The City of Henderson, Nevada, was officially incorporated on April 16, 1953. Henderson was actually "born in America's defense" ten years prior to its incorporation during World War II with the building of the Basic Magnesium Plant. The plant supplied the US War Department with magnesium for munitions and airplane parts. Mayor Jim Gibson's own father, Fred Gibson, was one of the original engineers sent to Great Britain to learn the secret of creating the "miracle metal" which would eventually help the United States and the allies win the war.

However, in l947, magnesium production was no longer necessary for defense and most of the 14,000 BMI employees moved away. Enrollment in the school system was reduced by two thirds and well over half the townsite houses, built for plant workers, went vacant. In 1947, the United States War Asset Administration actually offered Henderson for sale as war surplus property.

In an effort to save the city, the Nevada Legislature spent a weekend visiting Henderson evaluating the possibility of state administration of Basic Magnesium. Within days of the visit, the legislators unanimously approved a bill giving the Colorado River Commission of Nevada the authority to purchase the industrial plants. Governor Vail Pittman signed the bill on March 27, 1947, helping save Henderson from becoming war surplus property.

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 into more than 94.5 square miles that it is today.