Las Vegas Neighborhood Association

Las Vegas Neighborhood Association

History of the Neighborhood

In 1890 while Benjamin Harrison was President of the United States, James Gallagher and his wife, Sarah Gallagher, purchased the Northeast Quarter of Section 30 in Township Twelve north of Range Three west of Indian Meridian in Oklahoma Territory, containing 160 acres from the U.S. Land Office (now known as the Las Vegas and Aurora neighborhoods) for $1.25 per acre. Beginning in 1893 the Gallaghers began selling their land in parcels to various people and agencies. Then in 1901 Albert Barnes and his wife, Ellie Barnes, bought 80 acres in the East Half of the Northeast Quarter E1/2, N.E.1/6) of Section 39 in Township 12 North of Range Three West Indian Meridian. In 1906 this area officially became the Las Vegas neighborhood – from North Pennsylvania to Youngs Boulevard, Northwest 16 to Northwest 23. Barnes quickly began dividing the land into lots and started building family homes.

Our Neighborhood Name

No one seems to know why this neighborhood is called Las Vegas, but one can assume the name Las Vegas, meaning “the meadows” or “fertile land,” was used because of the vastness of the land and its rich fertile soil. It is one of the few areas in Oklahoma city that is completely absent of the Oklahoma red clay.

Recent Information

As the years passed, the neighborhood flourished and further divided to build even more homes. By the early 1970s the neighborhood began to decay and seemed to become a little lost. Recently, the area is proud to boast all time high property values and was recently named one of the most desirable areas in Oklahoma City to call “home” by “The Oklahoman.”

Even though the neighborhood has dealt with many changes, it has been on a consistently upward bend in the last years. The blend of inhabitants is as diverse as any in the city and more than most. We have seniors who grew up in the neighborhood, left, and have moved back. We have people who are transplants from as far away as Australia. We have Air Force personnel, students, entrepreneurs, construction workers, artists, elected officials, office workers, and educators. Flags fly on the front porches of homes, the landscaping is neat and appealing and the homes themselves seem to be saying “thank you” to the many hard hours that have been put into restoring them to their former glory.

The trolleys came through this neighborhood at one time. In fact, you can still see trolley tracks on Youngs Boulevard.