Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately 20 mi (32 km) from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2000 census the population was 14,966, with a 2006 estimated population of 15,005.
Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibits gambling.
History
Boulder City was originally built in 1932 by the Bureau of Reclamation as housing for workers who were building Hoover Dam (the original name of the dam was Boulder Dam). It was designed by landscape architect Saco Rienk DeBoer. Alcohol sales, membership in unions and all forms of gambling were prohibited in the city. The Bureau did not relinquish control of the city until 1958. Boulder City was officially incorporated on January 4, 1960, and the city council selected pharmacist Robert N. Broadbent as the first mayor.
The city charter, approved by the residents, prohibited gambling within the city limits. This provision still exists, making Boulder City one of only two locations in Nevada where gambling is illegal (the other is the town of Panaca). The Hacienda Hotel and Casino, which has a Boulder City mailing address, is located on a parcel of private land within the boundaries of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and is not within city limits.
The other casino on the other end of town is the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino, which has a Boulder City phone prefix, but is in the nearby city of Henderson, NV.
Alcohol sales were permitted in 1969.
The 6th Best Place to Retire
In 2009, Money magazine ranked Boulder City 6th in its annual list of the top 25 places to retire in the United States, which was based on affordable housing, medical care, tax rates and arts and leisure.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 202.7 square miles (525 km 2 ), of which, 202.6 sq mi (525 km 2 ) of it is land and .04 sq mi (0.10 km 2 ) of it (0.01%) is water. This ranks Boulder City as the largest city in Nevada by land area and 35th in the country, but gives it a low density rate of only about 78 people per square mile.
Boulder City maintains strict controls on growth, limited to 120 single- or multi-family residential building permits for new construction per year. Hotels are also restricted to no more than 35 rooms. These restrictions are defined in the city code Chapter 11, Section 41.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,966 people, 6,385 households, and 4,277 families residing in the city. The population density was 73.9 people per square mile (28.5/km²). There were 6,979 housing units at an average density of 34.4/sq mi (13.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.54% White, 0.71% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.34% of the population.
There were 6,385 households out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,523, and the median income for a family was $60,641. Males had a median income of $42,041 versus $30,385 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,770. About 4.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
The City of Boulder City is a special charter municipality which operates under the council-manager form of government. The City Council comprises five members, including the Mayor, who acts as presiding officer for City Council meetings. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and executes the policies and directives of the City Council. The most ironic feature of political life in Boulder City is that the current mayor, Roger Tobler, is a libertarian, and yet the town was created by the national government.
Leisure
Boulder City has two municipal golf courses, a city pool, racquetball complex, lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, BMX bicycle track, ample mountain hiking trails, and is only a few miles away from Lake Mead. Nevada's first municipal airport is still in operation today, accommodating private planes, skydiving trips, and scenic aerial tours of Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.
Education
Boulder City's four public schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Clark County School District. Boulder City High School serves grades nine through twelve and has an average enrollment of 700-750 students. The school colors are navy and gold. The school mascot is the eagle. The high school academic and athletic teams compete in the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) 3A South Division, with the exception of the mens and womens swimming and diving teams. For aquatic sports, the teams compete in the NIAA 4A division. Elton and Madeline Garrett Middle School serves grades six through eight. The school colors are navy and white. The school mascot is the bobcat. The athletic teams typically play an independent athletic schedule, mostly competing against local private schools with similar student enrollment populations. Martha P. King Elementary School serves grades three through five. The school colors are royal blue and gold. The school mascot is the cobra. Andrew J. Mitchell Elementary School serves grades K through two. The school colors are navy and white. The school mascot is the mustang.
Boulder City also houses a small, satellite campus of the College of Southern Nevada.
Grace Christian Academy
Boulder City is also home of one non-profit private religious elementary school, Grace Christian Academy, which offers a Christian education for grades kindergarten through six. The school is part of Grace Community Church.
Media
Until it ceased publication in 2009, the Boulder City News was the local newspaper.
Hoover Dam in marketing
The proximity of Hoover Dam to Boulder City is reflected in many of the businesses in the historic Downtown district, which is home to the Boulder Dam Hotel, home of the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum (the hotel is named after the dam's former name). The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce has used the slogan "Best City By A Dam Site" in promotions, and the city hosts an annual festival of short subject films dubbed "The Dam Short Film Festival".
Services
- Boulder City Hospital
Points of interest
- Alan Bible Botanical Garden
- Hoover Dam
- Lake Mead
- Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park
Notable residents
- May 1998 Playboy playmate Deanna Brooks was born in Boulder City in April 1974.
- Boulder City residents Desi Arnaz, Jr. and his wife Amy are the owners of the Boulder Theatre, a former cinema converted into a live theatre, which is home to the Boulder City Ballet Company.
- Inventor and politician Paul C. Fisher (1913-2006) was the founder of the Fisher Spacepen Co., located in Boulder City.
References
- ^ http://www.boulderdamhotel.com/
- ^ Official Boulder City website
- ^ a b "Subcounty population estimates: Nevada 2000-2006" (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division. 2007-06-28 . http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2006_32.csv . Retrieved 2008-05-28 .
- ^ http://www.missamys.com/bcballetco/pages/amy.html
- ^ Jensen, Jamie (2006). Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways . Avalon Travel Publishing. p. 143. ISBN 1566917662, 9781566917667. ...
America's Most Affordable Places to Retire - Forbes.com
Factors like the cost of living, jobs and access to health services make these cities tops for those in their second acts.
america's-best-affordable-places-to-retire.html: Personal Finance ...
Personal Finance, focus-retirement ... Had you been planning on a comfortable retirement until the economic downturn scrambled your nest egg?
Binghamton, N.Y.: Best Affordable Places to Retire - US News & World ...
Low-cost places are not without affordable charms. New York State residents age 60 and older can audit classes free at Binghamton University. And seniors can check out the newest ...
10 Affordable Places to Retire - US News and World Report
Boost your retirement prospects by picking a low-cost locale.
Retirement: Retire in Style - 50 Affordable Places Across America
Retire in Style - 50 Affordable Places Across America. Retire In Style -60 Outstanding Places: Retirement Reports: Retire In Style -50 Affordable Places
America's Most Affordable Places to Retire - Yahoo! Real Estate
Yahoo! Real Estate - America's Most Affordable Places to Retire. Find Real Estate including homes for sale, new houses, rentals, foreclosure properties as well as mortgage ...
America's Best Affordable Places to Retire: No. 1 - Tucson ...
You don't have to spend a fortune to retire—if you know the right places to look. If you're planning for your golden years, check out these 50 destinations
Amazon.com: Retire in Style: 50 Affordable Places Across America ...
Amazon.com: Retire in Style: 50 Affordable Places Across America (9780970090805): Warren R., Ph.D. Bland: Books
10 Affordable Places to Retire - Yahoo! Real Estate
Yahoo! Real Estate - 10 Affordable Places to Retire. Find Real Estate including homes for sale, new houses, rentals, foreclosure properties as well as mortgage calculators and ...