Growth in NLV, Henderson shows no signs of slowing

Dan Kulin

Thursday, June 24, 2004 | 11:04 a.m.

North Las Vegas and Henderson remain among the fastest-growing large cities in the nation, recording the second- and third-highest growth rates in the country from April 2000 to July 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

The two Las Vegas suburbs have been ranked in the top three fastest-growing cities for years.

While some area residents bemoan the increased traffic, higher home prices, and other consequences of large numbers of people moving here, the growth has also buoyed the local economy, especially the area's large construction industry.

Doug Steffler, 44, who moved to Henderson six years ago, said Southern Nevada offers a lot to prospective residents.

"Everything and anything you want to do is close in Las Vegas, and we're close to the lake," Steffler said.

Relatively low home prices -- Steffler moved here form Southern California -- also made Henderson an attractive place to move. However, he said now those low home prices appear to be a thing of the past.

North Las Vegas grew by 25.1 percent during the 39-month period that ended in July 2003, the city's population increasing to 144,502 from 115,488 -- a difference of 29,014 -- during that time.

During the same period, Henderson's population went from 175,406 to 214,852 -- a 39,446 difference, or 22.5 percent, increase.

Only Gilbert, Ariz., which saw a 32.1 percent population increase, had a higher growth rate during that time. Gilbert, along with No. 4 ranked Chandler, Ariz., and No. 9 Peoria, Ariz., are all suburbs of Phoenix.

Gilbert, North Las Vegas, and Henderson were also ranked first, second and third in a Census Bureau ranking of fastest-growing large cities from April 2000 to July 2002.

North Las Vegas and Henderson also topped census rankings of growth in large cities, those with more than 100,000 residents, between 1990 and 1999. During the 1990s Henderson grew by 156 percent, which made it the fastest growing big city in the nation.

North Las Vegas was second during the 1990s with 112 percent growth.

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon said the growth in his city is happening because people are moving to the Las Vegas Valley and North Las Vegas is a city with room for new residents.

"We're not luring the growth here, it's just coming here, and we're planning for it for the short term and for the long term," Montandon said.

"Obviously, people are always going to complain about sprawl and growth, but the benefits to the economy far outweigh the negatives," the mayor said, noting that the fast pace of growth boosts the construction and tourism industries in particular.

Henderson and North Las Vegas, along with Las Vegas, were also among the cities with the largest numeric increase in population from April 2000 to July 2003.

Los Angeles ranked No. 1 with 125,209 more residents, a 3.4 percent increase, followed by New York City, which had 77,088 more residents, a 1 percent increase.

Henderson was eighth in that ranking, Las Vegas 11th and North Las Vegas 16th.

During that roughly three-year period, Las Vegas' population went from 479,639 to 517,017 -- an increase of 37,378, or 7.8 percent, according to census figures.

And the growth shows no signs of slowing down.

Kitty Reitan, general manager at Aaction Movers in Las Vegas, said 2004 has been their busiest since the moving business stalled, along with the rest of the economy, following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"In my 42 years in the business I've never seen anything like this," Reitan said. "People are calling and saying they put their homes on the market in the morning and sold them in the afternoon, and they need movers."

Reitan said her office receives 12 to 15 calls a day from people begging for movers.

"Two years ago I would never get a call from someone saying they can't find a mover," she said.

Keith Schwer, director of The Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said there's no way to predict how long the rapid growth will continue.

"But the growth should continue for some time," he said. "People are continuing to vote with their feet, and they're saying it's better to live in Las Vegas than somewhere else."