Happy TravellerWelcome to Spring Valley, a vibrant and growing community located just 2 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. With a population of over 215,000, Spring Valley is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States. Founded in 1981, Spring Valley has a rich history and a diverse culture that make it a unique and exciting destination for travelers from all over the world.
History:
Spring Valley was originally developed in 1969 as a master-planned housing community by Pardee Homes. The community was named by Doug Pardee and sales manager Jack Whiteman, in reference to its views of the Spring Mountains and its location in the Las Vegas Valley. In 1981, residents grouped together to solicit the Clark County Commission to create an unincorporated town, which it did that May. The town originally encompassed 1 square mile (3 km2), but now occupies much of the southwest quarter of the Las Vegas Valley, totaling 33.4 square miles (90 km2).
Geography:
Spring Valley is located in the heart of the Las Vegas Valley and is bordered by Sahara Avenue on the north, Decatur Boulevard on the east, Warm Springs Road on the south, and Hualapai Way on the west. The area mostly consists of housing subdivisions, with strip malls lining the large boulevards that connect suburban Las Vegas to the Strip. The northern part of Spring Valley includes areas of rural-estate zoning, with large parcels of land on blocks of 1⁄64 square mile (40,000 m2). The southern part of Spring Valley is quickly developing – fifteen years ago, very little south of Tropicana Avenue was developed within Spring Valley. A large park, Desert Breeze Park, is located in the north-central part of the town. Next to the park is Roger M. Bryan Elementary School.
Demographics:
At the census of 2010, there were 178,395 people living in the CDP. The racial makeup was 57.9% White, 9.8% African American, 0.6% Native American, 17.4% Asian, 0.8% Pacific Islander, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.6% of the population and 48.1% of the population was non-Hispanic White. As of the census of 2000, there were 117,390 people, 47,964 households, and 29,929 families living in the CDP. The population density was 3,519.4/sq mi (1,358.8/km2). There were 52,870 housing units at an average density of 1,585/sq mi (612/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 72.60% White, 5.29% African American, 0.60% Native American, 11.21% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 5.14% from other races, and 4.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.77% of the population.
Culture:
Spring Valley is a melting pot of cultures and is home to many famous residents, including tennis players Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, former Sacramento Kings owners George J. Maloof, Jr., and comedian Carrot Top. NASCAR drivers Kurt and Kyle Busch attended Durango High School in Spring Valley, as did actress Cerina Vincent and BMX celebrity T. J. Lavin. Kris Bryant also lived in Spring Valley. Nevada governor Steve Sisolak keeps his private residence in Spring Valley.
Chinatown:
The strip malls along Spring Mountain Road and surrounding streets, from Valley View to Jones Boulevard in Spring Valley into Paradise, house many ethnic Chinese and other pan-Asian businesses, with the original called Chinatown Plaza. The district is primarily a retail destination, rather than a residential enclave, catering to Asian Americans. The Chinatown Plaza strip mall was conceived by Taiwanese American James Chih-Cheng Chen and opened in February 1995 at the corner of Spring Mountain and Wynn; it has 85,000 ft (26,000 m) of space and was designed by Simon Lee in a style inspired by Tang Dynasty buildings. Chen called it America’s first master-planned Chinatown. The plaza was funded by JHK Investment Group, Inc., which Chen had formed with two high school classmates: Henry Chen-Jen Hwang and K.C. Chen (no relation). James Chen, an emigrant from Taiwan who arrived in Los Angeles in 1971 with $30, saw a demand for Asian food and restaurants: ‘I see so many Asian tourists here [in Las Vegas], but I see no Asian business people. They’re happy with everything in Las Vegas except the food.’ The Chinatown area has gained much popularity, receiving national attention in a 2004 article by The Wall Street Journal.
Education:
All public schools within Spring Valley are part of the Clark County School District. Spring Valley has a public library, a branch of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.
Government:
Spring Valley’s municipal government is the Clark County Commission, which has seven members from across Southern Nevada. A five-member Town Advisory Board offers advisory opinions on zoning and business matters to the commission, but the commission is not obligated to respond or be held to those suggestions.
Whether you’re looking for a vibrant cultural experience or a relaxing getaway, Spring Valley has something for everyone. Come explore this hidden gem in the heart of the Las Vegas Valley and discover why it’s one of the most exciting destinations in the United States.
