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The Las Vegas Valley is home to some of America’s top-rated communities. And while our city is not the first to plan a large-scale mixed-use urban development, Summerlin was innovative for its time and the model for many newer developments across the country.

Since 1993, I’ve watched the Las Vegas Valley expand from Rainbow Blvd to the edge of the Red Rock mountains. I watched Mountains Edge build thousands of homes on my off-road playground when it was a no-name dirt turn-off from the dangerous one-lane Blue Diamond road a train crossed every hour.Ìý

This post guides you through the communities of Las Vegas. It offers a glimpse into the history of our valley while providing current information to help you make the best decision on which master-planned community is right for you.

The history of master-planned communities in Las Vegas

While one famous street creates the narrative for Las Vegas, our suburbs are full of stories of their own. Park birthdays, 5-star dinners with friends, and graduations.

But one unmistakable story of Las Vegas is the one about explosive population growth. During World War I, the population of Las Vegas stood at 8,000. By the ’50s, the population reached more than 45,000.

In 1978, American Nevada Corporation broke ground on Green Valley, Southern Nevada’s first master-planned community.Ìý

As the popularity of Las Vegas grew, neighborhoods near the Las Vegas Strip began to be built, including the historic John Park, Paradise Palms, Desert Inn Estate, and Beverly Green neighborhoods.

The Las Vegas Valley population has grown at breakneck speeds since the 1990s, nearly tripling from 790,000 to over 2 million in 2014.Ìý

The city required housing and infrastructure to accommodate Vegas’ new residents, and developers would heed the call. In 2000, over 21,000 new homes were purchased.Ìý

By the Summer of 2005, builders sold  each month. At the peak, 20 communities larger than 300 acres were in development.

Las Vegas was the fastest-growing community in the United States.Ìý

Las Vegas’ top master-planned communities

“I’m open to seeing homes in Las Vegas, but our focus is really on Summerlin,” a California couple departing Calabasas for the desert valley recently explained to us. Summerlin is discussed as if it were a standalone city.Ìý

When asked, why Summerlin? the responses are similar; we heard they have excellent schools and parks, and we like the community’s lifestyle.Ìý

Yet, many are surprised by the offerings as you stray away from the West and traverse the hilly roads of Seven Hills or cruise along the tree-lined Southern Highlands Parkway.Ìý

Summerlin has a tremendous amount to offer, but every Vegas community has unique offerings.Ìý

Summerlin

Howard Hughes, the legendary aviator, casino mogul, and director, purchased 25,000 acres of land on the West side of the Las Vegas Valley in 1952. Nothing would come of the land until 14 years after his death. In 1988, Howard Hughes’ heirs announced their plans for the master-planned community of Summerlin.

Named after Jean Amelia Summerlin, Hughes’ paternal grandmother, Summerlin began to grow from the desert landscape in 1990.

Over the next three decades, Summerlin would continue to grow while consistently ranking as the #1 community in the nation.

A new style of community development

Historically, developers built communities hoping the city would develop parks and infrastructure nearby. But Summerlin’s lifestyle approach and planning involved interlinking 31 divisions, communities, and villages around 200 miles of walking trails and parks.

Instead, Summerlin charged a per-home assessment averaging $400 to $500 per year to finance the infrastructure and repay Las Vegas bonds. It worked, and developers still use special assessments today.

Summerlin is about lifestyle

Summerlin’s innovations didn’t stop at assessments, in fact, Summerlin reshaped the Homeowners Association to focus on the quality of life through events.

I have great memories of snow days at The Hills Park next to my middle school, Becker, and easter egg hunts on the baseball field at The Trails.

Dan Van Epp, the former CEO of Howard Hughes Corporation and a personal family friend, told the  “I think that actually spread across the country from us. It was something that was very much new with Summerlin.”

Summerlin today

The total population of Summerlin has grown to over 120,000 residents with greater than 53,000 rooftops. Summerlin is home to more than two dozen schools — public, private and charter schools — churches, cultural facilities, 300+ village and neighborhood parks spanning more than 200 miles, business parks, shopping centers, medical facilities and homes ranging from condominiums to multi-million dollar custom homes.

Builders include:

• KB Homes
• Lennar
• Pulte Homes
• Richmond American Homes
• Shea Homes
• Taylor Morrison
• Toll Brothers
• Tri Pointe Homes
• Woodside Homes

In 2014, the 400-acres Downtown Summerlin opened with over 1.2 million square feet of retail and 794,000 square feet of office space. It’s home to events like farmer’s markets, winter ice-skating rinks, and the Las Vegas Ballpark and City National Arena.

The villages of Summerlin are divided into Summerlin North and the Villages and communities of:

• Sun City Summerlin
• The Pueblo
• The Trails
• The Hills
• The Hills South
• The Canyons
• The Crossing
• The Arbors

Summerlin South is south of Charleston boulevard. The Villages in Summerlin South include: 

• The Cliffs
• The Willows
• Siena
• The Ridges
• Red Rock CC
• The Mesa
• Summerlin Centre
• The Gardens
• Ridgebrook
• South Square
• Summit

Summerlin West is rapidly expanding with four new districts, a new take on villages for Summerlin. The Districts and Village of Summerlin West are:

• The Vistas
• The Paseos
• Stonebridge
• Reverence
• Kestrel District
• Kestrel Commons
• Redpoint District
• Redpoint Square

Anthem

Henderson, located on the Southeast side of the Las Vegas Valley, has a distinctive feel compared to the West. Tucked against the Sloan Canyon National Conservation area to the South and East, the Black Mountains and McCullough Range provide Henderson with elevation change, views, and greenery unique to its location.

Spanning over 5,000 acres, Anthem is a top master-planned community in Henderson and home to Coventry Homes by Anthem, Anthem Country Club, and Anthem Sun City.

Developed by the Del Webb Corporation in 1997, Anthem would eventually be home to more than 11,000 residences, ranging from starter homes to ultra-luxury. From 2000 to 2001, Anthem was the sixth best-selling community in the United States.

Anthem is comprised of the 89052 and 89044 zip codes. 89144 is one of the highest household income zip-codes in the Las Vegas Valley.

Sun City Anthem

Sun City Anthem was named a top 25 best-value active adult community in the U.S. An age-restricted community, Sun City Anthem offers three recreation centers, with the largest boasting 77,000 sqft.

Complete with a golf course, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, walking tracks, meeting rooms, over 50 clubs, tennis courts, and bocce courts, the residents of Sun City Anthem stay active and entertained.

Anthem Country Club

Anthem Country Club is a luxury guard-gated community in Henderson, NV, that features custom, semi-custom, and luxury track homes.

Part of the Anthem community, Anthem Country Club, was founded in 1999 and offers a par-72, 7373-yard championship golf course. Built into the rolling hills of Henderson, Anthem Country Club sits at 2,600ft of elevation in the foothills of Black Mountain.

With a 13,700 sqft Fitness Center and Pool, members can enjoy tennis, pickleball, and a formal and informal restaurant.

Southern Highlands

Southern Highlands is a growing master-planned community in southern Las Vegas.

The first master-planned community when driving into Las Vegas from the 15-freeway, Southern Highlands is nestled between the 15-freeway to the East, and a small mountain range to the west and South.Ìý

Construction in Southern Highlands began in 1998 with an initial plan for 17,500 people. In 2003, the development received approval for up to 10,400 homes.

Southern Highlands is home to seven parks, nine schools, various shopping and dining outlets, a golf course, and the 13,000 sqft private Spa Southern Highlands that features dining, a 4,000 sqft fitness center, pools, tennis courts, and a spa.

Homes in Southern Highlands range from ultra-luxury to apartments and condominiums.

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Mountains Edge

Mountains Edge is a master-planned community located in the Southwest part of the Las Vegas Valley.

A train track divides Mountains Edge from Southern Highlands to the East, while Bureau of Land Management controls the land to the West.

Developed by Focus Property Group, the construction of Mountains Edge began in 2004, with a large bulk of the homes being completed in 2006.

Home to over 12,000 households, Mountains Edge offers over 50 unique neighborhoods, multiple large parks, a dog park, splash pads, playgrounds, baseball fields, hiking trails, basketball courts, fitness parks, and miles of interconnected walking and biking trails.

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Aliante was formed in May 2001 when the Bureau of Land Management auctioned 1,900 acres in North Las Vegas.Ìý

Dell Webb Corporation and American Nevada Corporation — owned by Hank Greenspun, the Las Vegas Sun newspaper publisher — started construction in August of 2002 and became the sixth top-selling community in the US by 2004.

With a mix of first time homes to larger homes in gated communities, Aliante began to shape North Las Vegas into a popular community.

The community of Aliante includes Sun City Aliante, an age-restricted community, interconnected trail systems, 45 acres of parks, a public golf course, and the Aliante Casino.

Inspirada

Inspirada is one of the newest master-planned communities in the Las Vegas Valley.

Located in southern Henderson, The Inspirada community has approval for 8,500 homes across 1,500 acres. Inspirada first opened in 2007 and is home to over 2,500 residents today.

Homes in Inspirada range from 1,500 sqft to over 4,500 sqft from builders like:

• Beazer Homes
• Century Communities
• KB Home
• Pardee Homes
• Toll Brothers.

An outdoor lifestyle inspires the Inspirada community with 85 acres of planned trails and parks.Ìý

Inspirada currently offers volleyball, basketball, tennis, pools, soccer, skate parks, bocce ball, grills, picnic areas, splash pads, and dog parks.Ìý

Once completed, 35 miles of trails will connect the neighborhoods.