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Vegas? Survey Reveals More Than 20,000 Vegas Residents 1940 Census Figure 'Way Behind Growth How big is Las Vegas? How does it compare with Reno? How many people live here? What’s the population? Those are the questions heard daily on the streets of the desert city. They combine with the in­credulous r.emarks of soldiers and sailors, who, after a prolonged absence, return to find their Home town crawling out over the alkali flats, bursting at the seams. ? In order to answer the recur­ring question, the Review-Jour­nal recently completed a survey in an effort to determine the ndmber of permanent Las Vegas dwellers. 20,000 Result: Las Vegas is pomilated by slightly in excess of 20,000 persons. In 1940 the government count­ed 8,822 Vegans. Maps, sales cata­logs, census figures, and other records throughout the nation Still rate the southern Nevada city on the basis of that figure. It was with a view toward cor­recting the erroneous impression ( that the survey was conducted. The 20,000 figure was arrived at through a variety of sources. Many records were examined and compared with similar ones of 1940. Housing, business licenses, auto licenses, telephones, electric meters, . newspaper circulation, number of businesses were con­sidered in arriving at the final (total. Sources ' Joe McQuiikin, chamber of commerce statistician, furnished valuable information. More facts were obtained through a check of county and city governments, private businesses, and other sources. Tom Fennessey, Las Vegas city manager, gives the figure at 20,- 000 in conducting the city’s busi­ness which is a solid indication of the sum’s correctness. Throhgh a check of the OPA and the city and county planning engineer, it was discovered that 6,000 dwelling units exist in Las Vegas. Applying the accepted 3.5 persons per unit, the result indi­cates 21,000 persons. In addition, approximately 500 families are living in trailer camps and other temporary homes, unable to find dwellings. Utilities 1940 1945 Power meters...........4037 7300 Water meters 2291 5997 ' (Est’d) Telephones ............ 1386 3320 Number of telephones does not 'necessarily indicate growth be­cause of the critical shortage of (instruments. More than 700 back­log applications would bring total (subscriptions to 4020, however. (Water cut-ins include only those bn the main system, not private (wells, I The figures also fail to show |the number of dwelling units op- lerating from one cut-in. Business : Another indication that the icity should no longer be rated (according to the 1940 census is [derived in the following table showing increase in business f ventures: 1939 ifl4a Appar .l stores .............. 15 i; Automotive ........_____ 14-. I Drug stores ....:............. 7 g Eating, drinking .... 40 88 Filling stations ...... 30 28 Furniture . ............ 8 8 Grocery ....................... 16' 30 Hardware ...I.-™............. 3 4 (Liquor ........ 6 8 188 295 The number of business houses does not include the stores open­ing their doors for the first time daily in the city. A count of busi­ness ventures in the City is im­possible with new store buildings mushrooming in virtually every block. Total business licenses now in effect in the pity number 1214, according to the records of the citiy clerk. These are divided into merchants and contractors— 946; beverage and liquor—103: and gambling—165. Newspaper Circulation is an­other ruler in the city’s growth. Ten thousand copies of the Re­view-Journal circulate in Clark county now where only: 5162 were printed in 1940. Number of auto registrations is another faulty barometer due to post war conditions. However, for the record, 12,939 motorists bought tags in the county during 1945. More than 7,609 have pur­chased licenses to date in 1946. Trend Upwards The 20,000 plus figure is not expected to stand long, however. Building trends are 2 heading steadily upward, according to permits issued by the city build­ing inspector. In 1945 $2,869,100 in construction was expended, vast majority in new Strtuctures. Figures so far in 1946 indicate that the building boom will con­tinue. Boulder City ToWns in the vicinity of Las Vegas are also experiencing a population boom, according to surveys. Boulder City now boasts 4,500, an iiicrease of 2,500 since the start of the war. This figure is based on surveys conducted there by the city manager, the OPA and the bureau of reclamation. Searchlight, which last year had a population of 150, has boomed to 800. North Vegas North Las Vegas is another booming community. Conserva­tive estimates based on the num­ber of occupied homes (they’re •all occupied) and water users re­veal that the towmhas a popula­tion of 2,500 to 3,000) William B. Byrne, president of .the Henderson chamber of com­merce, estimates that Henderson is rapidly approaching the 5,000 mark. His figures are verified by the number of houses occupied and the average size of the fami­lies occupying them. Now, Reno, it’s your turn. I NOTICE! For those unable to Shop dur­ing the day we will be open Thursday evening until 8:30. - NINA CLARK 711 East Fremont OUSE