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Clark County, Nevada
Seal of Clark County, Nevada Seal
Location in the state of Nevada
Nevada's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 5, 1908
Seat	Las Vegas
Largest city	Las Vegas
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	8,091 sq mi (20,956 km²) 7,910 sq mi (20,487 km²) 180 sq mi (466 km²), 2.23%
PopulationEst.  - (2011)  - Density	1,969,975 247/sq mi (95.2/km²)
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Website	www.accessclarkcounty.com

Las Vegas–Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area
—  MSA  —
Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area; From top left to bottom right: Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson The Las Vegas Metropolitan Area; From top left to bottom right: Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson
Map of Nevada with Clark County highlighted in red.

Clark County is a county located in Southern Nevada. The county had a population of 1,951,269 at the 2010 census,^[1] and is the most populous county in the state of Nevada, accounting for nearly three-quarters of its residents. Las Vegas, Nevada's most populous city, has been the county seat since the county was created.

The county was formed by the Nevada Legislature by splitting off a portion of Lincoln County on February 5, 1909,^[2] and came into existence on July 1, 1909.^[3] The Las Vegas Valley, a 600 sq mi (1,600 km²) basin, includes Las Vegas as well as the other primary population center, the unincorporated community of Paradise.

Much of the county was originally part of Pah-Ute County, Arizona Territory before Nevada became a state. The county was named for William Andrews Clark, a Montana copper magnate and U.S. Senator. Clark was largely responsible for the construction of the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad through the area, a factor heavily contributing to the region's early development.

Clark County is today known as a major tourist destination, with 150,000 hotel and motel rooms. The Las Vegas Strip, home to most of the hotel-casinos known to many around the world, is located not within the City of Las Vegas, but in unincorporated Paradise.

Clark County is coextensive with the Las Vegas–Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan statistical area designated by the Office of Management and Budget and used by the United States Census Bureau and other agencies for statistical purposes.^[4]

Geography[link]

Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas with the World Market Center temporary buildings in background

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 8,091 sq mi (20,960 km²). Land covers 7,910 sq mi (20,500 km²) and water covers 180 sq mi (470 km²) (2.23%).

The Colorado River forms the county's southeastern boundary, with Hoover Dam forming Lake Mead along much of its length. The lowest point in the state of Nevada is located on the Colorado River just south of Laughlin in Clark County, where it flows out of Nevada and into California and Arizona. Las Vegas is a valley. By definition, Greater Las Vegas is a tectonic valley, surrounded by four mountain ranges, with nearby Mount Charleston being the highest elevation at 11,918 ft (3,633 m), located to the northwest. Other than the forests on Mount Charleston, the geography in Clark County is a desert. Creosote bushes are the main native vegetation, and the mountains are mostly rocky with little vegetation.

Adjacent counties[link]

• Lincoln County - north
• Nye County - west
• Inyo County, California - southwest
• San Bernardino County, California - south
• Mohave County, Arizona - east

		Lincoln County
	Nye County		Mohave County, Arizona
		Clark County, Nevada    East
	Inyo County, California	San Bernardino County, California

Demographics[link]

At the 2010 census, there were 1,951,269 people residing in Clark County, an increase of 41.8% since 2000. The racial makeup of the population was: 60.9% White (48.0% Non-Hispanic white), 10.5% Black, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 8.7% Asian, 0.7% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 5.1% from two or more races. 29.1% were Hispanic of any race. ^[7]

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White (60.2% White Non-Hispanic), 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race. As of 2009, the population in the metropolitan area had grown up to 1,902,834 people, being one of the fastest growing MSA in the United States.

In 1999, the median income for a household in the MSA was $44,616 and the median income for a family was $50,485. The per capita income was $21,785.

The United States Census Bureau 2009 estimates place the population for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area at 1,902,834 people, and the region is one of the fastest growing in the United States.^[9] Large numbers of new residents in the state originate from California.^[10]

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,623 families residing in the county. The population density was 174 people per square mile (67/km²). There were 559,799 housing units at an average density of 71 per square mile (27/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 61.58% white, 10.18% black or African American, 7.27% Asian, 0.79% Native American, 8.61% from other races, and 4.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.96% of the population.

In 2000 there were 512,253 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.70% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 24.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,536, and the median income for a family was $59,485.^[11] Males had a median income of $35,243 versus $27,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,785. About 7.90% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism[link]

Historical Visitors and Hotel Rooms; Room Projections Las Vegas Convention Authority

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority post the historical numbers of visitors and hotel rooms in Clark County. The era of massive modern casino resorts began with the opening of the Mirage in November 1989. Generally the increase in hotel rooms has been matched by an increasing number of visitors until 2008. An unmatched building boom has been met with declining numbers of tourists. If the 7.2% percentage decrease in the first four months of 2009 were to continue for the year, visitors would dip below 35 million, which is the level that they were at before the year 2000.

Law and government[link]

The Clark County Detention Center.

Clark County Government is run by the Clark County Commission which consists of seven members who are elected to serve staggered four-year terms in biannual partisan elections.

After each election, the members elect a chairman who runs the commission meetings. Actual day-to-day operations are handled by the county manager who is hired by the commission. Its unincorporated towns also have appointed boards that provide advice to the commission.

The county operates out of the Clark County Government Center located in the City of Las Vegas. The building is unusual in shape, and includes an outdoor amphitheater where concerts and other events are held.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provides most law enforcement services in the county, including operation of the county's central jail, the Clark County Detention Center (CCDC). The present department was created in 1973 when the Clark County Sheriff's Department merged with the Las Vegas Police Department.

Other entities that have their own police forces include University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Clark County School District, and cities such as Henderson, Mesquite, Boulder City and North Las Vegas. The Clark County Park Police is responsible for all of the parks operated by the county and some selected special venues, such as the Clark County Amphitheater, Clark County Archery Range, and the Desert Rose Golf Course.

The Regional Justice Center replaced the Clark County Courthouse in 2005, and is located about 3 blocks from downtown Fremont Street, at 200 Lewis Avenue.

Clark County is politically competitive, though marginally Democratic; Democratic presidential candidates have carried the county in each election since 1992, but usually with only small majorities or pluralities. The last Republican candidate to carry the county was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

Clark County Coroner[link]

The office of the county coroner is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death for all deaths in the county as required under the NRS and local policy. In addition the coroner functions as the public administrator for Clark County.^[12]

Regional agencies[link]

Clark County Regional Flood Control District[link]

The Clark County Regional Flood Control District (CCRFCD) was created in 1985 by the Nevada Legislature allowing Clark County to provide broad solutions to flooding problems.

Clark County School District[link]

Public primary and secondary education is the responsibility of the Clark County School District.

Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada[link]

Operates the RTC Transit system, and does planning for most major roadways.

Southern Nevada Water Authority[link]

A multi-agency group that manages the water distribution for the Las Vegas valley.

Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee[link]

The group that manages and protects the Las Vegas Wash.

Since 1999 the group has added more the 15,000 plants to stabilize the wash's banks and restore and expand the wetlands surrounding the wash. As part of the effort to restore the wash to a more natural state, they have also removed more than 500,000 pounds (230,000 kg) of trash.

State government[link]

The Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center of the Nevada Department of Corrections is located in North Las Vegas. The facility, originally the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility opened September 1, 1997. It was built and operated by Corrections Corporation of America. Since then the state took direct control of the facility.^[13] It houses the female death row.^[14]

Communities[link]

This map shows the incorporated and unincorporated areas in Clark County

Cities[link]

Census-designated places[link]

Other communities[link]

Federal land[link]

• Creech AFB
• Desert National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (part)
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area (part)
• Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge
• Mount Charleston Wilderness
• Nellis AFB
• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
• Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (part)
• Toiyabe National Forest (part)

Transportation[link]

Major highways[link]

Parks and recreation[link]

Sunset, Valley of Fire State Park, in NE Clark County.

• Clark County Parks Dept.

• Sunset Park located at Sunset and Eastern is one of the largest^[15]

Gaming areas[link]

The State of Nevada divides the state into several gaming districts. The reporting districts affecting Clark County are:^[16][17]

• Boulder Strip: This region includes 33 casinos on Boulder Highway. Casinos within the Henderson city limits are included as well, such as Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station, Fiesta, Eldorado, and Jokers Wild.
• Downtown: There are 19 casinos in this reporting area.
• LV Strip: This region is composed of all the casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard, from The Stratosphere at the north end to Mandalay Bay on the south end. Also included are resorts located near this area, such as The Rio, South Point, and the Hard Rock; and McCarran Airport.
• North Las Vegas: This region has 11 casinos and include the Fiesta, Texas Station, Jerry's Nugget, and the Santa Fe Station.
• Laughlin: The casinos in Laughlin.
• Mesquite: The casinos in Mesquite.
• Balance of County: There are 66 casinos^[when?] in this category that includes casinos at Lake Las Vegas, Jean, Primm, the Railroad Pass and Hacienda casinos, along with other casinos that don't fit any other category such as Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Gold Coast, The Orleans, The Palms, Suncoast, Rampart, and Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino

Environmental factors[link]

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Clark County contains a diverse desert flora and fauna, including higher elevation mountain areas, the desert floor and the Colorado River/Lake Mead ecosystems. Variations in diurnal temperature as well as seasonal swings in temperature create demanding adaptation elements on the species of this county. Additional pressure has been placed on species survival by the rapid human population expansion, especially since 1970.

Correspondingly air quality levels prior to the 1960s were in a favorable range, but the proliferation of automobiles with the human population expansion created circumstances where some Federal Air Quality Standards began to be violated in the 1980s.

To plan for the wave of development forecast by 1980, Clark County embarked on a regional Environmental Impact Assessment funded by a Federal Section 208 program, with Sedway Cooke conducting the planning work and Earth Metrics performing environmental analysis. This endeavor projected future population growth, land use changes and environmental impacts.

To prevent the loss of federal funds due to unacceptable dust levels in the Las Vegas valley, in 2003 the Nevada Air Quality Management division (under direction of Clark County officials) created the massive "Don't Be a Dusthole" campaign. The campaign successfully raised awareness of dust pollution in the Las Vegas valley, quantifiably reducing pollutants and preserving ongoing federal funding.^[18]

Located in Apex is the Apex Landfill which at 2,200 acres (890 ha) is the largest landfill in the United States.^[19] Republic Services owns and operates the landfill.

Economy[link]

The county is home to many gaming related companies. Station Casinos is headquartered in unincorporated Clark County, along with ^[20][21] Golden Casino Group, Golden Gaming, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, Bally Technologies, Cannery Casino Resorts, Golden Nugget Companies, International Game Technology, The Majestic Star Casino, LLC, Ameristar Casinos, Archon Corporation, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts, Riviera Holdings, Aztar, DBT Online Inc., Gambler's Book Shop / GBC Press, Leroy's Horse & Sports Place, Millennium Management Group, Navegante Group, Pinnacle Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment

Largest employers[link]

According to the City of Las Vegas' 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[22] the top employers in the greater Clark County area are:

Notable government buildings[link]

Regional Justice Center

• Clark County Government Center
• Regional Justice Center (opened October 3, 2005)

See also[link]

Las Vegas portal

• List of airports in Clark County, Nevada
• Clark County Fire Department
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clark County, Nevada

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Clark County, Nevada

• Clark County, Nevada Government and Services
• Clark County Television (County of Clark owned television station with Live Internet Feed)
• Detailed map of Clark County (Census Bureau Map, little street detail) (pdf, 32 Mb)

Coordinates: 36°12′N 115°01′W / 36.20°N 115.02°W / 36.20; -115.02

v t e Municipalities and communities of Clark County, Nevada, United States County seat: Las Vegas Cities Boulder City Henderson Las Vegas Mesquite North Las Vegas CDPs Blue Diamond Bunkerville Cal-Nev-Ari Enterprise Goodsprings Indian Springs Laughlin Moapa Town Moapa Valley Mount Charleston Nellis AFB Nelson Paradise Sandy Valley Searchlight Spring Valley Summerlin South Sunrise Manor Whitney Winchester Unincorporated communities Arden Cactus Springs Cottonwood Cove Coyote Springs Crystal Glendale Jean Logandale Mountain's Edge Mountain Springs Overton Primm Riverside Sloan Stewarts Point Indian reservations Fort Mojave Indian Reservation Moapa River Indian Reservation Ghost towns Rioville St. Thomas

v t e  State of Nevada Carson City (capital) Topics Delegations Geography Government History People Transportation Visitor attractions Society Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Regions Black Rock Desert Eagle Valley Great Basin Lake Mead Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Valley Mojave Desert Pahranagat Valley Sierra Nevada Truckee Meadows Metro areas Las Vegas–Paradise Reno–Sparks Carson City Counties Churchill Clark Douglas Elko Esmeralda Eureka Humboldt Lander Lincoln Lyon Mineral Nye Pershing Storey Washoe White Pine Cities and communities Alamo Amargosa Valley Austin Baker Battle Mountain Beatty Boulder City Caliente Carlin Carson City Elko Ely Enterprise Eureka Fallon Fernley Gardnerville Ranchos Gerlach Goldfield Hawthorne Henderson Incline Village Las Vegas Laughlin Lovelock Mesquite Minden North Las Vegas Pahrump Paradise Pioche Primm Rachel Reno Spanish Springs Sparks Spring Creek Spring Valley Stateline Summerlin South Sun Valley Sunrise Manor Tonopah Virginia City West Wendover Winnemucca Whitney Winchester Yerington Former counties Bullfrog Ormsby Roop

Clark
Family name
A scribe or clerk, the occupation from which the name derives
Meaning	Clerk, scribe, secretary
Region of origin	England
Language(s) of origin	Old English
Related names	Clarke, Clerk
Footnotes: Frequency Comparisons[1]

Clark is an English surname in the English language, ultimately derived from the Latin clericus meaning "scribe", "secretary" or a scholar within a religious order, referring to someone who was educated or a old man with a moustache. Clark evolved from "clerk". First records of the name are found in 12th century England. The name has many variants.^[2]

Clark is the twenty-seventh most common surname in the United Kingdom.^[1]

According to the 1990 United States Census, Clark was the twenty-first most frequently encountered surname, accounting for 0.23% of the population.^[3]

Clark is also an occasional given name, as in the case of Clark Gable.

Probably the most famouse person named Clark is Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman

List of people with surname Clark[link]

People with the surname Clark include:

• Abraham Clark (1725–1794), American politician and Revolutionary War figure
• Alan Clark (1928–1999), British Conservative politician and author, son of Kenneth Clark
• Allen George Clark (1898–1962), British businessman
• Andy Clark (musician), British musician
• Anne Clark (born 1960), poet-songwriter
• Benjamin S. W. Clark (1829–1912), New York politician
• Billy J. Clark (1778–1866), New York physician and politician
• Bob Clark (Benjamin "Bob" Clark) (1941–2007), American director
• Brian Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Buddy Clark (1911–1949), American singer
• Carmel Clark (born 1965), New Zealand swimmer
• Catherine Clark (born 1976), Canadian television host
• Charles Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Chris Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Christian Clark (born 1979), Australian actor
• Claudine Clark, R&B singer and performer of the 1962 hit record "Party Lights"
• Colin Clark (disambiguation)
• Corrie Clark (born 1982), American breaststroke swimmer
• Dallas Clark, American football player
• Daniel Clark (Canadian politician and actor), Canadian actor
• Daniel Kinnear Clark (1822–1896), British railway mechanical engineer
• Darius Clark (1798–1871), New York physician and politician
• Dave Clark (musician) (born 1942), drummer of The Dave Clark Five
• David Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Davis Wasgatt Clark (1812–1871), American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church
• Dick Clark (disambiguation), several people
  • Dick Clark (1929–2012), entertainer and producer, host of Pyramid and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
• Douglas Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Duncan Clark (1910–2007), an American public health specialist
• Duncan Clark (athlete) (1915–2003), Scottish hammer thrower
• Dwight Clark, American football player
• Ernest Clark (1912–1994), British actor
• Eugene Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Frank Clark (footballer), English football player
  • Frank M. Clark (1915–2003), American Congressman
• Gavin Brown Clark (1846–1930), MP for Caithness
• George Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Gerry Clark (1927–1999), New Zealand sailor and ornithologist
• Ginger Clark (1879–1943), American baseball pitcher
• Glenn Clark (born 1969), Canadian coach of Toronto Rock
• Helen Clark (born 1950), Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008
• Hilda Clark (1872–1932), American Coca-Cola advertising spokesperson
• Hilda Margery Clarke (born 1926), English painter and curator
• Horace Clark, 1830s New York politician
• Horace F. Clark (1815–1873), US Congressman from New York
• Hugh Massey Clark (1886–1956), New York philatelist
• Hulda Regehr Clark, alternative medicine practitioner
• Isabella Clark, wife of Prime Minister of Canada Sir John A. Macdonald
• Jack Clark (disambiguation), several people
• James Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Jeff Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Joe Clark (born 1939), former Prime Minister of Canada
• John Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Jonas Gilman Clark (1815–1900), American businessman and the founder of Clark University
• Joseph Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Joshua Clark, (born 1980), American writer
• Karen Clark (born 1945), American politician from Minnesota
• Katy Clark (born 1967), British politician and trade union official
• Kenneth Clark (psychologist) (1914–2005), African American psychologist who testified in Brown v. Board of Education
• Kenneth Clark (1902–1983), British art historian; creator of the series Civilisation
• Leslie J. Clark (1924–2003), British engineer and founder of Parvalux
• Louis Clark, musician and conductor with the Orchestra (former members of ELO and ELO Part II)
• Manning Clark (1915–1991), Australian historian
• Marcus R. Clark (born 1956), Louisiana Supreme Court justice
• Mark Wayne Clark (1896–1984), American Army General in WW2 (Italy) and the Korean War
• Nancy B. Clark, person of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
• Ocky Clark (born 1960), American middle distance runner
• Orville Clark (1801–1862), New York politician
• Otey Clark (born 1915), American baseball pitcher
• Ramsey Clark (born 1927), U.S. Attorney General and activist
• Ranza Clark (born 1961), Canadian middle distance runner
• Roger Clark, British rally driver
• Ryan Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Samuel Clark (disambiguation), several people
  • Samuel Delbert Clark (1910–2003), Canadian sociologist
• Sherman Clark (1899–1980), American Olympic rower and Rear Admiral
• Simon Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Steve Clark (1960–1991), British guitarist for Def Leppard
• Stuart Clark (born 1975), Australian cricketer
• Theresa Maria Clark (c. 1890 – 1953), person of New York
• Thomas Clark (disambiguation), several people
• Tom Clark (journalist), Canadian television journalist
• Tom C. Clark (1899–1977), U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Supreme Court justice
• Tracy Clark, fictional character from The CW primetime drama 90210
• Wendel Clark (born 1966), retired Canadian ice hockey player
• Wesley K. Clark (born 1944), American Army General in the Vietnam War and Kosovo
• Wilfrid Le Gros Clark (1895–1971), British palaeanthropologist
• Will Clark (born 1964), American baseball player
• William Clark (disambiguation), several people

See also[link]

• The Clark Sisters, American gospel vocalists from Detroit
• Clark (taxonomic authority)
• Clarke
• Clerke (disambiguation)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Clark(e) Surname DNA Project

This page or section lists people with the surname Clark. If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.