Henderson, Nevada

1941 Basic Magnesium Plant Built: The federal government built the massive Basic Magnesium Inc. plant to produce magnesium for WWII. The company town that sprang up around it — with 14,000 workers — became the foundation of Henderson.

1988 PEPCON Rocket Fuel Explosion: The Pacific Engineering & Production Company plant exploded in a series of blasts that registered 3.5 on the Richter scale, injuring 372 people and destroying the facility. It was one of the largest peacetime explosions in U.S. history.

1953 Henderson Incorporated: After the war, the federal government sold the plant site and townsite. Residents incorporated Henderson as a city rather than abandon it, beginning the long transformation from industrial outpost to suburb.

1998 Lake Las Vegas Resort Development: The massive Lake Las Vegas resort community opened southeast of Henderson, featuring luxury hotels, golf courses, and a man-made lake, symbolizing Henderson's upscale residential ambitions.

2022 Raiders Move Headquarters to Henderson: The Las Vegas Raiders opened their $75 million practice facility in Henderson, bringing NFL operations to the city and cementing its status as more than a Las Vegas suburb.

1990 Green Valley Master-Planned Community: The Green Valley development became one of the most successful master-planned communities in the West, driving Henderson's population from 64,000 to over 175,000 in a decade.

2005 Named Second-Safest Large City: Henderson earned recognition as one of the safest cities in America, a reputation it has consistently maintained and that has been central to attracting families and businesses.

2014 Henderson Becomes Third-Largest Nevada City: Surpassing Reno in population, Henderson became Nevada's second-largest city after Las Vegas, reflecting decades of sustained growth in the southern Nevada suburbs.

1968 Titanium Metals Corporation Era: TIMET became one of Henderson's anchor employers, producing titanium for aerospace applications and continuing the city's industrial heritage on a more advanced level.

2000 Population Doubles in a Decade: Henderson's population exploded from 64,942 in 1990 to 175,381 in 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire United States during the 1990s.