Henderson, Nevada facts for kids

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Henderson

City

Left-right from top: Lake Las Vegas, Henderson Executive Airport, The District at Green Valley Ranch, St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Ethel M Chocolate Botanical Gardens, Clark County Heritage Museum

Flag

Motto(s):

A Place to Call Home

Location within Clark County

U.S. Census map

Henderson

Location in Nevada

Henderson

Location in the United States

Country

United States

Founded

1941; 84 years ago

Incorporated

April 16, 1953; 72 years ago

Named for

Charles Henderson

Government

• Type

Council-Manager/CEO

Area

• Total

106.92 sq mi (276.94 km²)

• Land

106.43 sq mi (275.66 km²)

• Water

0.49 sq mi (1.27 km²)

Elevation

1,864 ft (569 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

317,610

• Rank

55th in the United States

• Density

2,984.10/sq mi (1,152.16/km²)

Time zone

UTC−8 (PST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−7 (PDT)

ZIP Codes

89002, 89009, 89011, 89012, 89014–89016, 89044, 89052, 89053, 89074, 89077

Area code(s)

702 and 725

FIPS code

32-31900

Henderson is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is located about 16 miles (26 km) southeast of downtown Las Vegas. Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada, right after Las Vegas. It has 317,610 residents and is part of the wider Las Vegas Valley area.

The city is well-known for its many outdoor recreation spots. These include over 220 miles (354 km) of trails and 72 parks. Henderson became an official city in 1953. It was first important for making magnesium during World War II. Since then, it has grown a lot. This growth happened through new communities and smart planning by the city government.

History of Henderson

The city of Henderson started in the 1940s during World War II. This was when the Basic Magnesium Plant was built. Henderson quickly became the main supplier of magnesium in the United States. Magnesium was called the "miracle metal" of World War II. The plant provided the US military with magnesium. This metal was used for bomb casings and airplane parts. About a quarter of all US wartime magnesium came from this plant. It used 25% of Hoover Dam's power to make the metal.

After World War II, the future of Henderson was uncertain. By 1947, magnesium was no longer needed for defense. Most of the 14,000 workers at the plant moved away. School enrollment dropped a lot. More than half of the houses built for workers became empty. In 1947, the US government offered to sell Henderson.

With help from local businesses, Henderson became an official city on April 16, 1953. On May 23, 1953, the city, with 7,410 people, elected Dr. Jim French as its first mayor. The city was originally about 13 square miles (34 km2) in size. It has grown quickly since then. By 2022, it was over 100 square miles (259 km2).

The PEPCON Disaster

On May 4, 1988, a chemical plant called Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) had a huge fire and many explosions. This factory made ammonium perchlorate. This is a key part of solid rocket fuel.

The disaster caused two deaths and injured over 300 people. It also damaged many buildings across the Las Vegas Valley. The explosions were so strong that they felt like a 3.5 magnitude earthquake. People felt them up to 10 miles (16 km) away.

This event led to big changes in safety rules for factories. It also changed how emergency teams respond in the area. After the disaster, PEPCON stopped working in Henderson. The land was later used for new businesses.

Geography and Climate

Map of the Las Vegas Valley with Henderson

Henderson is located about 16 miles (26 km) southeast of downtown Las Vegas. According to government data, the city covers about 107.7 square miles (279.0 km2) of land.

The city is in the Mojave Desert. It has plants and animals typical of this desert. The mountains around Henderson have gentle slopes. The McCullough Range is the closest mountain range. Most of these mountains are covered in black rocks from ancient volcanic eruptions. These mountains are about 3,800 feet (1,158 m) high. The area is mostly desert. The only natural water is found in dry riverbeds called washes.

Some of the neighborhoods in Henderson include Anthem, Green Valley, Lake Las Vegas, and Seven Hills.

Weather in Henderson

Henderson has a hot desert climate. This means it has mild winters and very hot summers. Sometimes, snow can fall in the winter. During the summer, storms called monsoons can bring heavy rain. These can cause flash floods and thunderstorms. July is usually the hottest month. December is the coldest. On average, Henderson has 292 clear days each year.

Climate data for Henderson, Nevada
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	75 (24)	86 (30)	91 (33)	97 (36)	111 (44)	118 (48)	120 (49)	112 (44)	115 (46)	100 (38)	90 (32)	78 (26)	120 (49)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	54 (12)	59 (15)	67 (19)	75 (24)	85 (29)	95 (35)	101 (38)	99 (37)	91 (33)	78 (26)	64 (18)	54 (12)	77 (25)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	41 (5)	44 (7)	49 (9)	56 (13)	65 (18)	74 (23)	79 (26)	78 (26)	71 (22)	60 (16)	48 (9)	40 (4)	59 (15)
Record low °F (°C)	11 (−12)	12 (−11)	25 (−4)	31 (−1)	37 (3)	41 (5)	56 (13)	59 (15)	43 (6)	30 (−1)	4 (−16)	9 (−13)	4 (−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.70 (18)	0.96 (24)	0.57 (14)	0.23 (5.8)	0.11 (2.8)	0.11 (2.8)	0.46 (12)	0.72 (18)	0.42 (11)	0.36 (9.1)	0.49 (12)	0.60 (15)	5.73 (144.5)
Source: Weather.com

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1950	3,643	—
1960	12,525	243.8%
1970	16,395	30.9%
1980	24,363	48.6%
1990	64,942	166.6%
2000	175,381	170.1%
2010	257,729	47.0%
2020	317,610	23.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, Henderson had 317,610 residents. This was a 23% increase from 2010. Most people (66.4%) were White. About 6.0% were Black or African American, and 9.3% were Asian. People of two or more races made up 10.9%. About 19.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

There were 124,626 households in the city. The average household had 2.54 people. Most homes (65.2%) were owned by the people living in them. The average home value was $427,900.

The median age in Henderson was 42.2 years. About 21.4% of the population was under 18 years old. About 20.0% were 65 or older.

The median household income was $85,311. The income per person was $46,882. About 8.1% of people lived below the poverty line. Most residents (93.6%) had at least a high school diploma. About 35.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Economy and Jobs

The biggest employer in Henderson is the city government itself. It has over 3,500 full-time employees. Other large employers include Barclays, Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station, Amazon, the Las Vegas Raiders, and Dignity Health hospitals.

In 2023, a city report looked at ways to help local businesses. Henderson focuses on industries like shipping, making electric parts, and financial services. It also supports media and sports production. Henderson attracts more advanced industries than nearby cities. This is because more of its residents have college degrees.

Manufacturing in Henderson

TIMET is one of the world's largest makers of titanium. It has a factory in Henderson. This factory makes titanium sponge and other titanium products. It employs about 600 people.

Levi Strauss has a large factory and distribution center in Henderson. It covers 620,000 square feet (57,600 m2). Here, they use advanced laser technology to create custom denim products. This allows for quick production of personalized designs.

Haas Automation, a top maker of computer-controlled machines, started building a big factory in Henderson in 2024. This new facility will be 2,400,000 square feet (220,000 m2). It is expected to create up to 1,400 jobs over five years.

ProCaps Laboratories, a vitamin company, has a 90,000 square foot (8,400 m2) facility in Henderson. It has a special glass-enclosed TV studio. This allows live broadcasts while vitamins are being made. This is the first setup of its kind in the U.S. for a vitamin factory.

Technology and Logistics

Google has a $600 million data center in Henderson. It sits on a 64-acre (26-hectare) campus. This center helps power Google's network, Cloud, AI, Maps, and Search in North America. Google plans to invest another $400 million in 2024 to improve its Nevada data centers, including the one in Henderson.

Amazon has several facilities in Henderson. One is a 600,000 square foot (55,700 m2) cross-dock facility. This helps move large shipments of goods efficiently. It employs over 1,000 workers.

The Las Vegas Raiders football team has its main offices and a healthcare training center in Henderson. The complex is 336,000 square feet (31,200 m2). It includes training fields and offices.

Kroger operates a major distribution center in Henderson. It helps supply grocery stores throughout the region. The 428,000 square foot (39,800 m2) facility employs about 270 people.

Ethel M Chocolates, started by Forrest Mars Sr., has been in Henderson since 1981. This factory makes gourmet chocolates. It also has a popular cactus garden that tourists can visit.

Major Employers

Here are some of the largest employers in Henderson as of 2024:

Top Single Employers, Henderson, NV (2024)
#	Employer	# of Employees
1	City of Henderson	3,527
2	Barclays Services, LLC	1,000–4,999
3	Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa	1,000–4,999
4	St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena	1,000–4,999
5	Sunset Station Hotel and Casino	1,000–4,999
6	Amazon LAS1 Distribution Center	1,000–4,999
7	Henderson Hospital	1,000–4,999
8	M Resort, Spa, Casino	1,000–4,999
9	St. Rose Dominican Hospital, de Lima	500–999
10	Las Vegas Raiders	500–999

Arts, Culture, and Fun

Green Valley Ranch

Henderson has many shopping malls, movie theaters, concert halls, restaurants, and casinos. These offer lots of fun things to do for residents. The city is also just a few miles southeast of Las Vegas. This means it's close to the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Henderson has a long history of supporting arts and culture. For example, "Shakespeare in the Park" celebrated its tenth anniversary in 1996. The city also has the largest recreation center in Nevada. It is called the Henderson Multigenerational Facility. Nevada's only scenic Bird Preserve is also in Henderson. The city hosts many other cultural events. Many of these happen at the outdoor amphitheater, which is the largest in Nevada.

Places to Visit

The entrance to MacDonald Highlands in Henderson

Acacia Demonstration Gardens
Black Mountain Recreation Center
Clark County Heritage Museum
The District at Green Valley Ranch
Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden
Ethel M Chocolate Factory
Galleria at Sunset
Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa, and Casino
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
Henderson International School
Henderson Pavilion Concert Theater
Lake Las Vegas
Lamborghini Las Vegas
M Resort
MacDonald Highlands
Nevada State College
Reflection Bay Golf Club
Rio Secco Golf Club
Seven Hills Estates
Sunset Station
Veteran's Wall
Water Street District
Wildhorse Golf Club

Libraries

Henderson has a public library system with five different branches.

Sports Teams

Henderson is home to the main offices of the Las Vegas Raiders football team. In 2018, the team announced plans to build their offices and practice facility near Henderson Executive Airport. The Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center opened in June 2020.

The Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) also have their headquarters in Henderson. In 2021, they started building a new facility next to the Raiders' site. This 50,000 square foot (4,600 m2) building opened in April 2023. It is the first complex built just for a WNBA team. It includes practice areas, offices, and training rooms.

The Henderson Silver Knights ice hockey team plays in the American Hockey League. Their home arena is the 6,000-seat Dollar Loan Center in Henderson. This arena is also home to the Vegas Knight Hawks indoor football team and the NBA G League Ignite basketball team.

Local Professional Teams

Team	Sport	League	Venue (capacity)	Established
NBA G League Ignite	Basketball	NBAGL	Dollar Loan Center (6,019)	2020
Henderson Silver Knights	Ice hockey	AHL	Dollar Loan Center (5,567)	2020
Vegas Knight Hawks	Indoor football	IFL	Dollar Loan Center (5,567)	2021

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Henderson has more than 37 miles (60 km) of trails for walking, running, and biking.

Education in Henderson

The Clark County School District manages public elementary and high schools in Henderson. The city has 29 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and nine high schools. Five of the high schools are public: Basic, Coronado, Green Valley, Foothill, and Liberty. There are also four private college prep schools, including the Henderson International School.

Colleges and Universities

Henderson is home to Nevada State University. This university is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The College of Southern Nevada also has a campus here. Private colleges in the city include Roseman University of Health Sciences, Touro University, and DeVry University.

Media and Entertainment

Newspapers

Las Vegas Review-Journal
Las Vegas Sun
Green Valley View
The Henderson Press

Television

KVVU-TV (channel 5) is the local Fox TV station for the Las Vegas Valley. It is licensed to Henderson and has studios in the city.

Movies Filmed in Henderson

The TV show Real CSI featured the Henderson Police Department's crime scene investigators.
The 1998 movie Lethal Weapon 4 filmed a scene on Interstate 215.
A scene in the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever was filmed at Palm Mortuary's Henderson location.
America's Sweethearts, starring Julia Roberts and John Cusack, had many scenes filmed at Lake Las Vegas.
Paranormal Activity 4 takes place in Henderson, but was filmed in California.

Transportation

The city has bus routes run by RTC Transit. These buses travel throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Henderson is served by four main highways: Henderson Black Hills (State Route 582), Lake Mead Parkway (State Route 564), Interstate 11, and Interstate 215. State Route 146, also known as Saint Rose Parkway, connects Interstate 15 to Interstate 215. This road is a direct link to Henderson for drivers coming from Southern California.

Most households in Henderson own a car. In 2016, only 5% of households did not have a car. The national average was 8.7%. Henderson averaged 1.74 cars per household in 2016.

Henderson has its own airport, the Henderson Executive Airport. The main airport for the whole area is Harry Reid International Airport, which is northwest of Henderson.

The Union Pacific Railroad serves Henderson. This train line was first built to help construct Hoover Dam. Part of the line is now used by the Nevada Southern Railroad Museum for scenic train rides.