Henderson

About

Henderson began as a wartime company town. The Basic Magnesium plant was built during World War II to supply magnesium for munitions and aircraft parts. Construction of the Basic Townsite started in February 1942. In 1944 the post office was named for former U.S. Senator Charles B. Henderson, and the town took the name.

After the war, most of the plant's workers left, and in 1947 the federal government offered the town for sale as war surplus. The state stepped in, and the city incorporated on April 16, 1953, with 7,410 residents.

The City of Henderson now covers more than 103 square miles and counts over 359,000 people. It calls itself Nevada's second-largest city. Water Street, named for the pipeline that fed the plant, was once its commercial and civic center.

What to expect

Henderson spreads across the southeast valley, so its sights are scattered rather than grouped in one district. The Water Street District has the city's historic walking tour and a Story Walk of 15 illustrated pages. The Clark County Museum sits on Boulder Highway. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve is on Galleria Drive, and the Ethel M Chocolates factory is on Cactus Garden Drive.

On the city's southern edge, Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area protects desert mountains and a major petroglyph site. The BLM counts more than 300 rock art panels and nearly 1,700 designs there. Group size is limited in Petroglyph Canyon, and the BLM runs guided hikes into it.

Other neighborhoods

• Green Valley
• Lake Las Vegas
• Boulder Strip (Boulder Highway)

Good to know

• Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 350 E. Galleria Dr., is open daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. From June to August it opens 6 a.m. to noon. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. No pets, biking or running.
• The Clark County Museum, 1830 S. Boulder Highway, is open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• Ethel M Chocolates, 2 Cactus Garden Dr., is open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The factory viewing aisle and 3-acre cactus garden are free; tastings are paid and booked ahead.
• At Sloan Canyon, Nawghaw Poa Road and its parking area are closed from Nov. 12, 2024 to Nov. 11, 2026 while a visitor contact station is built. Petroglyph Canyon parking has moved to Democracy Drive.
• RTC's BHX Boulder Highway Express runs between the Bonneville Transit Center and Henderson, with stops at Water & Victory and Nevada State University. Its schedule lists 24-hour, frequent service north of Horizon.
• Routes 212 (Sunset) and 217 (Warm Springs/Lake Mead Pkwy.) start at the South Strip Transit Terminal and end on Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson.

Questions about Henderson