Mesquite overtakes Henderson as fastest growing city in Nevada

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A small city nestled on the edge of the Nevada-Utah border has usurped the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson as the fastest growing city in the state, estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show.

Mesquite, with a population of 11,264, posted a state-leading 8.5 percent increase in residents among Nevada's largest cities in 2002. Mesquite outpaced North Las Vegas and Henderson, which ranked second and third, respectively, in a separate listing of the fastest growing U.S. cities with populations over 100,000. The listing of large cities was from April 2000 to July 2002.

"It's tremendous growth," said Jeff Hardcastle, the state's official demographer. "It just reinforces the fact that we've had a substantial amount of growth in the last decade in southern Nevada."

An estimated 885 people last year moved to Mesquite, a modest resort community about halfway between Las Vegas and Cedar City, Utah. The city's largest employer is the Casablanca hotel-casino.

Experts and officials with the city attributed the population surge to new casino and housing developments that have created jobs and hundreds of homes in recent years.

The city has been successful in luring young professionals looking for safer neighborhoods and retirees searching for a leisure lifestyle, said Don Matson, the city's director of planning and redevelopment.

"We're just in a good position to be away from it all or in the middle of it all," said Matson, who moved to Mesquite a year ago from Las Vegas.

"It's a different pace," he said. "It's different in a small town. It's not likely you're going to go to the store and not see someone you know."

While the city of Henderson lost its title in 2002 as fastest growing city in Nevada, it saw its ranks increase by 6.3 percent, or 12,148 residents, the largest population influx of any city statewide. The cities of Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City grew 1.9 percent during the same period.

Henderson City Councilman Jack Clark praised planners and developers for creating housing developments that attract people from in and out of the state.

"We have a really good grasp of how to plan for growth, how to handle growth, and how to plan for communities," said Clark, who has been a councilman for the past decade.

Clark also said the city draws people looking to live away from, but not too far, the bustling Las Vegas Strip.

"People like that relaxed atmosphere, where people can get to know their neighbors," he said. "People see the value of having that kind of community and those type of amenities. They feel like they belong."

Economists said the population estimates are good news for the southern Nevada economy, a sign that construction and low interest rates have somewhat cushioned the region from economic difficulties.

"It comes at a good time," said Keith Schwer, director of UNLV's The Center for Business and Economic Research. "From a historical perspective, it's a good time to buy. The interest rate structure has been very helpful in getting people to move into their own home."

North Las Vegas City Manager Kurt Fritsch said city officials are dealing with its population surge, allocating funds to boost firefighters and police to keep up with its growth. The city increased 6.7 percent in 2002 to a total of 135,902 residents.

In recent years, North Las Vegas officials approved a large housing development and are planning a land auction next year that they hope will bring more houses and businesses. Fritsch said officials have predicted the city could grow to 200,000 residents in five years.

"I don't know if there's anything that sets us apart (from other cities) other than it appears to be North Las Vegas' turn," Fritsch said. "In the valley, we are running out of land to be developed. North Las Vegas has plenty."