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The Clark County Government Center, opened in 1995, serves as the administrative hub of Clark County. Community events and cultural gatherings are often held in its outdoor amphitheater.
Photo: Kit Leong

Clark County Government Center

500 S Grand Central Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89155

Opened in 1995

In 1905, the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad held the Las Vegas land auction, which established today’s downtown Las Vegas. Four years later, in 1909, Clark County was created from Lincoln County, with Las Vegas chosen as the county seat over Searchlight. Much of the Las Vegas Strip lies within unincorporated Clark County, shaping the county's role in managing growth, tourism, and development.

The Clark County Government Center now occupies land that once served as a Union Pacific Railroad maintenance hub, bringing the story full circle. Today, the county continues to balance urban growth, infrastructure, and community needs in one of the fastest-growing regions of the U.S.

People:

• Thalia Dondero (1920-2016)
  • Thalia was the first woman elected to the Clark County Commission in 1974. Her work includes helping create Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire state parks, modernizing McCarran (now Harry Reid) International Airport, and University Medical Center. She also served on NSHE for 12 years after retiring from the commission.
• Aaron Williams (1921-2011)
  • Aaron Williams was the first African American to be elected to the Clark County Commission in 1972. Previously, he served as a North Las Vegas city councilman in 1969. He served on the Board of Health, Gaming Control Board, Airport Authority, and the Library Board.

Learn More:

• https://clarklibrary.ucla.edu/blog/happy-birthday-las-vegas/
• https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/residents/about_clark_county/

Photo: Dominic Gentilcore

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On May 16th and 17th, 1905, a two-day outdoor auction took place in present-day downtown Las Vegas to sell plots of land in the Las Vegas Townsite.
Ferron and Bracken Photograph Collection, approximately 1890-1961. PH-00001. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.

For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.