Living in Clark County
Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to more than 2.4 million citizens and an average of 43 million visitors a year. Included are the nation’s 5th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.
The famed Las Vegas Strip sits at the heart of Clark County featuring unparalleled attractions like dancing fountains, a replica of the renowned Eiffel Tower, and some of the world's largest and most beautiful resorts. Millions of people visit annually to enjoy our fine restaurants, shop a dazzling array of stores and relax at our luxurious spas. Las Vegas boasts more than 152,000 hotel rooms and is among the world's top convention destinations.
Nevada has no shortage of compelling landscapes, and Clark County is no different. Mt. Charleston and skiing are just 45 minutes away, and Red Rock National Conservation area beckons on the western fringe of the Las Vegas Valley. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, caters to boaters, swimmers, fishermen, hikers, wildlife photographers and roadside sightseers. Meanwhile, gambling is offered in the destinations of Mesquite, Primm and Laughlin, located on the sun-drenched Colorado River.
Clark County Highlights
Mission and Motto
Clark County's Mission is to provide responsible, progressive, and results-oriented government that is responsive, accessible, and accountable to our citizens, ensuring their right to cost-effective and open government.
Clark County's Motto is "Together for Better"
Guiding Values
Clark County is committed to its citizens and employees. We are community-focused professionals dedicated to delivering Service, Integrity, Respect, Accountability, Excellence, and Leadership.
Learn more.
Ambassador Program
The Clark County Ambassador Program offers tours of the Government Center to schools, civic groups and other interested parties. The tour includes a brief history and overview of Clark County government as well as points out the numerous southwestern influences in the architecture of the building.
View this brochure to learn more or to request a tour, please contact Clark County Administrative Services at (702) 455-3530 or email at
administrative.services@clarkcountynv.gov.
Education
The
Clark County School District is the 6th-largest school system in the nation, serving 304,276 students. Clark County is also home to the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas,
Nevada State University,
Desert Research Institute,
Touro University, and the
College of Southern Nevada, among other educational institutions, all tracked and listed courtesy of the
Nevada System of Higher Education. Various private colleges,
Vegas PBS and the
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District also serve as educational resources for residents and visitors.
Tourism Impact
Through 2022, tourism generated $79.3 billion with $44.9 billion resulting from direct visitor spending in Clark County according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. At the close of 2023, the resort destination had a total 154,662 hotel rooms available and visitors spent an average $191.30 per night on hotel accommodations. In all, 40.8 million people visited Las Vegas, with 46,276 on average arriving daily by car from Southern California; and 52.7 million people passing through Harry Reid International Airport. Visitors to the city spent an average of $761 per person, were comprised of parties with 2.5 people, approximately aged 40, and stayed at least two nights. Vegas also saw more repeat visitors with 24 percent being first-time travelers compared with 76 percent being repeat visitors. Additionally, 1.2 million people visited Laughlin and 917,000 visited Mesquite (both areas are in Clark County).
Business & Industry
The Office of Community and Economic Development is a valuable resource for developers, new businesses or companies interested in expanding to the area. If you are considering a location within unincorporated Clark County and need an advocate, we are here to help you find solutions and opportunities.
Learn more about economic development in Clark County.
Government Structure
Clark County is governed by a seven-member County Commission, elected from geographic districts on a partisan basis for staggered four-year terms. Commissioners biennially elect a chairperson who serves as the Commission's presiding officer. The Commission in turn hires a county manager, who is responsible for administrative operations. The chairman is Tick Segerblom (seated January 2019, elected vice-chairman July 2023 and chairman in Jan. 2024). The vice-chairman is William McCurdy II, elected January 2021 and named vice-chair in January 2024. Other commissioners include Michael N. Naft (January 2019), Marilyn Kirkpatrick (August 2015), Ross Miller (January 2021), Justin Jones (January 2019), and Jim Gibson (seated in July 2017). Kevin Schiller has been county manager since November 2022.
Financial Structure
Clark County employs more than 10,000 in 38 departments. It has a fiscal year general fund budget of $2.13 billion and a total budget for FY2024 of $11.4 billion. The County is known for its strong ending-fund balance, overall financial strength and an investment-quality credit rating. It retains the best bond ratings of any local government in the state with an “Aaa” from Moody’s Investors Service and an “AA+” from Standard & Poor’s. The County has committed to policies supporting these high standards in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
History
Clark County, formed in 1909, is named for Sen.
William Andrews Clark (1839-1925), who established the railroad that linked Los Angeles with Salt Lake City. Las Vegas was founded in 1905 after Clark’s railroad, which made stops here, purchased land for a town site and sold lots by auction, creating downtown Las Vegas. Clark County is the most populous of Nevada’s 17 counties with 2.3 million residents and 70 percent of the state’s population.
Incorporated & Unincorporated Areas
As a “city” government, Clark County responds to the needs of 1 million residents in the
urban unincorporated areas. Sahara Avenue, which crosses the Strip on the north side of the Sahara Hotel & Casino, is the municipal boundary for the City of Las Vegas. Those residing south of this line receive their traditional urban services from Clark County rather than from any of the County’s five cities:
Las Vegas (pop. 659,000),
Henderson (pop. 334,000),
North Las Vegas (278,000),
Boulder City (pop. 15,000) and
Mesquite (pop. 22,000. The services provided there include all those functions normally associated with a city, such as public works, building inspections, fire protection, parks and recreation, etc. View a
jurisdictional map of significant destinations such as Downtown Summerlin, the Las Vegas Convention Center and Sam Boyd Stadium within the Clark County-Las Vegas Valley area. (Population numbers are rounded)
