A City-County Showdown
Sure, we tell folks that we’re “from Las Vegas” when we’re traveling… but how many of us are actually from the city itself? The majority of the Valley lives in either one of the adjacent municipalities (like Henderson and North Las Vegas), or in unincorporated Clark County. So how did we get this weird patchwork of townships and jurisdictions, and how did it set up the city and the county for their many tensions today? Why do celebrities get the “Key to the Strip” and not the “Key to the City,” and how were mobsters involved in keeping the Strip (a Vegas icon!) out of the City of Las Vegas?
Today, Dayvid chats with UNLV history professor Michael Green about the last century of Las Vegas (and Clark County) history, and how a city-county showdown brought us to this utterly unique arrangement.
Do you have a story like Dr. Green’s, about a time you observed a clash between jurisdictions in the Valley? Or had to explain to out-of-towners why you don’t actually live in Las Vegas? Tell us about it! Leave us a voicemail or a text message at 702-514-0719. Don’t forget, you can also find us on Twitter! Follow us @CityCastVegas.
Want even more Vegas news and whip-smart commentary? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter at lasvegas.citycast.fm/newsletter!
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Las Vegas and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Zion Murder Case Shocker, a Billion-Dollar Parks Crisis, and Zillow Boss Embraces Vegas Real Estate
A Las Vegas youth pastor accused of murdering his wife on a Utah hiking trail nearly 20 years ago died in custody before his case reached...
The Complicated History of Vegas Drive-Thrus
L.A. may have invented the drive-thru, but Vegas took it to new heights. Whether it's drive-thru weddings, drive-thru betting or drive-th...
What’s Missing on the Las Vegas Strip?
The Strip has a lot to offer. After all, more than 38 million people come to Las Vegas every year, so the city is doing a lot of things r...
Should Vegas Worry About Wildfire Insurance? Plus, Coworker Spat Turns Deadly and a Curve Ball for the A's
Are we witnessing the early stages of an insurance crisis making its way to Nevada? With wildfire-related home insurance cancellations an...
Why Summer Is Getting Hotter in Vegas and How to Survive It
Summer in Las Vegas hits different. And those temps aren't dropping anytime soon. In fact, Las Vegas is one of the fastest-warming cities...
Data Center Expansion Looming, a Vegas James Beard Win Raises Questions, and 'Rocky Horror' at the Sphere
Switch wants to expand its data center campus in the southwest valley, and we dig into whether chasing AI infrastructure is good or bad f...
Did Vegas Dodge a Bullet by Avoiding the FIFA World Cup?
The World Cup is here, but Las Vegas isn't one of the 11 host cities. At first glance that might seem like a missed opportunity, but the...
Will the Film Studios Proposal Ever Die? Plus, the Vanderpump Hotel and Las Vegas' Density Problem
The unions who backed Nevada's controversial film tax credit bill just tried to punish the lawmakers who killed it, and voters pushed bac...
How Las Vegas Is Celebrating America's 250th Birthday
America is gearing up for a milestone birthday this July 4th with 250 years of history to celebrate. But where — and when — does Nevada f...
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Every Region Needs A Park Map Tool Like Salt Lake's — Presented by City Cast Las Vegas
Do you know how many parks Las Vegas has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City C...