There are only 22 cities in the United States with population exceeding 600,000, and the city of Las Vegas is now among them. As of July 1, 2007, the city’s population is 602,697 according to the city of Las Vegas Planning & Development Department’s annual estimate. 

This represents an increase of 11,161 or 1.9 percent compared to 2006. Since 2000, the city has added nearly 120,000 new residents. The population has increased 125 percent since 1990. 

Estimating the population growth is critical to determining the city’s future needs and assuring its sustainability for the near and long-term. The economic, natural resource and quality-of-life decisions are made today with future viability and prosperity in mind.