1957 Map of Las Vegas

About this map

Las Vegas and North Las Vegas anchor the central valley in this mid-century survey, surrounded by a rapidly expanding infrastructure of aviation and desert management. The landscape is defined by massive federal footprints, including the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range and the Desert Game Range, which dominate the northern and western terrain. Aviation hubs such as McCarran Field, Sky Haven Airport, and Nellis Air Force Base reflect the city's strategic role during the Cold War. To the southeast, the engineering of the Hoover Dam has filled Lake Mead, creating a massive reservoir that branches into Boulder Canyon and Iceberg Canyon. The Union Pacific Railroad serves as a vital artery, connecting outlying settlements like Arden, Bracken, and Henderson to the regional core. Along the Muddy River and Virgin River to the northeast, agricultural communities such as Logandale, Overton, and Bunkerville persist as green corridors against the arid Dry Lake Valley.