon and hiking trails that provide residents and visitors a full range of recreational activities. Boulder City's proximity to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area makes it a gateway to the largest, cleanest reservoir in the United States, providing opportunities for camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking and biking. The city also has many fine restaurants, gift and antique shops and art galleries.

Henderson
Henderson's ever-growing population is divided into two district areas. Much of the commercial and residential development is taking place in Green Valley, an upscale, master-planned community that originated in the 1980s. Although no formal division exists, most locals tend to refer to the Green Valley area as separate from the original Henderson, which was created as a town for Basic Magnesium, Inc.'s defense plants during World War II.

Now home to more than 200,000 residents, Henderson has 25 award-winning, master-planned communities and will soon be growing again since the city council annexed 8.5 square miles of land south of the Henderson Executive Airport. The area may one day be home to 600 acres of parks, two fire stations, one high school, two middle schools and nine elementary schools.

The southeast valley municipality is home to such businesses as Amand Manufacturing, Dusan Equipment Corp., Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream, International Seal and Valley Auto Mall. Downtown Henderson is located 13 miles southeast of downtown Las Vegas via U.S. 93/95.

Southwest Las Vegas
Southwest Las Vegas is quickly starting to gain footing as the next hotspot for residential development in the Las Vegas Valley.

The prestigious communities of Spanish Trail and Spanish Hills have set the standard for the southwestern quadrant of the Las Vegas area. Spanish Trail, a gated 640-acre golf course community, has garnered national attention for its design, security and beautiful home sites.

Another golf course community, Rhodes Ranch, continues to grow as well. Another new development is Mountain's Edge, a 3,000-acre master-planned community that will have 12,000 homes when completed and 500 acres for open space, parks and trails.

The completion of the Las Vegas Beltway as far west as Rainbow Boulevard and eventually past Durango Road should stimulate further construction in the far southwestern region of the valley. This area also is home to a selection of unique ethnic restaurants.

Other popular communities include:

Paradise
Located about 10 miles south of Las Vegas, Paradise is close to entertainment and gaming, as well as medical facilities, schools, universities and airports in the Las Vegas metro area.

There are more than 29,300 single-family, owner-occupied houses in the city, more than 42,400 renter-occupied apartment homes and about 2,500 mobile homes. Nearly 80 percent of the residents are over the age of 18 and more than 11 percent are over the age of 65.

Spring Valley
Located about six miles south of Las Vegas, Spring Valley offers residents all the amenities associated with living within the tourism industry, including world-class dining and entertainment opportunities.

There are nearly 22,500 single-family, owner-occupied houses in the city, more than 20,500 renter-occupied apartment homes and more than 1,800 mobile homes. Nearly 80 percent of the residents are over the age of 18 and nearly 11 percent are over the age of 65.

Northwest Las Vegas
The Summerlin community is the most celebrated master-planned development in the northwestern region of Las Vegas, and perhaps in the country. The 22,500-acre community has been ranked as one of America's best-selling master-planned communities. Numerous, distinctive neighborhoods offer a variety of lifestyle choices. The area has an elaborate system of parks and recreational opportunities and residential retail amenities abound. Homes are priced from the $200s to the millions for custom homes. Sun City Summerlin also offers a variety of living options for seniors.

Additional northwest communities include:

Silverstone Ranch
Silverstone Ranch is a master-planned golf course community located in the fast-growing northwest area of Las Vegas. Centered around the fairways of the 27-hole Silverstone Golf Club championship golf course, the community offers homebuyers an array of new home designs in a serene and scenic environment.

Silverstone Ranch offers six collections of homes, 23 floor plans, golf course home sites and a variety of recreational amenities such as a 6-acre family park, tennis courts and more. Homes range from 1,913 to 3,448 square feet. Home prices range from the $300s to the $600s.

Summerlin
Summerlin has ranked as America's best-selling master-planned community for 10 of the past 11 years.

Situated along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley close to the Spring Mountain Range and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Summerlin offers an abundance of recreational activities at its parks, trails, athletic fields and golf courses. The trail system will eventually cover more than 150 miles. In fact, more than 30 percent of Summerlin has been designated as "community space" for recreation and natural areas.

Summerlin offers exceptional educational opportunities at eight private schools and nine public schools. In addition, the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Cultural Center, home of the Nevada Ballet Theatre, serve the cultural needs of the community. Summerlin is home to several houses of worship and Summerlin Hospital Medical Center provides a vast range of medical services.

Several community and neighborhood shopping centers offer grocery and drug stores, entertainment, personal services, restaurants and a variety of retail options.

Other communities in the region include Queensridge, a 1,100-acre, master-planned community with a residential complement of 850 acres; the Lakes, which offers lakeside homes with boating and fishing; and Los Prados, an active adult comm-unity.

The near northwest is home to one of Las Vegas' oldest neighborhoods, known locally as the Scotch 80s. Bordered by Rancho Road, I-15, Oakey Boulevard and Charleston Avenue, this community of large, ranch-style residences was once home to entertainers BB King, Shecky Greene and Diana Ross.

The valley's largest assemblage of golf courses in the northwest includes the Badlands, Painted Desert, Los Prados and Angel Park. Shopping options include Meadows Mall, Boca Park and the Sahara Pavilion Oasis, as well as a number of trendy strip centers. Several neighborhood casinos, such as Santa Fe Station, Sun Coast, Fiesta and the Texas Station, offer fine dining and gaming.

North Las Vegas
Incorporated in 1946, North Las Vegas has successfully created an identity that is uniquely separate from its more famous neighbor to the south. North Las Vegas, now home to nearly 140,000 residents, comprises an area of nearly 80 square miles.

A 30-year economic redevelopment plan, launched in 1990, has already begun to pay dividends. The city is home to the bulk of Southern Nevada's manufacturing, distribution and industrial facilities. More companies are emerging, particularly in the older areas of the city, where an effort is underway to attract new business with an expanded redevelopment zone and public beautification efforts.

Since 1990, North Las Vegas has experienced more than $79 million in private investments and $28.2 million in public investments. With more than 1,300 acres of industrial parks, North Las Vegas is known as a business-friendly city, but residential development is also on the rise. In 2000, the city purchased a 1,200-acre parcel of land from the federal government to be used for a Summerlin-style development of six upscale villages.

Notable community development includes:

Aliante
Located in the Las Vegas Valley where the desert meets the foothills of the Sheep Mountain Range, Aliante is a new master-planned community still being developed. It has 1,165 acres dedicated for residential development and 100 acres set aside for commercial development to provide shopping, dining and entertainment venues.

In addition, 428 acres of land (approximately 22 percent of the entire acreage) is dedicated to recreational and public use, providing opportunities for an active lifestyle. Other amenities include an 18-hole, championship municipal golf course, city parks, a natural arroyo and an extensive 24-mile trail system, which allows residents to reach key destinations within the community without crossing major streets.

At the community's 20-acre Nature Discovery Park, there is a man-made lake with waterfalls, an interactive dinosaur discovery area and a water play area. The park also features an outdoor stage and ramada, soccer fields, tennis courts and volleyball stadium. Homes in the community are priced from the low $200s to the high $700s.

Centennial Village
Located just minutes from U.S. 95 in the northwestern Las Vegas metro area, Centennial Village is close to new shopping centers, entertainment, Floyd Lamb State Park, Mount Charleston and the Lee Canyon Ski Resort, as well as several public parks. Park features include trails, picnic pavilions, volleyball courts and lighted soccer fields. Other features include dog parks, barbecue and picnic areas, open grass areas, play equipment and water-play features.

The homes in Centennial Village have three to five bedrooms and two or three-car garages. The community offers homes with decks and large backyards as well as a gated entrance with professionally landscaped commons areas. Homes range in size from 1,612 to 2,630 square feet and prices start in the low $200s.
northeast Las Vegas

The northeastern quadrant of Las Vegas has seen the least amount of new development in the past few years, though its growth would still be considered substantial compared to other cities.

Most of this area's apartment complexes are located between the north-south streets of Pecos Road and Lamb Boulevard and between Owens Avenue and Lake Mead Boulevard. The highest concentration of available apartments in the city can be found in this area.

On the outskirts of the northeastern area, several new communities are now open or under construction, offering spectacular views of Sunrise Mountain, Red Rock Canyon and the city skyline. Large home sites and lots are plentiful in developments such as Heritage Highlands and Solitude Estates. Homes here are close to Nellis Air Force base, the Mormon Cathedral and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Unincorporated Communities
Within Clark County there are 19 Census Designated Places (CDPs). These closely-settled, named, unincorporated communities generally contain a mixture of residential, commercial and retail areas similar to those found in incorporated places of similar sizes. The U.S. Census Bureau provides statistical data on all CDPs.

Listed below are some of the CDPs found in Clark County. CDP communities not listed below include Blue Diamond, Bunkerville, Nellis Air Force Base, Sandy Valley and Searchlight.

Sunrise Manor
Located about 11 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Sunrise Manor not far from amenities including medical facilities, schools, shopping and entertainment.

There are about 21,900 single-family owner-occupied houses in the city, more than 20,300 renter-occupied apartment homes and more than 12,400 mobile homes. About 70 percent of the residents are over the age of 18 and about 9 percent are over the age of 65.

Whitney
Whitney is located off I-15 about 14 miles southeast of Las Vegas, some 13 miles from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and 10 miles from the Community College of Southern Nevada. The community is close to Las Vegas' amenities. A 2,500-square foot home in Whitney is priced in the $200s.

Winchester
Winchester is located about eight miles southeast of Las Vegas, some 13 miles from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and 10 miles from the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Three hospitals are located within four miles of Winchester, including Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center just two miles away. The community is six miles from McCarran International Airport.

Most of Winchester's housing was developed from the 1960s through the 1980s. Most housing ranges in price from the $100s to the $150s.

Mount Charleston
Located about 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Mount Charleston (sometimes called Charleston Peak), is located in the Spring Mountains in the Toiyabe National Forest. A 45-minute drive north of Las Vegas, Mount Charleston offers residents the opportunity to snow ski from November through April at Lee Canyon.

The mountain community provides custom homes with scenic views, surrounded by lush greenery. A trail system offers opportunities for hiking, camping and other activities that can be enjoyed year-round.