Laughlin () is an
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...
in
Clark County, Nevada
Clark County is the most populous County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Nevada with 2,265,461 residents as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The county is the location of the state's three largest cities, Las Vegas (t ...
, United States. Laughlin lies south of
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, in the far southern tip of Nevada. As a
resort town, it is known for its gaming and water recreation. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,658.
For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Laughlin as a
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP). It is located on the
Colorado River
The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...
, downstream from the
Davis Dam and
Lake Mohave, and directly across from the much larger
Bullhead City, Arizona. The nearby communities of Bullhead City, Arizona;
Needles, California;
Fort Mohave, Arizona; and
Mohave Valley, Arizona, bring the area's total population to about 100,000. Laughlin is also northeast of
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
.
Laughlin was named for
Don Laughlin, an
Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 26,420 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County F ...
native, who purchased the southern tip of Nevada in 1964 (informally called South Pointe). At the time, Don Laughlin operated the 101 Club in Las Vegas. He opened what would become the
Riverside Resort, and later wanted to call the community Riverside or Casino, but the post office opted for Laughlin instead.
History

The townsite of Laughlin was established in the 1940s as ''South Pointe'' because of the proximity to the southern tip of the state of Nevada. The early town consisted of a motel and bar that catered to gold and silver miners, construction workers building
Davis Dam, and fishing enthusiasts. In the 1950s, construction workers left, and the town functionally disappeared.
In 1964, Don Laughlin, owner of the 101 Club in Las Vegas, flew over the site and saw its tourism potential. He offered to buy the land, and within a few years, the
Riverside Resort motel and casino, consisting of only 12 slots and two live tables, begun operating. A second casino, the Bobcat Club, opened in 1967, where the Golden Nugget Laughlin currently operates. In 1968, a third casino, the Monte Carlo, opened its doors. The neighboring
Bullhead City, Arizona was a key part in Laughlin's growth, with shuttle boats transported customers from the Arizona side of the river to Laughlin's resorts and back. The southernmost tip of Nevada, along the Colorado River, where Nevada, California, and Arizona meet, was a major national tourist destination and gambling resort during the 70s, 80s & 90s.
In the 1980s, Laughlin was developed with the construction of several more hotels and casinos. The Colorado Hotel (now the Pioneer), The Regency, Sam's Town Gold River (now the Laughlin River Lodge), and The Edgewater opened in the early 1980s. Other investors saw the growth as an opportunity to get in on the action. A second boom resulted in the construction of The Colorado Belle, Harrah's Del Rio, and The Ramada Express (now The Tropicana Express). In 1987, Don Laughlin funded and built the Laughlin Bridge at a cost of $3.5 million, which connected Laughlin to
Bullhead City by land directly. He donated the bridge to the states of Nevada and Arizona. The bridge carries 30,000 vehicles daily. In 1988, a
megaresort project called
Emerald River was announced. The $800 million project would have included four hotel-casinos, but construction was halted in 1990 due to financing problems, leaving two unfinished towers. A golf course was the only aspect of Emerald River to be completed,
operating from 1990 until 2005. The Flamingo Hilton, now known as The Aquarius, was built in 1990.
The
Mohave Power Station opened in 1971, and closed down on December 31, 2005.
Incorporation attempts
In 2012, some residents disapproving of Clark County politics made a push to incorporate Laughlin as a city in order stave off additional loss business opportunities, as well as gain local control. The proposal did not include Laughlin Casinos. When the proposal came to a vote in a referendum, the vote was 57 percent opposed to 43 percent in favor.
In 2019, Senate Bill 213 failed to pass the Nevada legislature's Committee of Government Affairs, which would have made Laughlin a city without the consent of the voters. This would have given Laughlin representation on 9 of the 15 entities now providing services to the community
In 2021, Senate Bill 79 was introduced to allow for an election for incorporation in 2022. The Bill was sent to the Committee of Government Affairs where it failed to pass. Some local residents of the community also expressed concern that incorporation would make Laughlin unaffordable for senior citizens during the covid-19 pandemic. Others viewed it as an excuse to "raid" the Ft. Mohave Development Fund
Senator Hardy, explained to community members in the March 9, 2021, meeting that the reason he introduced the bill was to provide better public safety services to a growing Laughlin. Currently, there are memorandums of understanding with Bullhead City, for fire protection in Laughlin
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) of Laughlin (which may not coincide exactly with the town boundaries) has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Laughlin is one of the lowest-lying communities in Nevada, situated just above sea level.
Climate
Laughlin has a hot
desert
A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About one-third of the la ...
climate (
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
BWh), with under six inches of
precipitation
In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls from clouds due to gravitational pull. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, rain and snow mixed ("sleet" in Commonwe ...
per year. Summers are extremely hot with days frequently exceeding in July and August while over-night lows tend to stay between . The winters are mild with days typically seeing temperatures between and corresponding over-night lows between . It is one of the United States' hottest cities during the summer. Heat waves with high temperatures over are unusual, but not unheard of. On June 29, 1994, Laughlin experienced the hottest temperature in Nevada state history at . At 10a the
hardiness zone
A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most widely ...
is the highest of any weather station in Nevada
Demographics
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 7,076 people, 3,177 households, and 1,995 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 4,127 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.06%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 2.81%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.62%
Native American, 2.29%
Asian, 0.18%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 2.74% from
other races, and 2.29% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 10.56% of the population.
There were 3,177 households, out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.61.
The population was spread out, with 18.3% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $36,885, and the median income for a family was $40,104. Males had a median income of $27,854 versus $20,973 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the CDP was $21,097. About 7.5% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.
Tourism
Laughlin is the third most visited
casino
A casino is a facility for gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos also host live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, conce ...
and resort destination in the state after Las Vegas and
Reno and is one of the top five destinations for American
RV enthusiasts. The casino corridor offers over two dozen food and beverage establishments.
A September 2013, article in the ''
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'' is a daily subscription newspaper published in Las Vegas, Nevada, since 1909. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada and one of two daily newspapers in the Las Vegas area.
The ''Review-Journal' ...
'':
In 2019, Laughlin recorded 1.8 million visitors.
Government and politics
Government
Laughlin is an unincorporated town which has the same boundaries as the Township of Laughlin. The town is the subdivision by which it is governed by the
Clark County Commission, which receives advice from the elected Laughlin Town Advisory Board (LTAB). Members of the LTAB are elected for terms of two years. Prior to November 2016, the members of the LTAB were appointed.
There is a Laughlin Town Manager who is appointed by and reports to the Clark County Department of Administrative Services which, in turn, reports to the County Manager. The current position (February 2021) of Town Manager is vacant and is not expected to be refilled until sometime later in 2021; the current (February 2021) Town Board Secretary is Tammy Harris, who also reports to Administrative Services. Laughlin falls under the jurisdiction of the
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (also known as the LVMPD or Metro) is a combined city and county law enforcement agency for the Las Vegas, City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is headed by the Sheriff of Clar ...
(LVMPD), and fire protection is provided by the
Clark County Fire Department. The current (May 2021) commander of the Laughlin police Sub-Station is Lt. Grant Rogers. Laughlin has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, with a crime rate index of 2 (100 being the national average).
The Township of Laughlin, which is a judicial district for the purposes of elections, consists of a Justice Court, presided over by a Justice of the Peace (elected for a six-year term as a non-partisan official) and a Constable (elected for a four-year term also as a non-partisan official). Currently (February 2021) the Justice of the Peace is the Honorable Timothy Atkins and the
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. ''Constable'' is commonly the rank of an officer within a police service. Other peo ...
is Jordan Ross. Prior to 2020, the office of constable was partisan but this was changed to non-partisan by SB 462 (80th Session).
Annual events
Beginning in 2001, the
Tropicana Express Hotel and Casino has hosted the Talent Quest National Finals. The contest is held in the third week of September, where qualifying singers compete for the top spot in Male and Female Pop/Rock/R&B and Country/Western.
The
Laughlin River Run, held from 1983 to 2019, attracted thousands of avid motorcyclists each spring, usually in late April.
For New Year's celebrations, the neighboring town of Bullhead City, Arizona (in the
Mountain Standard Time Zone), is one hour ahead of Laughlin (in the
Pacific Standard Time Zone); tourists can celebrate New Years midnight in Bullhead City and then cross the bridge into Laughlin to celebrate it again during their midnight.
Education
The
Clark County School District serves Laughlin. Children are transported by bus to local schools all located within the town limits. They are William G. Bennett Elementary School (K-5), Laughlin Junior High School (6-8) and Laughlin High School (9-12). The Junior High School and the High School share the same campus.
Infrastructure
Community Resources Center
The Community Resources Center is in the Clark County Regional Government Center complex in Laughlin. Several social services agencies provide assistance to the public from this building. The River Fund, Inc., is a local non-profit agency providing direct emergency and crisis services for individuals and families. East Valley Family Services is a non-profit organization supporting Laughlin through a variety of programs for families, children, and seniors, as well as providing advice regarding other public assistance programs. The State of Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services offers timely and temporary services for families, the disabled, and the elderly. The local office of the Southern Nevada Health District and the constable's office are also in this building.
Water supply
The Big Bend Water District provides the water supply for Laughlin.
Water reclamation
The Clark County Water Reclamation District provides water treatment and recycling for Laughlin.
Flood control
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District plans and engineers flood control management for Laughlin.
Library
Laughlin has a
public library
A public library is a library, most often a lending library, that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil servic ...
, a branch of the
Las Vegas–Clark County Library District. The Laughlin Library has full access to the district's extensive collection of books, periodicals, and videos. It includes computers with printers, and internet access for public use, wireless internet access, a fully stocked and staffed children's library, study rooms, a community room, a small conference room, and a small but excellent art gallery. It is the largest rural library in Clark County with and over 70,000 volumes.
Parks
Located in the North Reach of Laughlin is the Colorado River Greenway Heritage Trail park. It include of trails for bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians; restrooms; picnic sites; shade shelters; fishing piers; an extensive playground with water sprays in the summer; and a pedestrian bridge over State Highway 163 which provides access to the Colorado River.
In the center of Upper Laughlin, next to the Spirit Mountain Activity Center, and one block from the town library, is Mountain View Park. It includes two softball fields, a playground, exercise trail, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball court, shaded picnic tables, a dog run, and a skateboard park.
At the south end of Upper Laughlin is the town pool. It is open during the summer months, and it includes full locker room facilities, shaded tables, and a large water park-style slide.
At the southernmost reaches of the township is
Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area. This 2,100-acre (850 ha) public recreation area on the west bank of the Colorado River offers boating, fishing, camping, picnicking, and hiking on of developed trails.
Transportation
There are no freeways that pass directly through Laughlin, though
Nevada State Route 163 connects Laughlin with southern Nevada and with
Arizona State Route 95 in Bullhead City via a bridge over the
Colorado River
The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...
. A second bridge—south of Bullhead City—is scheduled to open in June 2024 after three years of construction at a cost of $60.6 million.
Silver Rider Transit provides bus service on two routes in Laughlin, one of which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also operates express buses to Las Vegas.
Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) lies across the river in Bullhead City, Arizona. The airport provides casino-sponsored chartered flights, and is also utilized by some private aircraft. Private shuttle companies connect Laughlin with
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
A shuttle also connects Laughlin with the
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
station in
Kingman, Arizona
Kingman is a city in and the county seat of Mohave County, Arizona, United States. It is named after Lewis Kingman, an engineer for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. The population was 32,693 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census.
Hi ...
.
Laughlin is served by the bus company
TUFESA with service to Phoenix and Las Vegas.
See also
*
Laughlin (Nevada gaming area)
References
External links
Laughlin Town ManagerLaughlin Township Justice CourtLaughlin Constable's OfficeLaughlin Chamber of CommerceLaughlin Visitor Information CenterLaughlin Economic Development CorporationLaughlin Junior/Senior High SchoolWilliam Bennett Elementary SchoolKLBC-TV, Channel 2, Laughlin, NevadaLaughlin Nevada TimesSouthern Nevada Transit Coalition operator of RTC's routes in Laughlin & Mesquite, as well as the Veterans Medical Transportation Network
{{Authority control
Census-designated places in Clark County, Nevada
Communities in the Lower Colorado River Valley
Populated places established in 1964
Populated places in the Mojave Desert
Unincorporated communities in Clark County, Nevada
Unincorporated towns in Nevada