Clark County, Nevada has five incorporated cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite. These are the only places in the county with incorporated city governments.
Clark County also contains many large unincorporated towns and communities, including Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, Winchester, Laughlin, and Moapa Valley. These places are part of Clark County but are not incorporated cities.
The distinction is especially important in the Las Vegas area. Many well-known communities are outside the incorporated City of Las Vegas, and much of the Las Vegas Strip is as well. Understanding which places are incorporated cities and which are unincorporated helps clarify how Clark County is organized geographically and governed.
What Cities Are in Clark County, Nevada?
| City | Municipal Status |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas | Incorporated city |
| Henderson | Incorporated city |
| North Las Vegas | Incorporated city |
| Boulder City | Incorporated city |
| Mesquite | Incorporated city |
Las Vegas is the county seat of Clark County and the largest of its five incorporated cities. Henderson and North Las Vegas are also major population centers in the Las Vegas Valley, while Boulder City and Mesquite are smaller incorporated municipalities in other parts of the county.
Well-known places such as Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, and Winchester are not included in the table because they are unincorporated. They are part of Clark County but do not have incorporated city governments.
Clark County Cities at a Glance
Clark County’s five cities were incorporated over more than seven decades, from Las Vegas in 1911 to Mesquite in 1984. Three are centered in the Las Vegas Valley, while Boulder City and Mesquite are in other parts of the county.
| City | Year Incorporated | General Location |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 1911 | Las Vegas Valley |
| Henderson | 1953 | Las Vegas Valley |
| North Las Vegas | 1946 | Las Vegas Valley |
| Boulder City | 1960 | Southeastern Clark County |
| Mesquite | 1984 | Northeastern Clark County, Virgin Valley |
Las Vegas was the first of the five cities to incorporate, followed by North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City, and Mesquite. Mesquite is the newest incorporated city in Clark County. Their locations also show that Clark County’s incorporated cities extend beyond the Las Vegas Valley.
Map of Cities in Clark County
The map below shows the five incorporated cities in Clark County and their locations within the county. It also marks several major unincorporated towns and communities to show how incorporated and unincorporated areas are distributed across Clark County.
Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas are clustered in the Las Vegas Valley. Boulder City is southeast of the main urban area, while Mesquite is in northeastern Clark County near the Arizona state line.
Map note: This map is for general geographic reference. Internal boundaries are approximate and are not intended to represent official municipal limits.
Largest Cities in Clark County by Population
Las Vegas is the largest incorporated city in Clark County, with an estimated population of 687,050 as of July 1, 2025. Henderson ranks second with 363,568 residents, followed by North Las Vegas with 292,114. Las Vegas also ranks first among the largest cities in Nevada.
| Rank | City | 2025 Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas | 687,050 |
| 2 | Henderson | 363,568 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas | 292,114 |
| 4 | Mesquite | 24,270 |
| 5 | Boulder City | 14,885 |
The population drops sharply after the county’s three largest cities. Mesquite has fewer than 25,000 residents, while Boulder City has fewer than 15,000.
This ranking includes incorporated cities only. Large unincorporated places such as Enterprise, Paradise, Spring Valley, and Sunrise Manor are not included even though some have populations larger than Mesquite or Boulder City.
Unincorporated Towns and Communities in Clark County
Clark County contains many unincorporated towns and communities outside the boundaries of its five incorporated cities. Several are large population centers in the Las Vegas Valley, while others are located in more distant parts of the county.
| Place | General Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Paradise | Las Vegas Valley | Unincorporated town |
| Spring Valley | Las Vegas Valley | Unincorporated town |
| Enterprise | Las Vegas Valley | Unincorporated town |
| Sunrise Manor | Las Vegas Valley | Unincorporated town |
| Whitney | Las Vegas Valley | Unincorporated town |
| Winchester | Las Vegas Valley | Unincorporated town |
| Laughlin | Colorado River, southern Clark County | Unincorporated town |
| Moapa Valley | Northeastern Clark County | Unincorporated town |
Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, and Winchester are closely connected to the Las Vegas urban area. Despite their size and urban development, they remain unincorporated and are administered by Clark County rather than by incorporated city governments.
Clark County’s unincorporated areas also extend well beyond the Las Vegas Valley. Laughlin is along the Colorado River near the Arizona border, while Moapa Valley is in northeastern Clark County. Other unincorporated towns and communities are found throughout the county.
Some of these places are also identified as census-designated places for statistical purposes. A census-designated place is not the same as an incorporated city and does not create a separate municipal government.
City of Las Vegas vs. Unincorporated Clark County
The City of Las Vegas is an incorporated municipality with its own city government and defined boundaries. Unincorporated Clark County includes areas outside the county’s incorporated cities that are governed directly by Clark County.
This distinction is especially noticeable around the Las Vegas Strip. Much of the Strip is outside the incorporated City of Las Vegas and lies in unincorporated Clark County.
Major communities in unincorporated Clark County include Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, and Winchester. These communities may be closely connected to Las Vegas geographically, but they are not part of the incorporated City of Las Vegas. Clark County administers unincorporated areas separately from the five incorporated cities in the county.
Clark County vs. the Las Vegas Valley
Clark County is much larger than the Las Vegas Valley. The county includes the Las Vegas Valley, but its boundaries extend far beyond the urban area around Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Valley is the basin that contains most of the county’s population and its largest urban communities. Clark County also includes places outside the valley, such as Boulder City, Mesquite, Laughlin, Searchlight, and communities in the Moapa Valley area.
The two terms therefore describe different geographic areas. The Las Vegas Valley is one part of Clark County, while Clark County includes both the valley and large areas beyond it.
Clark County vs. Southern Nevada
Clark County is part of Southern Nevada, but the two terms do not describe the same geographic area. Clark County is a single county, while Southern Nevada is a broader region that includes Clark County and extends into neighboring counties.
Under the four-county regional definition used by Localpolitan, Southern Nevada includes Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties. Clark County contains five of the region’s six incorporated cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite. Caliente, the sixth incorporated city, is in Lincoln County.
This distinction matters because places outside Clark County can still be part of Southern Nevada. Pahrump, Tonopah, Pioche, Goldfield, and Caliente are examples of places elsewhere in the broader region.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clark County
How many incorporated cities are in Clark County, Nevada?
Clark County has five incorporated cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite.
Is Paradise a city in Clark County?
No. Paradise is an unincorporated town in Clark County. It is part of the Las Vegas Valley but does not have an incorporated city government.
Is North Las Vegas a separate city from Las Vegas?
Yes. North Las Vegas is a separate incorporated city with its own municipal government. It is not part of the incorporated City of Las Vegas.
Is Henderson in Clark County?
Yes. Henderson is an incorporated city in Clark County and one of the three largest cities in the county by population.
Is Mesquite in Clark County?
Yes. Mesquite is an incorporated city in northeastern Clark County near the Arizona state line. It is outside the Las Vegas Valley.
Is the Las Vegas Strip inside the City of Las Vegas?
Much of the Las Vegas Strip is outside the incorporated City of Las Vegas. Large portions of the resort corridor are in unincorporated Clark County, including areas associated with Paradise and Winchester.
What does unincorporated Clark County mean?
Unincorporated Clark County refers to areas that are inside Clark County but outside the boundaries of an incorporated city. These areas are governed directly by Clark County rather than by a separate incorporated city government.
Explore More Nevada Resources
- Cities in Nevada — See all of Nevada’s incorporated cities and how they are distributed across the state.
- Southern Nevada Cities — Compare the incorporated cities of Southern Nevada and see how Clark County fits into the larger region.
- Unincorporated Places in Nevada — Explore Nevada towns, communities, and census-designated places that are not incorporated cities.
- Cities in the Las Vegas Valley — See the incorporated cities and major unincorporated communities within the Las Vegas Valley.
- Largest Cities in Nevada — Compare Nevada’s incorporated cities by population.