Southern Nevada has six incorporated cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite, and Caliente. This count uses Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties as the Southern Nevada region. Five cities are in Clark County, while Caliente is in Lincoln County.
Southern Nevada also contains many unincorporated towns and communities, including Pahrump, Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, Laughlin, Tonopah, and Pioche. These places are part of Southern Nevada but are not incorporated cities.
There is no single universally used boundary for Southern Nevada, and some sources define the region differently. Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties provide a consistent geographic basis for the city list.
What Cities Are in Southern Nevada?
| City | County |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas | Clark County |
| Henderson | Clark County |
| North Las Vegas | Clark County |
| Boulder City | Clark County |
| Mesquite | Clark County |
| Caliente | Lincoln County |
Nye County and Esmeralda County have no incorporated cities. Pahrump and Tonopah are in Nye County, while Goldfield is in Esmeralda County. These places are unincorporated rather than incorporated cities.
Southern Nevada also includes many other towns, census-designated places, and unincorporated communities. They are part of the same broader region but have a different governmental status from the six incorporated cities listed above.
What Area Is Considered Southern Nevada?
Different Nevada institutions use different boundaries for Southern Nevada. The counties included can vary depending on whether the region is being defined for transportation, workforce development, research, or another purpose.
Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties form the regional definition used for the city and community lists here. This four-county grouping is used by Workforce Connections for its Southern Nevada jurisdiction and by the Nevada Department of Transportation for Southern Nevada regional mobility services.
Some definitions extend Southern Nevada farther north. A UNLV regional study, for example, included Mineral County along with Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties. The four-county definition provides a consistent basis for identifying the Southern Nevada cities, towns, and communities covered in the sections below.
Map of Southern Nevada Cities and Counties
The map below shows Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties and the six incorporated cities within the four-county Southern Nevada region. It also shows how the region extends beyond the Las Vegas Valley into Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties.
Southern Nevada Cities by County
Southern Nevada’s six incorporated cities are concentrated in two counties. Clark County has five incorporated cities, Lincoln County has one, and Nye and Esmeralda counties have none.
| County | Number of Incorporated Cities | Incorporated Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County | 5 | Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, Mesquite |
| Lincoln County | 1 | Caliente |
| Nye County | 0 | None |
| Esmeralda County | 0 | None |
Clark County contains most of Southern Nevada’s population and five of the region’s six incorporated cities. Lincoln County has only one incorporated city, Caliente.
Nye and Esmeralda counties have no incorporated cities, but both contain established unincorporated communities. Tonopah is the county seat of Nye County, while Goldfield is the county seat of Esmeralda County. Pioche, the county seat of Lincoln County, is also unincorporated even though Lincoln County contains the incorporated city of Caliente.
Southern Nevada Towns and Unincorporated Communities
Southern Nevada contains many unincorporated towns and communities in addition to its six incorporated cities. Some are major population centers in the Las Vegas Valley, while others are smaller towns spread across rural parts of Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties.
| Place | County | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Paradise | Clark County | Unincorporated town |
| Spring Valley | Clark County | Unincorporated town |
| Enterprise | Clark County | Unincorporated town |
| Sunrise Manor | Clark County | Unincorporated town |
| Laughlin | Clark County | Unincorporated town |
| Pahrump | Nye County | Unincorporated town |
| Tonopah | Nye County | Unincorporated town |
| Pioche | Lincoln County | Unincorporated town |
| Panaca | Lincoln County | Unincorporated town |
| Goldfield | Esmeralda County | Unincorporated town |
| Silver Peak | Esmeralda County | Unincorporated town |
Clark County includes several large unincorporated towns that are closely connected to the Las Vegas urban area. Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, and Sunrise Manor are among the most prominent examples. Laughlin is farther south along the Colorado River and is also unincorporated.
Nye County includes Pahrump and Tonopah, while Lincoln County includes Pioche and Panaca. Goldfield and Silver Peak are in Esmeralda County. These places are not incorporated cities even though they may be commonly described as towns or communities in everyday use.
Largest Cities in Southern Nevada
Las Vegas is the largest incorporated city in Southern Nevada, 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 | County | 2025 Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas | Clark County | 687,050 |
| 2 | Henderson | Clark County | 363,568 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas | Clark County | 292,114 |
| 4 | Mesquite | Clark County | 24,270 |
| 5 | Boulder City | Clark County | 14,885 |
| 6 | Caliente | Lincoln County | 1,100 |
The population gap is substantial after the three largest cities. Mesquite and Boulder City each have fewer than 25,000 residents, while Caliente is the only incorporated city in Southern Nevada with a population close to 1,000.
The ranking includes incorporated cities only. Large unincorporated places such as Paradise, Spring Valley, and Enterprise are not included even though their populations exceed those of several incorporated cities.
Southern Nevada vs. the Las Vegas Valley
Southern Nevada is much larger than the Las Vegas Valley. The Las Vegas Valley is a roughly 600-square-mile basin in Clark County that contains Las Vegas and much of the surrounding urban area.
| Area | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Valley | A basin in Clark County centered on Las Vegas and the surrounding urban area |
| Southern Nevada | A broader region that includes Clark, Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties under the four-county definition used here |
The Las Vegas Valley includes Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and major unincorporated communities such as Paradise, Spring Valley, Enterprise, and Sunrise Manor. Southern Nevada extends far beyond the valley into rural areas of Clark County and across Nye, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties.
Places such as Pahrump, Tonopah, Goldfield, and Caliente are part of Southern Nevada under this regional definition but are not part of the Las Vegas Valley. The terms therefore describe different geographic areas and should not be used interchangeably.
Frequently Asked Questions About Southern Nevada Cities
Is Pahrump a city?
No. Pahrump is an unincorporated town in Nye County. It is one of the largest population centers in Southern Nevada outside Clark County, but it does not have an incorporated city government.
Is Mesquite in Southern Nevada?
Yes. Mesquite is an incorporated city in Clark County and is part of Southern Nevada. It is northeast of the Las Vegas Valley near the Arizona state line.
Is Caliente in Southern Nevada?
Yes. Caliente is an incorporated city in Lincoln County. Under the four-county regional definition used here, it is one of six incorporated cities in Southern Nevada and the only one outside Clark County.
What is the smallest incorporated city in Southern Nevada?
Caliente is the smallest incorporated city in Southern Nevada by population. Nevada’s 2025 certified population estimates place Caliente at about 1,100 residents.
Are Paradise and Spring Valley cities?
No. Paradise and Spring Valley are unincorporated towns in Clark County. Both are part of the Las Vegas Valley, but neither is an incorporated city.
Explore More Nevada Resources
- Cities in Nevada — See all of Nevada’s incorporated cities and how they are distributed across the state.
- Largest Cities in Nevada — Compare Nevada’s incorporated cities by population.
- 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 that make up the Las Vegas Valley.
- Cities Near Las Vegas — Compare nearby cities and towns with distances, drive times, and a map.