Clark County, County in southern Nevada, United States
Clark County is an administrative unit in southern Nevada that stretches from the Colorado River in the southeast to the mountain ridges in the west. The landscape ranges from desert plains dotted with cactus and scrub to forested slopes at higher elevations, where pine and juniper grow.
The administrative unit came into being in 1909 when the southern part of Lincoln County separated to form a standalone region with its own seat in Las Vegas. In the decades that followed, construction of the Hoover Dam and the legalization of gambling changed the economic foundation of the area.
The name honors William A. Clark, a Montana senator who pushed railroad construction through this area in the early 20th century. Today you can see traces of this history in the settlements along old railway routes, where communities grew around water sources and trade paths.
The area is best explored by car, as public transport outside urban centers is limited. In summer, temperatures in the lower elevations can reach over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), while the higher mountain areas offer some relief.
Most residents concentrate in the Las Vegas Valley, while large parts of the remaining area remain nearly uninhabited. In some desert sections, you can drive for hours without encountering a settlement.
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