Laughlin, Nevada
Encyclopedia
Laughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County
, Nevada
, United States
, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is 90 miles (144.8 km) south of Las Vegas
, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census
, the population was 7,323. The nearby communities of Bullhead City, Arizona
; Needles, California
; Fort Mohave
; and Mohave Valley
bring the Laughlin area's total population to about 100,000.
Its name comes from Don Laughlin
, an Owatonna, Minnesota
, 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, offering all-you-can-eat chicken dinners for 98 cents, 12 slot machines and two live gaming tables, along with eight motel rooms (although four of the rooms were occupied by Don Laughlin's family). He wanted to call the community Riverside or Casino but the post office opted for Laughlin instead.
Laughlin is the third most visited casino
and resort
destination in the state after Las Vegas
and Reno
, and is one of the top five destinations for American RV enthusiasts.
Laughlin is advertised as a family-friendly destination and, being located on the river, it emphasizes outdoor and family activities. Many of the casinos that line the Colorado River are linked by an unofficial pedestrian thoroughfare known as the Laughlin Riverwalk.
In 1964, a man by the name of Don Laughlin, owner of the 101 Club in Las Vegas, flew over the site and saw the tourism potential. He offered to buy the land, and within a few short years, the small motel and casino, consisting of only 12 slots and two live tables, was bustling. In 1972 The Riverside Resort added 48 rooms, followed by several additions and in 1986 built the first 14-floor high-rise. A 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. Across the River, Bullhead City flourished in the glow of the casino light. Shuttle boats transported customers from the Arizona side of the river to Laughlin's resorts.
The 1980s saw the construction of several more hotels and casinos. The Colorado Hotel (now The Pioneer), The Regency, Sam's Town Gold River (now the River Palms) and The Edgewater opened in the early 80s. 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. The Flamingo Hilton, now known as the Aquarius, was built in 1990. In 1987, Don Laughlin funded and built the Laughlin Bridge at a cost of $3.5 million. He donated the bridge to the states of Nevada and Arizona. The bridge carries 30,000 vehicles daily.
Today there are nine hotel/casinos and one motel in Laughlin providing over 10,000 rooms, 94000 square feet (8,732.9 m²) of meeting space, 60 restaurants, two museums, a 34-lane bowling center and a variety of boutiques, spas and salons. More than 14,000 casino workers now cross the Colorado by shuttle boat or the Laughlin Bridge each day. The city by the river now attracts nearly 3 million visitors annually who visit Laughlin to gamble, enjoy water sports on the Colorado and attend many high-profile special events hosted by the community.
The Mohave Power Station
opened in 1971, but later closed down on December 31, 2005.
In April 2002, Laughlin was the scene of the River Run Riot
, a vicious fight between two rival California
motorcycle gangs, the Hells Angels
and the Mongols
. Between 70 and 100 gang members were involved in the violence which resulted in three deaths and multiple gunshot and knife injuries.
, the census-designated place
(CDP) of Laughlin (which may not coincide exactly with the town boundaries) has a total area of 89.3 square miles (231.3 km²), of which 88 square miles (227.9 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 7,076 people, 3,177 households, and 1,995 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 80.3 people per square mile (31.0/km²). There were 4,127 housing units at an average density of 46.8 per square mile (18.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.06% White, 2.81% African American, 0.62% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.74% from other races
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic 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
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 is 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
for the CDP was $21,097. About 7.5% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.
, which receives advice from the appointed Laughlin Town Advisory Board (LTAB). The LTAB does most of its work through five standing committees, each of which is chaired by one LTAB member. The current standing committees are Public Works, Public Safety, Community Development, Social Services and Parks and Recreation. The LTAB also appoints special committees from time to time for various purposes, such as the committee that selects the annual Laughlin Citizen of the Year.
There is also a Town Manager appointed by and reporting to the County Manager. The current (2011) Town Manager is Jackie Brady. Laughlin falls under the jurisdiction of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
(LVMPD), and fire protection is provided by the Clark County Fire Department
. The current (2011) commander of the Laughlin police Sub-Station is Lt. Brian Evans. 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 as a partisan official). Currently (2011) the Justice of the Peace is The Honorable Timothy Atkins and the Constable is Jordan Ross (Republican).
As of July 2011, Clark County is debating the possible incorporation of Laughlin.
has been the host for 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 Male and Female Country/Western.
New Year's celebrations can be interesting since the neighboring town of Bullhead City, Arizona (in the Mountain Time Zone
), is one hour ahead of Laughlin (in the Pacific Time Zone
). Revelers can ring in the new year in Bullhead City, and then cross the bridge into Laughlin to ring it in again one hour later.
The Laughlin River Run
started in 1983 and has thousands of avid motorcyclist attending annually each spring, usually in late April.
Laughlin receives television and radio signals that broadcast from Las Vegas. The town has its own newspaper, The Laughlin Times, as well as having the Las Vegas Review-Journal
newspaper distributed there. Laughlin also has its own local television station, KLBC-TV (Laughlin-Bullhead City), Channel 2.
serves Laughlin. Children are zoned to local schools all located within the town limits. They are Bennett Elementary School (K-5), Laughlin Junior High School (6-8) and Laughlin High School (9-12). The Junior High School and High School share the same campus, which has numerous modern facilities including a well equipped auditorium.
. Although the airport is not currently served by any large commercial airlines, it does provide casino-sponsored chartered flights, and is also utilized by some private aircraft.
, based on the BBC
television serial Blackpool
, was reformatted to take place in Laughlin. The show was broadcast on CBS
in the United States, E! in Canada, and the Nine Network
in Australia. Reaction to the show was so overwhelmingly negative that all three networks canceled the show after only airing two episodes. Although set in Laughlin, the show was filmed almost entirely in California including all principal photography and generally bore no resemblance to real life in Laughlin. There was some brief second unit photography on Casino Drive in Laughlin.
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is 90 miles (144.8 km) south of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, the population was 7,323. The nearby communities of Bullhead City, Arizona
Bullhead City, Arizona
Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, roughly south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City...
; Needles, California
Needles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
; Fort Mohave
Fort Mohave, Arizona
Fort Mohave is a CDP in Mohave County, Arizona. It is named for a nearby fort that was used during the Mohave War. As of the census of 2010, the population of Fort Mohave was 14,364. This was up from 8,919 in 2000. It is a micro-suburb of Bullhead City...
; and Mohave Valley
Mohave Valley, Arizona
Mohave Valley is a census-designated place in Mohave County, Arizona, United States. The population was 13,694 at the 2000 census. It is geographically connected to Needles, California and Bullhead City, Arizona....
bring the Laughlin area's total population to about 100,000.
Its name comes from Don Laughlin
Don Laughlin
Donald J. Laughlin is a gambling entrepreneur, hotelier and rancher for whom the town of Laughlin, Nevada, is named.A native of Owatonna, Minnesota, Laughlin worked winters during his youth as a fur trapper. He took the profits and used them to purchase slot machines for installation in hunting...
, an Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair in August....
, 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, offering all-you-can-eat chicken dinners for 98 cents, 12 slot machines and two live gaming tables, along with eight motel rooms (although four of the rooms were occupied by Don Laughlin's family). He wanted to call the community Riverside or Casino but the post office opted for Laughlin instead.
Laughlin is the third most visited casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
destination in the state after Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, and is one of the top five destinations for American RV enthusiasts.
Laughlin is advertised as a family-friendly destination and, being located on the river, it emphasizes outdoor and family activities. Many of the casinos that line the Colorado River are linked by an unofficial pedestrian thoroughfare known as the Laughlin Riverwalk.
History
The southernmost tip of Nevada, along the Colorado River, where Nevada, California and Arizona meet, has become a major national tourist destination and gambling resort within the last few decades. The townsite of Laughlin was established in the 1940's 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 all but disappeared.In 1964, a man by the name of Don Laughlin, owner of the 101 Club in Las Vegas, flew over the site and saw the tourism potential. He offered to buy the land, and within a few short years, the small motel and casino, consisting of only 12 slots and two live tables, was bustling. In 1972 The Riverside Resort added 48 rooms, followed by several additions and in 1986 built the first 14-floor high-rise. A 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. Across the River, Bullhead City flourished in the glow of the casino light. Shuttle boats transported customers from the Arizona side of the river to Laughlin's resorts.
The 1980s saw the construction of several more hotels and casinos. The Colorado Hotel (now The Pioneer), The Regency, Sam's Town Gold River (now the River Palms) and The Edgewater opened in the early 80s. 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. The Flamingo Hilton, now known as the Aquarius, was built in 1990. In 1987, Don Laughlin funded and built the Laughlin Bridge at a cost of $3.5 million. He donated the bridge to the states of Nevada and Arizona. The bridge carries 30,000 vehicles daily.
Today there are nine hotel/casinos and one motel in Laughlin providing over 10,000 rooms, 94000 square feet (8,732.9 m²) of meeting space, 60 restaurants, two museums, a 34-lane bowling center and a variety of boutiques, spas and salons. More than 14,000 casino workers now cross the Colorado by shuttle boat or the Laughlin Bridge each day. The city by the river now attracts nearly 3 million visitors annually who visit Laughlin to gamble, enjoy water sports on the Colorado and attend many high-profile special events hosted by the community.
The Mohave Power Station
Mohave Power Station
Mohave Power Station was a 1,580 megawatt coal fired power plant located in Laughlin, Nevada. Southern California Edison is the majority owner of the plant and was its operator. The plant is currently shut down and in the process of being dismantled.The plant was composed of two units of capable...
opened in 1971, but later closed down on December 31, 2005.
In April 2002, Laughlin was the scene of the River Run Riot
River Run Riot
The River Run Riot occurred on 27 April 2002, in Laughlin, Nevada during the Laughlin River Run. Members of the Hells Angels and the Mongols motorcycle clubs stabbed and shot at each other at Harrah's Laughlin...
, a vicious fight between two rival California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
motorcycle gangs, the Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
and the Mongols
Mongols (motorcycle club)
The Mongols Motorcycle Club, sometimes called the Mongol Nation or Mongol Brotherhood, is a "one-percenter" motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate. The club is headquartered in southern California and was originally formed in Montebello, California in 1969 by Hispanic Vietnam War veterans...
. Between 70 and 100 gang members were involved in the violence which resulted in three deaths and multiple gunshot and knife injuries.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) of Laughlin (which may not coincide exactly with the town boundaries) has a total area of 89.3 square miles (231.3 km²), of which 88 square miles (227.9 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) is water.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,076 people, 3,177 households, and 1,995 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 80.3 people per square mile (31.0/km²). There were 4,127 housing units at an average density of 46.8 per square mile (18.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.06% White, 2.81% African American, 0.62% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.74% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic 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
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 is 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
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $21,097. About 7.5% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.
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 Board of CommissionersClark County Commission (Nevada)
The Clark County Board of County Commissioners is the governmental organization that runs the unincorporated areas of Clark County, Nevada. The commission is considered by many to be the most powerful governmental body in the state of Nevada....
, which receives advice from the appointed Laughlin Town Advisory Board (LTAB). The LTAB does most of its work through five standing committees, each of which is chaired by one LTAB member. The current standing committees are Public Works, Public Safety, Community Development, Social Services and Parks and Recreation. The LTAB also appoints special committees from time to time for various purposes, such as the committee that selects the annual Laughlin Citizen of the Year.
There is also a Town Manager appointed by and reporting to the County Manager. The current (2011) Town Manager is Jackie Brady. Laughlin falls under the jurisdiction of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is a joint city-county police force for the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada. It is run by the Sheriff of Clark County, elected every four years. The current Sheriff of Clark County is Douglas C...
(LVMPD), and fire protection is provided by the Clark County Fire Department
Clark County Fire Department
The Clark County Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection, rescue and emergency medical services for unincorporated Clark County, Nevada....
. The current (2011) commander of the Laughlin police Sub-Station is Lt. Brian Evans. 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 as a partisan official). Currently (2011) the Justice of the Peace is The Honorable Timothy Atkins and the Constable is Jordan Ross (Republican).
As of July 2011, Clark County is debating the possible incorporation of Laughlin.
Economy
Tourism is Laughlin's main source of revenue. While the resorts and casinos provide the majority of jobs in the city, future projects include a solar panel assembly plant that could be under construction as early as November, 2011. An accompanying solar farm is also expected to be constructed by the plant. The plant will be equipped to produce 3 to 5 million solar panels per year. Tony Timmons serves as the President of the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce for 2011.Water
The Big Bend Water District provides the water supply for Laughlin.Library
The Laughlin Library is operated by the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and has full access to the district's extensive collection of books, periodicals and videos. It is attractive and comfortable and 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 and a small art gallery. The largest rural library in Clark County, it is also the most distinctive public building in Laughlin.Annual events
Beginning in 2001, the Tropicana Express Hotel and CasinoTropicana Express Hotel and Casino
Tropicana Express is a casino resort in Laughlin, Nevada with 1,498 rooms; 1,050 slot machines, and 21 table games.The hotel's pool is shaped like a locomotive....
has been the host for the Talent Quest
Talent Quest
Talent Quest is an organization which organizes a singing contest which is conducted in the United States. Singers perform songs with karaoke background music tracks, and are judged by vocal ability, stage presence, and presentation/appearance...
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 Male and Female Country/Western.
New Year's celebrations can be interesting since the neighboring town of Bullhead City, Arizona (in the Mountain Time Zone
Mountain Time Zone
The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
), is one hour ahead of Laughlin (in the Pacific Time Zone
Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
). Revelers can ring in the new year in Bullhead City, and then cross the bridge into Laughlin to ring it in again one hour later.
The Laughlin River Run
Laughlin River Run
Laughlin River Run is an annual gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in Laughlin, Nevada. It is the largest gathering of its type in the Western United States. The event drew over 70,000 motorcycle enthusiasts in 2007.- History :...
started in 1983 and has thousands of avid motorcyclist attending annually each spring, usually in late April.
Community
Laughlin has an American Legion post which has its own hall, as well as a Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Service clubs include Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions. The town is served by four religious congregations, Laughlin Community Church, St. John The Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Living Christ Lutheran Church and Living Water Outreach Ministry. Numerous others are available across the river in Arizona. The Spirit Mountain Community Center includes a Boys and Girls Club, a senior center, and the office of the Family Resource Center which provides referrals to several social services.Laughlin receives television and radio signals that broadcast from Las Vegas. The town has its own newspaper, The Laughlin Times, as well as having the Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Las Vegas Review-Journal is published in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It is the largest circulating daily newspaper in Nevada, and one of two daily newspapers in Las Vegas . It is the flagship publication of Stephens Media LLC...
newspaper distributed there. Laughlin also has its own local television station, KLBC-TV (Laughlin-Bullhead City), Channel 2.
Education
The Clark County School DistrictClark County School District
The Clark County School District, , is the 5th largest school district in the United States. It serves all of Clark County, Nevada, including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite; plus the census-designated places of Laughlin, Blue Diamond, Logandale,...
serves Laughlin. Children are zoned to local schools all located within the town limits. They are Bennett Elementary School (K-5), Laughlin Junior High School (6-8) and Laughlin High School (9-12). The Junior High School and High School share the same campus, which has numerous modern facilities including a well equipped auditorium.
Lifestyle
Laughlin has several hotel-casinos that line the Colorado River, and also includes a riverwalk. The river proves popular in summer for water activities. Laughlin's residential areas are single family and low density multi-family buildings. Mountain View Park includes two softball fields, a playground, exercise trail, tennis courts, basketball courts, a dog run, and a skate park. At the south end of Upper Laughlin there is a town pool. Breezes from the North and Northwest sweep the air in the town, which, when combined with the lack of any significant industrial or commuter pollution, creates a very high air quality.Transportation
There are currently no freeways that pass through Laughlin. Intersections that have traffic lights number about twelve in the town, predominately in the Casino District. The Southern Nevada Transit Coalition provides bus service on two routes in Laughlin, one of which operates twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. Laughlin/Bullhead City International Airport (IFP) lies across the river in Bullhead City, ArizonaBullhead City, Arizona
Bullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, roughly south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City...
. Although the airport is not currently served by any large commercial airlines, it does provide casino-sponsored chartered flights, and is also utilized by some private aircraft.
Laughlin in popular culture
In 2007, the television show Viva LaughlinViva Laughlin
Viva Laughlin is an American musical–dramedy series adapted by Bob Lowry and Peter Bowker from the popular BBC British serial, Blackpool. They also served as executive producers alongside Hugh Jackman, John Palermo, Paul Telegdy and Gabriele Muccino. The latter also directed the pilot...
, based on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television serial Blackpool
Blackpool (TV serial)
Blackpool is a British television musical comedy drama serial, produced in-house by the BBC. It was screened on BBC One as six one-hour episodes on Thursday nights at 9pm from 11 November to 16 December 2004...
, was reformatted to take place in Laughlin. The show was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in the United States, E! in Canada, and the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
in Australia. Reaction to the show was so overwhelmingly negative that all three networks canceled the show after only airing two episodes. Although set in Laughlin, the show was filmed almost entirely in California including all principal photography and generally bore no resemblance to real life in Laughlin. There was some brief second unit photography on Casino Drive in Laughlin.
See also
- Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport
- Laughlin (Nevada gaming area)Laughlin (Nevada gaming area)The American Gaming Association lists Laughlin as #17 out of the top 20 US Casino Markets by annual revenue, right behind Downtown. The Nevada Gaming Commission revenue as listed in the annual gaming abstract for fiscal year 2008 . Equivalent figures for Downtown are shown for comparison. Licenses...
- Bullhead City, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaBullhead City is a city located on the Colorado River in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, roughly south of Las Vegas, Nevada, and directly across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada, whose casinos and ancillary services supply much of the employment for Bullhead City...
- Needles, CaliforniaNeedles, CaliforniaNeedles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...