Some call Henderson, Nevada “the classy suburb of Las Vegas.” Others call it “a place to call home.” And still others call it “the diamond in the desert,” since it is situated in the heart of three of the world’s most renowned man-made attractions – the glitzy Las Vegas strip, innovative engineering of the Hoover Dam and breathtaking beauty of Lake Meade.

It was birthed in the 1940s due to the advent of the area’s Basic Magnesium Plant. The plant contributed magnesium in the military’s defense of the U.S. during World War II, which was used in combustible armament casings and airplane frames, engines and other parts. After the war, the state voted to purchase the land and its infrastructure in 1953, incorporating the city and securing its future.

In 2008, CNN Money ranked Henderson 84th on their list of Best Places to Live in the U.S. With a population of over 249,000, it trails just behind Las Vegas as the city with the largest population in the state. It is located in the Las Vegas metro area. It’ll take you about 30 minutes to get to the heart of Las Vegas from the hub of Henderson.

Prevention Magazine picked Henderson as the 6th best city in which to take a walk, with trails that total more than 37 miles. It is home to Zappos.com, which experienced a 39% job growth this past year. The online Fortune 500 Magazine ranked Zappos.com 23rd on their list of 100 Best Companies to Work in 2009. Lots of other business inhabits the city, too.

The McCullough Mountain Range has taken its stance to watch over the city and provides a spectacular scenic perch on which to view the City of Henderson. In the shadow of these mountains lies the magnificent man-made Lake Las Vegas, a monument to leisure and relaxation. This city is often featured on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and has been highlighted in other film productions, too.

Its real estate is just as spectacular. Peruse through the neighborhoods of Black Mountain Vistas, Green Valley Ranch or Madeira Canyon. If your preferred home style is classic Spanish Colonial or ranch-style homes, you’ll find plenty of them here, along with a variety of other styles. Some are nestled in the foothills or the city’s canyons and provide profound views. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium starts at $49,000. You’ll find three-bedroom, two-bathroom single-family homes starting at $64,000. Newer homes can be bought in the $150,000s range. More upscale living with amenities can cost you upwards in the millions.

Exceptional beauty, incredible real estate values, no state tax, excellent schools with test scores in reading and math far exceeding the national average, plentiful jobs, 210 sunny days a year, cost-of-living lower than the national average, tons of restaurants within 15 minutes’ drive all make Henderson an outstanding place to live or raise some little ones.

You’ll find the condiments and comfort of this city irresistible. The City of Henderson … a place to call home!

For more information about this great Las Vegas suburb, click Henderson, NV Homes For Sale and MLS Listings.