North Las Vegas, NV

The Las Vegas area's reputation as a sinful place might be challenged by the city of North Las Vegas. Despite its location in the Las Vegas Valley, this rapidly growing city offers a different flavor altogether. The friendly, attractive city was formerly thought of as unsafe and shabby. However, North Las Vegas and its more than 210,000 residents have enjoyed a turnaround in recent years. The city saw population growth of 70 percent between 2000 and 2007.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Tourism in the area and the city's recent population growth make it no surprise that North Las Vegas' major industries are service and construction. Other popular industries are sales, office administration and food service. Here are some other interesting facts regarding jobs in North Las Vegas:

• Approximately 89 percent of jobs in North Las Vegas are in the private sector, while about 8 percent involve employment with the local government.
• About 75 percent of jobs are in the service industry, such as hospitality and leisure.
• Fourteen percent of the city's jobs are in the goods-producing industry, which includes manufacturing and construction.

The U.S. Department of Energy maintains its Nuclear Science and Technology offices in North Las Vegas.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Nearly 75 percent of the homes in the North Las Vegas area are single-family houses, and nearly half of those have three bedrooms. About 40 percent of homes in North Las Vegas were built after 1995, while another nearly 40 percent were built between 1970 and 1994.

Residential neighborhoods in North Las Vegas include:

• Some of the most affluent, established neighborhoods are Wann/Valley, Las Vegas Boulevard/Walnut Road, and Cheyenne Avenue/Simmons Street.
• The least expensive areas tend to be Losee Road/Brooks Avenue, Las Vegas Boulevard/Fifth Street, and City Center.
• Aliante is just one of the new, master-planned communities scattered throughout North Las Vegas. This 420-acre family-friendly neighborhood has golf courses, walking trails and parks.

FAMILY FUN

• City parks: North Las Vegas has about 30 parks, each with its own unique qualities. Valley View, City View, Kyle Ranch Historic Site, North Las Vegas Regional Park, Sandstone Ridge, and Highland Valley Park are just a few of the city's parks. Many of these parks feature athletic courts, lighted ball fields, gardens, amphitheaters, walking paths, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
• Recreation centers: Both the Neighborhood Recreation Center and Silver Mesa Recreation Center offer athletic programs for residents of all ages.
• Municipal Golf Course: This nine-hole course is particularly suitable for beginning golfers. It includes plenty of areas for practicing, including a driving cage and a putting green.
• Prentiss Walker Memorial Park & Pool: This public pool has other amenities onsite, including a bath house, basketball courts, and a playground.

EVENTS

The various festivals and other events that occur each year in North Las Vegas include the following:

• All American Kids Fishing Derby: Held each spring, this free event lets children ages 2 to 12 test their skills in fishing competitions.
• Movie Madness: Nature Discovery Park is the location for these free big-screen movie presentations, held during the summer months.
• Taste & Tunes: This summer street festival offers cooking demonstrations, a salsa contest, a beer garden, carnival rides, live music, and unique food.
• BalloonaPalooza: This free three-day festival takes place in September under a brigade of hot air balloons. Live music, carnival rides, food, and a beer garden assist residents in their celebrations.
• Northern Exposure 10K and 2-Mile Family Run/Walk: These races raise money for the North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation programs every fall. The event also features food vendors and a health fair.

SPORTS TEAMS

Although North Las Vegas does not have any professional sports teams of its own, many area residents take matters into their own hands by participating in community athletics programs. Adult sports leagues include soccer, basketball, and softball. Children between ages 5 and 15 can play soccer, and ages 5 through 12 can play on a basketball team.

LOCAL MEDIA

Although North Las Vegas does broadcast a few radio stations, the majority of its television channels, radio stations, and newspapers come from Las Vegas, Henderson, or other surrounding cities.

• Las Vegas Review-Journal
• Las Vegas Sun
• KVBC (NBC), channel 3
• KLAS-TV (CBS), channel 8
• KTNV (ABC), channel 13
• KCEP 88.1 FM (urban contemporary)
• KKLZ 96.3 FM (classic)
• KXPT 97.1 FM (classic rock)
• KSHP 1400 AM (sports radio)
• KSFN 1140 AM (talk radio)

FUN FACTS

• The average commute time for North Las Vegas residents is 27 minutes, 1 minute longer than the national average.
• Like other Nevada cities, North Las Vegas offers public transportation in the form of a bus line called Citizens Area Transit, or CAT.
• North Las Vegas has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, given by the Government Finance Officers Association, for five consecutive years, from 2003 to 2008.
• North Las Vegas is the third most rapidly growing city in the country.