SUN plans extensive coverage on issues of growth

Saturday, Jan. 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

"Six thousand people a month are moving in," he said, "but 3,000 are moving out. That tells me there's an imbalance. This town eats people up."

When problems outweigh benefits, a city reaches the point of diminishing returns. It happened 30 years ago to Los Angeles and San Francisco, and now it's spreading, like the flash floods that recently swamped the West. Already hit: Phoenix, Sacramento and Seattle.

Is Las Vegas next?

Population in Clark County has reached 1.2 million and is growing by 7.7 percent a year, the fastest in the nation. That number is expected to double in 10 years.

Just six years ago, the entire state included only 1.4 million people. Nevada has the lowest ratio of native-born residents. Only 25 percent of those who live in Nevada were born here.

During the coming months, while the state Legislature is meeting in Carson City, the Las Vegas SUN will address the issues of growth and explore solutions.

Novelist Wallace Stegner said the West is "hope's native home," because of the opportunities that exist here.

Now some are wondering whether hope is running dry.