From Water Street a Town is Born
Water Street was once the commercial and civic heart of Henderson. The name of the street is rooted in Henderson’s industrial heritage, after the water pipeline used to pump water to the Basic Magnesium, Inc., (BMI) plant.
The story of Henderson started in 1936 when Cleveland businessman Howard Eells obtained the mineral rights to the magnesium deposits in Gabbs, NV., 350 miles from Las Vegas. Understanding the value of magnesium to support the war efforts, Eells worked with Senator Pat McCarran and others to create the BMI processing plant in Nevada, nearer the source of the ore. During World War II, the BMI plant grew to be the world’s largest magnesium plant.
The construction of the BMI plant instantly transformed the desert lands east of Las Vegas into a populous tent and trailer city. Almost 15,000 people came from across the country to work at the plant, causing a housing shortage in the immediate area. In February of 1942, the construction of the Basic Townsite began with temporary houses to accommodate the influx of families. As the community grew, schools, churches, shops and other small-town features began to appear. In 1944, a post office was established and named in honor of former Nevada U.S. Senator Charles B. Henderson. On January 10, the new Postmaster, Harold Baldwin, a BMI employee, announced the change in name from the Basic Townsite
to Henderson, Nevada.
With the help of local industry, the City of Henderson, Nevada, was officially incorporated on April 16, 1953. On May 23, 1953, Henderson, with its population of 7,410, elected Dr. Jim French as the town's first Mayor. Originally about 13 square miles in size, the City quickly began to grow and flourish.
