It wasn’t until after WWII that Las Vegas began developing its reputation for lavish hotels, casinos, and big-name entertainment. 1931 was also the year construction began on the nearby Hoover Dam, which brought an influx of construction workers and their families to the area and caused a surge in downtown development.
The famous Golden Gate casino opened its doors in 1906, five years before the city’s incorporation, but it wasn’t until 1931 that Nevada legalized casino gambling.
This small patch of land would eventually become the downtown area, and soon after in 1911, the city of Las Vegas was officially incorporated. The city of Las Vegas was founded in 1905 when 110 acres of land located adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad were auctioned off.