[Vigilanteman]

There are basically four reasons:

1. It was one of the few places on the route south to the LA area with a tiny bit of water, so it was founded as a ranch town and railroad stop.
   
2. It was close to Hoover Dam when it was being built so some place had to house the construction workers.
   
3. It has clear weather damn near year round, so was selected to train pilots for World War II (Nellis AFB).
   
4. The gambling and cat houses established to entertain the former two groups were a natural attraction for the mob to build a big city .

[Blurp2]

“There are basically four reasons...”

Woah! SOMEBODY’S been reading...

[mad_as_he$$]

2 is not exactly correct. Boulder City was built from the ground to house workers from the Dam. 7C’s wanted them away from Vegas for obvious reasons.

[atomic_dog]

Every large American city is a transportation hub with a seaport or on a river except Las Vegas. It was, however a railroad hub. That’s why it initially existed. How it got big was Federalism. Before the progressive notion that everywhere in the US had to be the same. Gambling was illegal in CA and Bugsy Siegal saw opportunity.