In 1941, the luxurious El Rancho Vegas resort opened on what would later become the Las Vegas Strip.but because gambling was banned in California at the time, Southern California workers began traveling to Las Vegas for vacation, recreation, and entertainment. During the same period in the 1930s, Los Angeles was also growing rapidly from a mid-sized city to a global center for the entertainment and manufacturing industries. Business became so good that it surpassed Reno as the gambling capital of the world in less than 10 years. Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, and downtown Las Vegas became an entertainment center for the dam workers, with casinos and speakeasies.What is now known as Boulder City was established for the workers. The construction of Hoover Dam in 1928 brought thousands of workers to the area.However, several pivotal events would come together in less than twenty years that would help Las Vegas grow into what it is today: It was founded in 1905, and for many years it was merely a small settlement in the middle of the desert. 6.3.6 Impressionist/Impersonation showsĬompared with other cities in the western U.S., Las Vegas (literally, 'the meadows' in Spanish) is a relatively recent arrival.3.3.1 Transportation from the Airport to Casino Hotels.

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