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|  he immediate conception in most peoples' minds when hearing the words "Las Vegas" is that of the gambling mecca of the world.  True enough!  But the Las Vegas Valley encompasses almost 600 square miles.  Although there are a number of casinos off The Strip, that "gambling mecca" occupies only about five square miles.  The Valley is home to approximately 1.5 million residents, and is growing by 6,000 new residents per month.  Almost completely surrounded by mountains, Las Vegas is the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States. 
 
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| State of Nevada | County of Clark | City of Las Vegas | 
| Above photo © 1998 by Las Vegas Review-Journal Arial font characters courtesy IconBAZAAR |