Magazine 021417

NEVADA IS MUCH MORE THAN THE
CHICKEN RANCH!
Pahrump was originally inhabited by the Southern Paiute. It was slowly inhabited by settlers in the late 19th century.
They reportedly chose the name for Pahrump after the original indigenous name Pah-Rimpi, or "Water Rock," so named
because of the abundant artesian wells in the valley. Because of the artesian wells, the new inhabitants of Pahrump
Valley began many large ranch-style holdings, mostly over 1000 acres (4 km²) in size. On the ranches, alfalfa and cotton
were grown, and livestock were raised.
Until the 1960s, Pahrump had no telephone service except a radio transmitter phone in a phone booth next to the small
market, and there were no paved roads in or out of the Pahrump Valley. However, as Las Vegas grew, real estate
speculation became more popular in the area, which led to increased interest in Pahrump. This led to the introduction
of telephone service and the construction of a paved highway, from Las Vegas to Pahrump, during the late 1960s. Later,
this road (NV 160) was extended from Pahrump northward to US 95, near Armargosa Valley. A second paved road (NV
372) was introduced that went from Pahrump to neighboring Shoshone, California, which provided a link to the Death
Valley area, as well as a shorter route to those wishing to travel to Los Angeles or other areas in California. In the fifties
and sixties, there was a two-room elementary school and the high school students went to Shoshone. In 1974,
Pahrump's first high school, Pahrump Valley High School was constructed.
Since the late 1970s, Pahrump has grown almost exponentially, increasing from about 2,000 residents in 1980 to 32,000
in 2017. Pahrump is an archetypal example of an exurb. Almost all significant agriculture has grown in the valley and the
surface aquifers have been filled up over the years. Pahrump has also attracted many notable residents; including
paranormal talk radio host Art Bell, and Michael Jackson, who purchased a home in the area in 2008, where he briefly
had a home studio and home schooled his three children.
Notable businesses in the area include Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, the Spring Mountain Motor Sports Ranch,
and the former Dragon Cloud Dojo, which closed March 1, 2016. In addition, there are several legal brothels such as the
Chicken Ranch, and wineries including Sander's Family Winery and Pahrump Valley Winery.
Las Vegas is the 28th-most populated city in the United States, the most populated city in the state of Nevada. The city
anchors the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area and is the largest city within the greater Mojave Desert. Las Vegas is an
internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and
nightlife. The Las Vegas Valley as a whole serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for Nevada.
The city bills itself as The
Entertainment Capital of the
World, and is famous for its mega
casino–hotels and associated
activities. It is a top three
destinations in the United States
for business conventions and a
global leader in the hospitality
industry, claiming more AAA Five
Diamond hotels than any other
city in the world. Today, Las
Vegas annually ranks as one of
the world's most visited tourist
destinations. The city's tolerance
for numerous forms of adult
entertainment earned it the title
of Sin City, and has made Las
Vegas a popular setting for
literature, films, television
programs, and music videos.
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