With nearly 2 million residents, Las Vegas is the fastest growing big city in America.

Las Vegas is located in a desert valley between the Sierra Mountains and a smaller mountain range.

One of America’s most popular destinations, Las Vegas receives 30 million annual visitors.

In less than 10 years, McCarran International Airport has leapfrogged into 6th busiest airport in North America as of 2007.

In what must be a record, Las Vegas has over $15 billion of resort construction projects underway in one year, 2007. Since 2000, Mandalay Bay, Paris, Planet Hollywood Resort, The Wynn, and Palazzo mega-resorts have been built or re-imagined. And other resorts on the Strips have major additions in the same timeframe.

Las Vegas must be the last major city in America building a freeway network. Don’t be surprised by the many signs saying Interstate 215, while the roadway is still typical of a boulevard. Call it growing pains.

Did you know the Defense Department used to explode atomic bombs only a few miles north of Las Vegas. In the 1940s and 50s, before anyone knew the radiation risks, people used to view the mushroom explosions like they were attending a laser light show.