Nellis Air Force Base

United States Air Force base, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located near Las Vegas, Nevada. Established in 1941, it was initially a military airfield and has since grown to encompass a vast area, including a significant testing range.12

The base plays a crucial role in the region's economy, being a major employer alongside the U.S. Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site. It hosts thousands of military personnel and is involved in various defense-related activities, including conventional weapons testing and emergency response training. The growth of Nellis AFB contributed to the rapid population increase in the Las Vegas area, particularly after World War II.132

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Las Vegas
Wartime and early postwar growth
The latter, now Nellis Air Force Base, eventually grew to occupy an area of some 1,350 square miles (3,500 square km), including the U.S. Air Force’s vast testing range northwest of the city. These and other defense-related installations set up in the region brought in thousands more people.…
Read More
The latter, now Nellis Air Force Base, eventually grew to occupy an area of some 1,350 square miles (3,500 square km), including the U.S. Air Force’s vast testing range northwest of the city. These and other defense-related installations set up in the region brought in thousands more people.…
Read More

North Las Vegas
The city’s major employers are Nellis Air Force Base and the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Test Site, although the nongovernmental sector has become increasingly important, as have the gaming and service industries that figure so prominently in the economy of neighbouring Las Vegas. Inc. 1946. Pop. (2010) 216,961; (2020)…
Read More
The city’s major employers are Nellis Air Force Base and the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Test Site, although the nongovernmental sector has become increasingly important, as have the gaming and service industries that figure so prominently in the economy of neighbouring Las Vegas. Inc. 1946. Pop. (2010) 216,961; (2020)…
Read More