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The Las Vegas Land and Water Company was a corporation created to oversee the Las Vegas interests for the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad. Between 1909 and 1911 the corporation constructed 64 single-family dwellings for mid-level employees to reside in.

The cottages strengthened the railroad's investment in its own town. The dwellings provided income from previous unsold property. In addition the rents received were a return on investment with railroad payroll being returned to the company.

Each of the dwellings was constructed on two 25' by 140' lots within a 300' by 400' block split by a 20' alleyway. Located within each block were 16 cottages. Initial construction consisted of 40 dwellings, which were soon joined by another 24 to meet the expected demand. The 64 cottages filled Block 23, 24, 25 and 26 of "Clark's Las Vegas Townsite."

These single-family dwellings combined elements of the Bungalow and Square Cottage designs associated with the Craftsman period. Structurally the cottages were designed to protect against the extreme desert conditions. Porches and eaves were included for shade and concrete walls utilized for insulation. Overall the cottages were rather innovative for the time.

The employees' cottages represented one of the first tract developments in the United States and the high standard of construction influenced further developments in the surrounding areas of "Clark's Las Vegas Townsite."

Only a few of the original cottages remain today, utilized as residences or small businesses. Progress has drastically reduced the number of these historic buildings. 41 were still standing in 1978; in 1984 there were 37 remaining; in 2001 only 11 remain.