Clark County was created in 1909 (formerly it was a part of Lincoln County), and Las Vegas was named the county seat. A chamber of commerce was formed to promote the town, and the chamber proposed the incorporation of Las Vegas as a city with a charter.

The southern city line runs along Sahara Avenue, so the strip is actually south of town. Las Vegas had tried to annex the strip to get additional tax revenue for the city.

Under Nevada law, no incorporated city can annex an unincorporated township without the approval of the county commissioners. In 1950 a group led by Flamingo executive Gus Greenbaum successfully lobbied the county commission for township status. On December 8, 1950, comissioners voted to create the unincorporated township of Paradise City.