Weird Geography #3 - Place Names.

[Shadow]

Does anyone know where the original Las Vegas is, or comes from, or what it means?

Does it derive from something spanish/mexican?

What I do know is that the place in Nevada is not the original - which I'm sure will not surprise too many people. There is a Las Vegas in New Mexico which was established as a city at least 70 years before the one in the dessert was even on its way to becoming the disneyland-for-adults it is today.

 

[Morning Glory]

Easily answered by Wikipedia:

A young Mexican scout named Rafael Rivera is credited as the first non-Native American to encounter the valley, in 1829.[15][16][17][18] Trader Antonio Armijo led a 60-man party along the Spanish Trail to Los Angeles, California in 1829.[19][20] The area was named Las Vegas, which is Spanish for "the meadows", as it featured abundant wild grasses, as well as desert spring waters for westward travelers.[2]

 

[Morning Glory]

If you want some really weird place names then the UK excels!
Here's a village near where I live:

 

[Morning Glory]

And here's a place in Aberdeenshire:

 

[classic33]

There's the Idle Working Mens Club, not that far from me.

 

[classic33]

Easily answered by Wikipedia:

That's the newer one though!

 

[sidevalve]

The UK is full of such names - Pity Me and Spittle in the street are just two local to me, not to mention Washington [although it seems a little smaller than it does on the telly].

 

[Berties]

Within 50 miles ride from home I have the piddle valley ,scratchy bottom,sandy balls and "............

The sign is this big as it kept getting stolen

 

[cupcakechef]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...nd-Shire-residents-visit-village-of-Dull.html

Love a place with a sense of humor!

 

[Morning Glory]

Within 50 miles ride from home I have the piddle valley ,scratchy bottom,sandy balls and "............
View attachment 1277
The sign is this big as it kept getting stolen

Is that your dog? Its a bit of a Chalky (Rick Stein's ex-dog) lookalike.

 

[Berties]

Is that your dog? Its a bit of a Chalky (Rick Stein's ex-dog) lookalike.

It's a stock photo from the web ,not me,but I pass through this village on the way to corfe castle as its a short cut in the seasonal traffic

 

[Berties]

 

[Shadow]

If you want some really weird place names then the UK excels!

Agreed. But is Pratts Bottom weird? Maybe slightly humourous to UK residents, but not weird.

 

[Shadow]

And here's a place in Aberdeenshire:

Love this. Must be a good back story to this.

 

[Shadow]

That's the newer one though!

Quite.
The Spanish Trail started in Santa Fe which is about 60 miles to the west of the 'original' Las Vegas. Therefore, I think it is unlikely the traders knew of the 'original' LV. As for the naming, it is possible. Is it likely another mexican/spanish trader/explorer was wandering around New Mexico a few years earlier and came across some meadows and thought we'll call this place Las Vegas?
In 1900, LV in NV had a population of 20. LV in NM had been established as a city by then for 60+ years.