Casino History: How the Hoover Dam Shaped the Birth of Las Vegas

Contrary to popular belief, the immense infrastructure required to power the massive casino complexes of Las Vegas was not built by the Hoover Dam to provide either water or power.

The Real Reason Behind the Hoover Dam’s Construction

Las Vegas only ended up needing water and electricity because the dam happened to be built near it. Today, the body of water created by Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, provides nearby Las Vegas with 90% of its water. However, the reason the dam was built had nothing to do with Las Vegas.

A History of Flooding Along the Colorado River

In fact, Las Vegas didn’t start drawing water from the lake until it nearly depleted its own underground water supply in 1971. That was 35 years after the dam’s completion.