How Did the Hoover Dam Benefit Los Angeles?

The Hoover Dam, a symbol of the Great Depression and New Deal eras in America, has benefited Los Angeles since its creation. The dam turned the power of the wild waters of the Colorado River into hydroelectricity for Los Angeles and other parts of the Southwest.

History

President Herbert Hoover spearheaded the creation of the Hoover Dam that formed Lake Mead, Nevada. It was finished under Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency in 1935 and first transmitted electricity to Los Angeles in October 1936.

Benefits

Inexpensive hydroelectric power helped Los Angeles become the metropolis it is today. The dam also provided water for Los Angeles, the communities and farms in Southern California and helped control flooding on the Colorado River. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Hoover Dam project created thousands of well-paying jobs.

Fun Fact

More than 5 million barrels of cement were required to build the Hoover Dam, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.

References

• History
• U.S. Department of the Interior: Bureau of Reclamation