The residential areas that are surrounded by but legally not part of Las Vegas are areas of unincorporated Clark County that were inhabited prior to the city's annexation of what is currently northwestern region. This allows for different zoning laws, like ones you'd find in a rural area, all within in an area just outside of the city proper. This allows agricultural activity, like the ranches and orchards you can find around the Tule Springs area, or for larger, more rural-like estate houses that are sparsely placed around the Lone Mountain area. Pre-existing residents also won't have to be annexed into the city and thus forced to follow its laws that may differ from those that apply to Clark County. Most of Las Vegas is land that was undeveloped before being annexed by the city.