LAS VEGAS — Workers flocking to new Las Vegas resorts helped boost Nevada's population during the past decade by 66 percent — tops in the nation, according to new census figures.
"Historically, we've been one of the fastest-growing states decade to decade after the 1940 census," state demographer Jeff Hardcastle said.
Overall, Nevada's population since 1990 grew by nearly 800,000 to nearly 2 million last year. The new census figures released Tuesday will translate into more power in Washington, since Nevada will pick up a seat in Congress when reapportionment is completed.
Over the past 60 years, Nevada's growth rate by decade has been the nation's fastest at 61 percent.
At the center of the population explosion is the Las Vegas area, which has ballooned to more than 1.3 million people. Its 62 percent increase in population since 1990 was the largest for any metro area in the country. Two suburbs — Henderson and North Las Vegas — were the fastest-growing cities with at least 100,000 population.
The pace of growth is so fast that federal and state numbers lag behind, along with funding for police and fire protection, new schools, parks and recreation, local government officials say.
"You are constantly a year to 18 months behind the revenue stream because compared to people moving in you don't get credit until 12 to 22 months later," said Phil Speight, city manager of Henderson.
Las Vegas' dramatic growth has been spurred by unprecedented hotel-casino construction and housing starts. A dozen megaresorts on the Strip have opened since 1989, and workers have flooded a state that relies on tourism.
"There's no state taxes; there's beautiful, beautiful weather — no wind chill factor; and the cost of living is cheaper than back home," said Lisa Splichal, a 22-year-old transplant from Minneapolis, who moved here last May to work for the Strip's newest megaresort, the Aladdin, as a marketing coordinator.
"Minneapolis is supposed to be so cultured, but you come out here and you can do anything," she said.
The expansion has come with problems. The Environmental Protection Agency has threatened sanctions because of the area's growing air quality problems, and streets and highways throughout the valley are near gridlock.
While Clark County, which surrounds Las Vegas, grew by 85.5 percent during the last decade, Washoe County — home to Reno, the "Biggest Little City in the World" — grew by 33 percent.