Henderson, Nevada was pronounced a "city of destiny" by then-president John F. Kennedy while on a visit to Southern Nevada during his brief time in office. Incorporated during World War II, Henderson became known only 10 years prior when it sprung up from the desert floor as the home of the Basic Magnesium Plant, which supplied the U.S. forces with magnesium for munitions and airplane parts during the war. Post-war, Henderson quieted as the plant closed and out-of-work residents sought greener pastures. Quick thinking and creativity by city leaders and developers brought money and new residents back to Henderson, saving it from "ghost town" status. Now a bustling metropolis making its own name in the shadow of a glittering Las Vegas, Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada.