Laughlin /ˈlÉ"Ëf.lɪn/ is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is 90 miles (140 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, Arizona; and Mohave Valley, Arizona, 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.
A September 2013, article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal is quoted as saying "Once a boomtown, Laughlin has seen nothing but declines for a dozen years, almost exactly coinciding with the loss of regular airline flights after Sept. 11, 2001. The 2.1 million visitors recorded last year by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is less than half the 1997 peak. Through July, the count has dropped another 2.2 percent compared to 2012."
Laughlin is advertised as a family-friendly destination. Being located on the river, outdoor and family activities are emphasized. 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 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 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 its tourism potential. He offered to buy the land, and within a few years, the small motel and casino, consisting of only 12 slots and two live tables, was bustling.
In 1966, the Riverside Resort built the first 14-floor high-rise; in 1972, 48 rooms were added, followed by several additions. 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, Arizona, flourished in the glow of the casino light. Shuttle boats transported customers from the Arizona side of the river to Laughlin's resorts and back.
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 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. He donated the bridge to the states of Nevada and Arizona. The bridge carries 30,000 vehicles daily. The Flamingo Hilton, now known as The Aquarius, was built in 1990.
Today there are nine hotel/casinos and one motel in Laughlin providing over 10,000 rooms, 154,000 square feet (14,300Â 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 currently attracts less than 2 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 closed down on December 31, 2005.
In April 2002, Laughlin was the scene of a deadly fight between two rival California motorcycle gangs, the Hells Angels and the Mongols. The fight broke out inside Harrah's Laughlin during the annual Laughlin River Run. Mongol Anthony Barrera, 43, was stabbed to death, and two Hells Angels, Jeramie Bell, 27, and Robert Tumelty, 50, were shot to death. Six members of the Hells Angels, as well as six members of the Mongols were sent to prison as a result of the event, and 36 other people had their charges dismissed.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, 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 (231Â km2), of which 88.0 square miles (228Â km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6Â km2) is water.
Climate
Laughlin has a desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh), with under six inches of precipitation per year. Summers are very hot with days frequently exceeding 110 °F (43 °C) in July and August while night-time lows tend to stay between 78â€"90 °F (26â€"32 °C). The winters are mild with days typically seeing temperatures between 65â€"75 °F (18â€"24 °C) and corresponding night-time lows between 45â€"60 °F (7â€"16 °C). It is one of the United States' hottest cities during the summer. Heat waves involving temperatures going over 120 °F (49 °C) are not unusual.
Demographics
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.
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 Board of Commissioners, 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. Members of the LTAB are appointed by the Clark County Commission for terms of two years.
There is a Town Manager appointed by and reporting to the County Manager. The current (2013) 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 (September 2013) commander of the Laughlin police Sub-Station is Lt. John Healy. 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 (2013) the Justice of the Peace is the Honorable Timothy Atkins and the Constable is Jordan Ross (Republican).
Town services
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.
Community Resources Center
The Community Resources Center is located 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 that provides support for Laughlin through a variety of programs targeted to families, children, and seniors, as well as providing advice regarding other public assistance programs. The State of Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services provides timely and temporary services for families, the disabled, and the elderly.
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.
Annual events
Beginning in 2001, the Tropicana Express Hotel and Casino 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 Standard Time Zone), is one hour ahead of Laughlin (in the Pacific Standard 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 motorcyclists attending annually each spring, usually in late April.
Community, education and lifestyle
Community
Laughlin has an American Legion post which has its own meeting hall, and which also serves as a Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Service clubs include Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Elks. 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 Activity Center is located at Mountain View Park, and it houses a Boys & Girls Club and a senior citizens center. A public swimming pool is open each summer, at a separate location.
Laughlin has its own local television station, KLBC-TV (Laughlin-Bullhead City), which is seen on Channel 2. Laughlin also receives television and radio signals that broadcast from Las Vegas. The town has its own newspaper, The Laughlin Times, while the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper is also distributed there.
Education
The Clark County School District serves Laughlin. Children are transported by bus 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 the High School share the same campus, which has numerous modern facilities including a well-equipped auditorium and a gymnasium.
Lifestyle
Laughlin has nine major hotel-casinos that line the Colorado River, and also is home to the Riverwalk. The river proves popular each summer for swimming, boating, and fishing activities. Laughlin's residential areas are single family and low density multi-family buildings. 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. Located approximately a fifteen-minute drive south of Lower Laughlin is an 18-hole golf course, which is open to the public at the Mohave Resort Golf Club, in Arizona.
Parks
Located in the North Reach of Laughlin is the Colorado River Greenway Heritage Trail park. It include nine miles 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.
Transportation
There are currently no freeways that pass through Laughlin. Intersections that have traffic lights number about twelve in the town, predominantly in the Casino District. The Southern Nevada Transit Coalition provides bus service on two routes in Laughlin, one of which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (IFP) lies across the river in Bullhead City, Arizona. 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.
Popular culture
In 1998, the horror film Shark was filmed in Laughlin, along the Colorado river.
In 2007, the television show Viva Laughlin, 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 airing only three episodes. Although it was 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 which was filmed on Casino Drive in Laughlin.
In the 2003 film View from the Top, the main character moves to Laughlin to pursue her dream of becoming a flight attendant at the fictional Sierra Airlines at the Laughlin/Bullhead Airport (referred to as Laughlin Airport in the movie).
In the television show The L Word, Season 6 Episode 4, Tina and Bette fly to Laughlin to meet a potential birth mother with hopes to adopt her baby.
In the television show Frasier, Season 9 Episode 16, Frasier's former Brother in Law, Blaine Sternin (played by Michael Keaton), comes to visit from Laughlin.
See also
- Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport
- Laughlin (Nevada gaming area)
- Bullhead City, Arizona
- Needles, California
References
External links
- Laughlin Town Manager
- Laughlin Township Justice Court
- Laughlin Constable's Office
- Laughlin Chamber of Commerce
- Laughlin Visitor Information Center
- Laughlin Economic Development Corporation
- Laughlin Junior/Senior High School
- William Bennett Elementary School
- KLBC-TV, Channel 2, Laughlin, Nevada
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