There are only to ways to gain income: Either through a service or selling a product. Thinking globally, countries that have rich physical resources tend to have higher living standards.
Even locally capital resources define many communities. I believe Cleveland Ohio is one of the biggest steel manufacturers, and thus most capital trade in a community is built off of specific resources. Shipbuilding, farming, etc.
Las Vegas to me is an example of provided services, i.e. gambling and entertainment. The frequency have droughts, I am unaware of physical commodities, but most of the commerce there is not as stable as a community with rich “capital resources”.