Why were settlements started in places like Vegas and Pheonix if they weren’t connected to a river that connected to the ocean like the Mississippi River for trade and had no viable farmland?

Question

Why were settlements started in places like Vegas and Pheonix if they weren’t connected to a river that connected to the ocean like the Mississippi River for trade and had no viable farmland?

In: 4650

Answer 1

Vegas was founded where it was first by Mormons as a sort of rest stop hzlfway along a trade route. It got built up when the railroad was being laid down through there.

I would guess that for cities like vegas, they’re built less for the perfection of where they specifically are, and more because they happen to be convenient for another purpose