Las Vegas, also known as Vegas, is the 25th most populous US city, the largest city in Nevada and the county seat for Clark County. It is the heart of the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan region and the largest city in the greater Mojave Desert. Las Vegas is a major resort city that is internationally recognized for its gambling, fine dining and entertainment. As a whole, the Las Vegas Valley is Nevada's leading financial, commercial and cultural center.
Like most large metropolitan areas, the city name ("Las Vegas") is used often to describe areas that are not within the official boundaries of the city. This is especially true for Las Vegas's areas near the Strip. These are actually within the unincorporated communities Paradise, Winchester, and Las Vegas. Nevada, the driest state in the United States, is home to Las Vegas. Due to climate change, Southern Nevada's droughts have become more severe and frequent over time. Putting further pressure on Las Vegas' water security.