Mesquite, Nevada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mesquite, Nevada
City
City of Mesquite
Main Street in January 2007, near City Hall
Flag
Motto(s):  Escape, Momentarily
Location of Mesquite in Clark County, Nevada
Mesquite, Nevada Location in Nevada Show map of Nevada Mesquite, Nevada Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Nevada
County	Clark
Settled	1880
Incorporated	1984
Area
• Total	32.23 sq mi (83.47 km2)
• Land	31.76 sq mi (82.27 km2)
• Water	0.47 sq mi (1.20 km2)
Elevation	1,601 ft (488 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,471
• Density	644.47/sq mi (248.84/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	89024, 89027, 89034
Area code(s)	702 and 725
FIPS code	32-46000
GNIS feature ID	0842060

Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is right next to the Arizona state line. Mesquite is about 80 miles (129 km) northeast of Las Vegas. You can find it along Interstate 15.

In 2020, about 20,471 people lived in Mesquite. The city is in the Virgin River valley. It is also near the Virgin Mountains in the northeastern part of the Mojave Desert. Mesquite is known for its growing community of retired people. It also has several fun casino resorts and golf courses.

History of Mesquite

Home of Mormon pioneer Franklin S. Leavitt, c. 1900

Mesquite was first settled in 1880 by a group called Mormon pioneers. They first named the area Mesquite Flat. The community had to be rebuilt three times because the Virgin River kept flooding it.

Later, the name was shortened to Mesquite. The city officially became a city in 1984. It was named after the mesquite trees that grew nearby. Like other towns in the area, Mesquite started as a farming community.

In the 1970s, the Peppermill Mesquite casino opened. This helped the city's economy grow and change. More casinos opened in the mid-1990s. By 2006, Mesquite was one of the fastest-growing small towns in the United States.

Geography of Mesquite

Mesquite is located in the very northeast corner of Clark County. The state line of Arizona forms the city's eastern border. The city sits in the Virgin River valley. It is on the northern side of the river.

Mesquite is also next to the Virgin Mountains. These mountains are in the northeastern part of the Mojave Desert. The city is near the southern entrance of the Virgin River Gorge.

Interstate 15 runs through Mesquite. This highway goes southwest about 80 miles (129 km) to downtown Las Vegas. It also goes northeast about 39 miles (63 km) to St. George, Utah. Nevada State Route 170 goes south from the city center. It crosses the Virgin River into the nearby town of Bunkerville.

The city of Mesquite covers a total area of about 32.3 square miles (83.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 31.8 square miles (82.6 square kilometers), is land. About 0.5 square miles (1.2 square kilometers) is water.

Population of Mesquite

Mesquite has grown a lot over the years. Here is how its population has changed:

In 2010, there were 15,276 people living in Mesquite. The city had 8,911 houses. The average age of people in Mesquite was 40 years old.

Education in Mesquite

The schools in Mesquite are part of the Clark County School District. There are four public schools in the area.

Mesquite also has a public library. It is a part of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

Climate in Mesquite

Mesquite has a desert climate. This means it is very dry. Temperatures can change a lot between day and night. This is called diurnal temperature variation.

Mesquite is about 500 feet (152 meters) lower than Las Vegas. Because of this, Mesquite is usually about 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 degrees Celsius) hotter during the day. However, Mesquite does not have a "heat island" effect like bigger cities. This means summer nights feel cooler. But winter nights can be colder.

The hottest time of the year is usually around July 21. The average high temperature is about 106°F (41°C). The average low is about 72°F (22°C). The coldest time is around December 16. The average high temperature drops to about 57°F (14°C). The average low is about 28°F (-2°C).

Media in Mesquite

Mesquite City Hall

In 1987, the first newspaper in the Virgin Valley area was The Desert Echo. It was printed from a local home. Later, The Desert Valley Times started in 1995. In 1998, The Desert Echo joined with The Desert Valley Times.

Around 2000, The Spectrum, a newspaper from St. George, Utah, bought The Desert Valley Times. Another newspaper, Mesa Valley Progress, covers news for both Virgin Valley and Moapa Valley.

Economy and Attractions

Virgin Valley Heritage Museum

Mesquite has several casinos. These include the Virgin River Casino, CasaBlanca, Eureka, and Stateline Casino and Motel. The city also has the Rising Star Sports Ranch. This is a hotel and sports center that does not have gambling.

The Virgin Valley Heritage Museum shows exhibits about the area's first settlers and local history. The museum building was built in 1940. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mesquite is a popular stopping point for people traveling on I-15. This highway connects Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Mesquite is also a great place for golf all year round. It has over nine public golf courses in its warm desert climate. This brings golfers from many places.

The Mesquite Airport has facilities for small planes and skydiving. It used to host the yearly RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship until 2015.

Notable People

• Cresent Hardy, a politician
• Jerry Montgomery, a football coach
• William Redd, a businessman

See also

In Spanish: Mesquite (Nevada) para niños