The southern part of the Las Vegas Valley was referred to as Paradise Valley as early as 1910, owing to a high water table that made the land particularly fertile for farming.

Technically, most of the "Las Vegas Strip" is not in the city of Las Vegas at all, but in an unincorporated township called Paradise, Nevada. The name has two historical roots. Geographically, maps from the early 1900s referred to the southern part of the valley—where the water table was high and lush vegetation grew—as "Paradise Valley." In 1950, the unincorporated town was officially established by casino owners, led by William B. "Biff" Williams, as a strategic move to avoid municipal taxes and fees from the city of Las Vegas. They adopted the name "Paradise" to reflect the aspirational, idyllic nature of the desert oasis they were building. There is also a charming local legend that the name was inspired by the "Pair-O'-Dice" nightclub, one of the first real clubs on the Strip in the 1930s. Today, Paradise is home to Harry Reid International Airport, UNLV, and world-famous resorts like the Bellagio and Caesars Palace, essentially serving as the world's most profitable "unincorporated" entertainment hub.