The document provides a summary of the history of Las Vegas, Nevada in 3 sentences: Las Vegas began as a railroad town in the early 1900s and saw rapid growth as a gambling center beginning in the 1930s when the mob began controlling casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. The legalization of gambling and development of large casinos further transformed Las Vegas into an entertainment and tourism destination in the second half of the 20th century. The document includes links to images and information about the early history of the Las Vegas area including its origins as a Mormon settlement and the presence of indigenous peoples in the region.