Henderson

Henderson is located about 12 miles southeast of Las Vegas. It was originally called Basic because of the Basic Magnesium factory built to help in the World War II effort. It was incorporated as Henderson in 1953, in honor of Senator Charles Henderson. At the time, the city was 13 sq mi and had a population of 7,500. (During World World II, 13,000 people lived and worked in Basic, but many left after the factory closed.) Today's population is more than 270,000. It is on the list of the top 50 safest cities in the nation, and, like Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The city slogan is "a place to call home."

In 1971, Hank Greenspun, publisher of The Las Vegas Sun, bought 4,700 acres northwest of Henderson and created Green Valley, the city's fastest-growing master-planned community (there are 23 such communities in Henderson, most in Green Valley).

There are eight public, semiprivate, and private golf courses (Reflection Bay, Rio Seco Golf Club, The Revere at Anthem, Black Mountain Golf Club, Dragon Ridge, Legacy Golf Club, Wild Horse Country Club, and Southshore).

Attractions:

• Clark County Heritage Museum
• Ethel M Chocolates and Cactus Garden
• Ron Lee's World of Clowns
• The Henderson Bird Preserve

Major casinos: Sunset Station, Fiesta Henderson, Green Valley Ranch. Three small casinos are located in downtown Henderson (turn on Water St): El Dorado Casino, Peppermill's Rainbow Casino, and Emeral Island Casino (the only nonsmoking casino in the valley).