Las Vegas, Nevada is a unique city with its own political landscape. To gain a better understanding of the city's political leanings, a map has been created that shows the areas that are more Republican-leaning in dark red, those that mainly vote for Democrats in dark blue, and areas in lighter tones or light purple where voting is often divided between parties. The city is renowned for its downtown arts district, which hosts numerous galleries and events such as the Las Vegas Film Festival. It is also known for its major resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, just outside the city.
The rest of this former Mormon fort can still be seen at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. US 93 divides from I-15 northeast of Las Vegas and heads north through the eastern part of the state, to Ely and Wells. Touro University of Nevada, located in Henderson, is a private, nonprofit institution under Jewish auspices. Harry Reid International Airport manages domestic and international flights to the Las Vegas Valley.
Las Vegas was founded as a city in 1905 when 45 hectares (110 acres) of land adjacent to the Union Pacific railroad tracks were auctioned off. The main drivers of the Las Vegas economy are tourism, gaming and conventions, which in turn feed the retail and restaurant industries. Water conservation efforts implemented after the 2002 drought have had some success, but local water consumption remains 30 percent higher than in Los Angeles and more than three times that of residents of the San Francisco metropolitan area. Because of its altitude, which ranges from 610 to 910 m (2000 to 3000 ft), winters in Las Vegas are noticeably colder than in other areas of the Mojave Desert and the adjacent Sonoran Desert.
In 1951, nuclear weapons testing began at the Nevada test site, 65 miles (105 km) northwest of Las Vegas. Most general aviation traffic uses the smaller North Las Vegas airport and Henderson Executive Airport. The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, located in the center of the city next to the Fremont Street Experience, is the oldest continuously operating hotel and casino in Las Vegas; it opened its doors in 1906 as Hotel Nevada. Educated women are much less likely to vote for conservatives, and in Las Vegas women represent 49.93% of the population.
RTC Transit is a public transportation system that offers bus services in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and other areas of the valley.
