Boulder City, located 23 miles from Las Vegas, boasts a history far different from its nearby neighbor. Historically, the city banned drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Today alcohol is allowed.

The United States Government established Boulder City as a construction town to house workers from Six Companies building the Boulder Dam. In August 1930, the workers settled two camps: McKeenersville and Williamsville. McKeenersville was established close to the future townsite. The workers called Williamsville, Ragtown or Hell's Hole, because of the unbearable heat by the river.

Saco Deboer, the architect of the city, initially designed it with a golf course and swimming pool, but when the Depression hit, Walker Young and Frank Crowe downsized the plans. Actual construction began in February 1931.

Deboer designed the city in a triangle shape. The Bureau of Reclamation sat at the point, below that the permanent government building and the business district, and at the widest point the temporary housing. This housing, called dingbat houses, contained three rooms: living room, bedroom and bathroom and could be built in a day and a half.

Within a year, Boulder City was fully functioning. Women established schools and churches because the government neglected to anticipate the arrival of families with the workers. The U.S. government maintained sole control over the city. In October 1931, they hired Sims Ely as city administrator and allowed him to run the city to his liking. Ely ran a tight ship; anyone convicted of a crime could lose his job, home and right to stay in the city.

Boulder City may have been the only city not greatly affected by the Depression. Everyone in the city had a job and place to live. This allowed the people to kickback after a day of work. Boulder Theatre opened in mid-1932 and was the only location in town to have air conditioning. Patrons used the theatre for everything from sleeping to watching live performances of Will Rodgers and Boris Karloff.

In 1935, Franklin Roosevelt visited the Dam for its dedication. Shocked to find the residents of the city wanted to stay, Six Companies sold house expected to be torn down. The city stayed under government control until the Jan 1960.

Presently, Boulder City maintains it small town feel and is a close escape from Las Vegas.

Podcast Written and Narrated by Kelcie Lloyd, Public History Student at the University of West Florida.