Henderson, Nevada
Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, about southeast of downtown Las Vegas. It is the 2nd most populous city in Nevada, after Las Vegas, with 317,610 residents. The city is part of the Las Vegas Valley.
Henderson is notable for its extensive system of outdoor recreation facilities, including over of trails and 72 parks.
Incorporated in 1953, Henderson was originally known for its role in magnesium production during World War II. Since then, it has grown rapidly through the development of master planned communities starting with the large Green Valley neighborhood, redevelopment and reinvestment after the PEPCON disaster, and the city government's historically proactive planning and management.
History
1913 to the Hoover Dam
In the fall of 1917, manganese ore along with other metals were found at the site of the Three Kids Mine, a now-defunct mine adjacent to the Lake Las Vegas area northwest of Boulder City and southeast of Las Vegas. Mining would continue intermittently until the mine was officially closed in 1961.Instead, there were clusters of Hoovervilles scattered throughout the area with a variety of names. Pittman, the most prominent settlement of what would become Henderson, still exists today —though not incorporated nor a city—was the most prominent of the settlements and is currently known, many of which remain neighborhood names today.
World War II growth
In an effort to supply the Allies in World War II, the federal government needed vast quantities of magnesium for the war. Mined from Gabbs, Nevada, the ore needed to be processed in order to produce a variety of critical war materials, such as airplane engines, fuselages, and incendiary munitions casing.Near a large magnesium mine, the area was chosen to build a two-mile long industrial complex to house the company chosen to run the operation, Basic Magnesium Incorporated, which would go on to have a massive impact on the development of Henderson.
The War Department identified the area as being ideal for military industrial manufacturing. The area was at least 250 miles from the coast in between the McCullough Hills and River Mountains, protecting the area from low-altitude aircraft attacks. The area is also roughly halfway between the railroad line connecting Las Vegas to Los Angeles and Salt Lake and the Hoover Dam's water and electricity.
In September 1941, around 2,700 workers began construction of the BMI complex in order to complete it in just 11 months. When the plant opened in February 1942, around 15,000 people would come from around the country to come work at the plant. At its peak, it would produce 25% of the nation's magnesium. In between the preexisting communities of Pittman and Midway, what is now downtown Henderson was referred to as the Basic Townsite.
During this time, the first high school in Henderson and second in Clark County, Basic High School, was established in 1942. The school has moved twice, once in the 1950s and again in 1972 to its current location. The school has a large, white letter "B" made of painted boulders on the side of the River Mountain range.
Incorporation
By the end of World War II, Henderson suffered a sharp decline when the BMI plant ceassed production, with most of its 14,000 employees leaving with their families. With the sharp population decline, Henderson's future was uncertain and the state government was looking to public and private sectors to repurpose infrastructure. In 1946, the Nevada Legislature authorized the Colorado River Commission of Nevada to purchase the industrial plants, preventing the town's dissolution.This intervention paved the way for the city of Henderson to exist. Henderson was officially incorporated as a city on April 16, 1953, with a population of 7,500 and Dr. Jim French serving as its first mayor.
Post-war growth to 1980s
Despite its proximity to Las Vegas, Henderson maintained a distinct identity throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with slower rates of development and a priority placed on developing single-family homes, retail, and manufacturing industries.In 1971, a land sale involving local businessman and Las Vegas Sun publisher, Hank Greenspun, caused controversy but resulted in the development of the first neighborhoods outside the original downtown, Green Valley. Greenspun acquired 4,720 acres of government-released land at approximately $280 per acre, a price which drew controversy, with many noting its location directly in between Las Vegas and downtown Henderson.
Although Henderson retained its industrial core, the city shifted away from that into a larger suburban city. It became home to Southern Nevada's first master-planned community, Green Valley. The middle-to-upper class suburban development spurred growth with other master planned communities following suit. This period of growth set the stage for Henderson's emergence as Nevada's second-largest city in subsequent decades.
PEPCON disaster and aftermath
On May 4, 1988, the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada chemical plant experienced a catastrophic fire and series of explosions. The facility was one of only two in the United States producing ammonium perchlorate, a key component in solid rocket fuel.The disaster resulted in two fatalities, injured over 300 individuals, and caused extensive damage throughout the Las Vegas Valley. The explosions were so powerful that they registered seismic activity equivalent to a 3.5 magnitude earthquake and were felt up to 10 miles away.
The incident led to significant changes in industrial safety regulations and emergency response protocols in the region. In the aftermath, PEPCON ceased operations in Henderson, and the site was eventually redeveloped for commercial use.
Geography
Henderson is about southeast of downtown Las Vegas.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.
The city is in the Mojave Desert with wildlife and vegetation typical of the Mojave. The mountains that surround Henderson mostly have gentle slopes. The McCullough Range is closest to the city; most of this range is covered by black rocks from a volcanic explosion millions of years ago. These mountains reach an average height of about. The landscape consists of the desert; the only water in the city is found in washes like Duck Creek.
Residential neighborhoods in Henderson include Anthem, Anthem Country Club, Ascaya, Black Mountain Vistas, Cadence, Calico Ridge, Champion Village, The Fountains, Grand Legacy, Green Valley, Green Valley Estates, Green Valley Ranch, Hillsboro Heights, Inspirada, Lake Las Vegas, MacDonald Highlands, MacDonald Ranch, Madeira Canyon, Club at Madeira Canyon, Roma Hills, Seven Hills, Sun City Anthem, Sun City MacDonald Ranch, Tuscany Village, and Whitney Ranch.
Climate
Henderson is classified as having a hot desert climate in the Köppen climate classification. It has mild winters and hot summers. Snow can occasionally fall in the winter. The monsoon can bring storms in the summer, which can cause flash flooding and thunderstorms. The hottest month is July and the coldest month is December. On average there are 292 clear days per year.Demographics
2020 census
According to the 2020 census, Henderson had a population of 317,610 residents, a just-over 23% increase from the 2010 census. The city's racial makeup was 66.4% White alone, 6.0% Black or African American alone, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native alone, 9.3% Asian alone, 0.7% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander alone, and 10.9% identifying as two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.1% of the population, while 59.3% were non-Hispanic White.There were 124,626 households, with an average household size of 2.54 individuals. Owner-occupied housing units accounted for 65.2% of all households, with a median value of $427,900. The median gross rent was $1,641.
The age distribution in 2020 was as follows: 4.9% under 5 years old, 21.4% under 18, and 20.0% aged 65 or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.81 males.
Economically, the median household income was $85,311, with a per capita income of $46,882. Approximately 8.1% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Residents with at least a high school diploma accounted for 93.6% of the population, while residents with bachelor's degrees or higher accounted for 35.3%.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | % 2000 | % 2010 | ||
| White | 137,174 | 177,039 | 186,109 | 78.21% | 68.69% | 58.60% |
| Black or African American | 6,376 | 12,471 | 20,288 | 3.64% | 4.84% | 6.39% |
| Native American or Alaska Native | 955 | 1,182 | 1,253 | 0.54% | 0.46% | 0.39% |
| Asian | 6,838 | 18,172 | 28,930 | 3.90% | 7.05% | 9.11% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian | 681 | 1,354 | 2,225 | 0.39% | 0.53% | 0.70% |
| Some other race | 260 | 479 | 1,748 | 0.15% | 0.19% | 0.55% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial | 4,312 | 8,655 | 20,093 | 2.46% | 3.36% | 6.33% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18,785 | 38,377 | 56,964 | 10.71% | 14.89% | 17.94% |
| Total | 175,381 | 257,729 | 317,610 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
At the census of 2010, 257,729 people resided in Henderson. The racial makeup was 76.9% White, 5.1% African American, 0.7% Native American, 7.2% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.9% of the population and 68.7% of the population was non-Hispanic White.According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of. The city's racial makeup was 80.49% White, 3.76% African American, 0.70% Native American, 3.98% Asian, 0.42% Pacific Islander, 3.16% from other races, and 3.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.71% of the population.
There were 66,331 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age for the city was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The city's median household income was $63,830, and the median family income was $74,120. The per capita income for the city was $33,238. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.