As We See It

Nevada’s latest nickname? ‘Marriage farm’

Image
A Tournament of Kings wedding ceremony at King Arthur’s Arena in Excalibur.
Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

“If you want to get married somewhere really exotic, go to Mississippi.”

That’s Chris Kirk’s opening line in a joint feature by Slate and public policy institute New America Foundation on state-by-state marriage rates. That state has the country’s lowest per capita marriage rate, and guess which one has the highest? Vegas, baby. Vegas.

There are nearly 40 sacred vows made per every thousand residents here, which is almost double the number coming from the “next marryingest state,” Hawaii.

Considering that the national marriage rate has declined over the last decade (from 8.2 marriages per thousand people in 2000 to 6.8 in 2010), that means the Silver State is captain of a grand, sinking ship. And we are happy to go down with it (especially because, here in Las Vegas, we are known for our divorce parties, too).

Share

Previous Discussion:

Top of Story