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Friday, April 23, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Sun Coverage
Mr. Sun,
Laughlin
In the Laughlin area, it appears that 90 percent of the population is on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. Why is that?
— Jeff Leatherock
•••
About 80 percent of the population of the Laughlin-Bullhead City metroplex resides on the Arizona side of the Colorado River.
The latest numbers: Bullhead City, 41,600 souls; Laughlin, 8,100.
The primary reason for the disparity is Bullhead City has more land available for development. Like Las Vegas, Laughlin is bordered by federally controlled land.
Also, Bullhead City’s zoning and development laws are less stringent than Clark County’s — Laughlin is an unincorporated town governed by the Clark County Commission.
The result is Bullhead City functions as a bedroom community for Laughlin’s resorts, which are the area’s primary employers.
“Basically, people live here and their jobs are over there,” said Janice Paul, Bullhead City’s development services director. “Most of the services are here. We have two hospitals and most of the retail ... But that’s what our industry here is, the tourism and the resort community across the river.”
Those who do live in Laughlin tend to be retirees who want to live in Southern Nevada but not Las Vegas.
Population growth in the area might start tilting in Nevada’s direction if/when residential development returns. In 2005, the Bureau of Land Management auctioned 282 acres in Laughlin. In 2007, the Legislature handed the county 9,000 acres in the area that were previously owned by the Colorado River Commission.
Planning is under way to develop that land in phases, officials say.
Questions for Mr. Sun can be sent to page8@lasvegassun.com.
Great! More development in the middle of the hot dry desert. When are these greedy criminal developers going to understand that they are destroying the ecosystem? The Colorado River may be right there, however this does not mean that water will be plentiful. The present State Government needs to be replaced, and a total moratorium on private and commercial development should to be put in effect immediately. The same goes for Arizona. VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS NEXT ELECTION(S)!!!!
environprotector, what do you think will happen if Yellowstone Volcano blows? It wont be iceland with a few planes grounded, it will be near total destruction of planet..
whilst it is nice to live in clean air with low noise levels from electric cars you also need to be a realist and realise nature will turn one day and we cannot control that..
I believe Unemployment in AZ is $240 max NV $435, so people working the same job at the same place would get different unemployment based on their residence. Unions have protected Nevada workers whether they are union or not.
They need more massage palours in Laughlan, Bullhead City is winning that.
enviro,
It isn't human development that is the major cause of destruction - it is farming in the desert. If you want that to stop, then stop demanding government subsidies for water.
Btw, very, very, very little land is occupied by human habitats. There is plenty of nature for you to enjoy.
If you work in Nevada and live in Arizona Federal law says you must declare Arizona home.
The same thing for Lake Tahoe Nevada worker's who live in California
Arizona also has a state income tax which is calculated as a precentage of your federal income tax.
actually if you work in nevada, you get nevada unemployment.