Overview
Scottsdale is a suburb of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Named
by the New York Times as "The Beverly Hills of the Desert" and by Travel
Channel as one of the most luxurious destinations in the nation, Scottsdale
has become internationally recognized and regarded as one of the most
expensive and posh areas in the United States and a premiere tourist
destination, while maintaining its own identity and culture as "The West's
Most Western Town." This affluent culture is further perpetuated by shows
such as MTV's My Super Sweet 16, which has come to the area to film two
episodes, and by the upcoming CBS reality series Tuesday Night Book Club,
which has more to do with a group of upper-class housewives and their
lifestyles and problems than discussion of literature.
As of the 2000 census, the city is the 82nd largest city in the United
States, with a population of 202,705. The most recent census estimate (2004)
is 221,792, an increase of 9.1%.
History
Scottsdale was originally inhabited by Hohokam. From circa 300 BC to
1400 AD, these ancient civilizations farmed the area and built some of the
most ingenious irrigation canals the world has ever known. The name Hohokam
translates as "vanished," as the civilizations mysteriously disappeared
without a trace.
Before Anglo settlement, Scottsdale was a Pima village known as Vaṣai
Svaṣonĭ, meaning "rotting hay". Some Pima remained in their original homes
well into the 20th century. For example, until the late 1960s, there was a
still-occupied traditional dwelling on the southeast corner of Indian Bend
Rd. and Scottsdale Rd. By now, however, all Pima have either moved into
modern homes within Scottsdale (mainly in South Scottsdale), to the Salt
River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, or elsewhere.
The Hohokam's unbelievable legacy was in their creation of more than 125
miles (200 km) of canals to provide water for their agricultural needs. The
remnants of this ancient irrigation system were adapted and improved upon in
1868 by the first Anglo company to stake a claim in the Valley of the Sun,
when Jack Swilling set up the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company.
Twenty years later Scottsdale's future would turn sharply upwards, when a
U.S. Army Chaplain, Winfield Scott, paid the paltry sum of $2.50 an acre for
a 640 acre stretch of land where the city is now located. Winfield's
brother, George Washington Scott, was the first resident of the town that
was then known as Orangedale and later changed to Scottsdale in 1894.
In 1937, internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright set up his
"winter camp" at the foot of the McDowell Mountains, creating what is now
known as Taliesin West. Scottsdale, and the rest of Phoenix, have seen a
huge influence from Frank Lloyd Wright. Many buildings throughout the area
were designed by the famous architect. Today, there is a Frank Lloyd Wright
memorial in Northern Scottsdale.
In 1951 the Town of Scottsdale was officially incorporated with a population
of 2000. Since then it has grown to a 2004 Census estimate of 221,792. It
has grown to become Arizona's fifth-largest city, and one of its most
celebrated. Scottsdale is commonly defined by its high quality of life, and
in 1993 was named the, "Most Livable City," in the United States by the
United States Conference of Mayors. It is continually ranked as one of the
premier golf and resort destinations in the world, with a sizable portion of
tax revenue being derived from tourism. It is also home to the FBR Open Golf
Tournament held at the Tournament Players Club, which carries the
distinction of the best-attended event on the PGA Tour. The city continues
to see rapid growth, mainly in the northern areas of the city.
Geography
Location of Scottsdale, Arizona, within Maricopa CountyScottsdale is
located at 33�35′27″N, 111 53′46″W (33.590709, -111.895985)GR1. According
to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 477.7 km
(184.4 mi). 477.1 km� (184.2 mi) of it is land and 0.6 km (0.2 mi) of it
(0.12%) is water.
Cityscape
The city is loosely divided these areas: South Scottsdale, Old
Town/Downtown Scottsdale, Civic Center/Fashion Square, Shea Corridor, and
North Scottsdale.
South Scottsdale This area has been known for many years as a less affluent
region of Scottsdale, but more recently is transforming into a dynamic urban
core. Many foodbanks and homeless shelters are located in South Scottsdale,
as well as several strip clubs and check cashing stores. This contradicts
the overall stereotype of Scottsdale being a bastion of wealth. For many
years, South Scottsdale ranked among the nation's cheapest real estate with
a median home resale value at $100,000. Many homes in South Scottsdale are
much smaller and older than their Northern counterparts. However, in recent
years, South Scottsdale has seen a drastic turn of events. According to The
Arizona Republic, the average home resale value in South Scottsdale has
skyrocketed to $205,000. Many deteriorating buildings are being destroyed
and rebuilt. South Scottsdale will also soon be home to the new research
center for Arizona State University. Although South Scottsdale's geophraphic
boundaries are the subject of frequent debate, South Scottsdale extends from
McKellips Road at the city's southern border, north to Osborn Road, where
Old Town/Downtown appears to begin.
Old Town/Downtown Scottsdale/Civic Center/Fashion Square has many streets
emulating the cowboy era, stores and primarily western art galleries.
Scottsdale's number of art galleries is second only to New York City. This
area includes many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Streets are usually
filled with walking traffic after 10:00pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
nights, as Downtown Scottsdale has one of the highest concentrations of bars
and nightclubs in the country. It has also seen a renaissance of sorts in
the last five years as city living is sweeping many areas in the nation. The
Scottsdale Waterfront will soon anchor the once desolate Arizona Canal
banks, and no less than five new ultra-luxury condo towers have been
approved, and premium one-bedroom units routinely exceed $1 Million. The
condos are estimated to cost between $1-4 million. Tourism has also shot up,
with new trendy hotels coming to the area such as The Mondrian, and the
revived Hotel Valley Ho. Recently accounced was the new W Scottsdale Hotel
and Residences,
taking a spot in Scottsdale's prime nightclub district. Also nearby is the
high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the ten largest malls in the
nation, anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, Robinsons-May, and
Dillard's. Loosely, this area extends from Osborn Road north to Chaparral
Road.
Shea Corridor is an area where many shows and movies, such as Silk Stalkings,
Beverly Hills 90210 and Clueless have come to shoot neighborhood scenes.
Real estate in central Scottsdale is certainly booming, ranked as one of the
"Top 10 Hot Spots" by Fortune Magazine. According to CNN World Report, the
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale real estate has boomed, seeing a 75% increase in
value — the greatest change in the nation. Encompassing areas such as
McCormick Ranch have seen real estate values jump from $4-500,000 to
$700,000. Central Scottsdale routinely sees the demolition of older homes
and new million-dollar ones constructed. Some areas, such as Gainey Ranch,
remain very expensive and highly desirable in the Phoenix area real estate
market; homes in this area see median values in the $1.5-2 million range
with many exceeding $5 million. This area extends from Chaparral Road north
to approximately Shea Blvd. This area shares many similarities with the
neighboring community of Paradise Valley.
North Scottsdale is where most new home construction takes place. North
Scottsdale is by far the most expansive area in Scottsdale. The city's
borders rapidly expand to the east and west in this area, occupying the
McDowell Mountain range, now preserved from development by the city. Most of
the city's dozens of golf courses are located in North Scottsdale, utilizing
the varied desert mountain terrain to create some of the most beautiful
courses in the country. Homes in North Scottsdale see median values in the
$750,000 range, with a good majority in the newer areas sky-rocketing above
$3 and $4 million. This area is also famous for hosting the world-renowned
Barrett-Jackson Auto Show, a collector's auction with many automobiles sold
over $1 million a piece. In addition to the auction, North Scottsdale
attracts car-enthusiasts from all over the world for its collection of
luxury car dealerships including Maybach, Spyker, Panoz, Ferrari,
Lamborghini, Saleen, Lotus, McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Rolls-Royce,
Bentley, and Maserati.
Nearby areas
By many locals, the areas of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the
Biltmore Region of Phoenix are often seen as one entity because they share
one common characteristic — wealth. Following the luxury of the famous
Arizona Biltmore Hotel, this region has become known as the prestigious
Biltmore area of the Greater Phoenix area. This region has become nationally
and internationally renowned for its luxury and real estate. The area is now
the prime real estate of the Phoenix area with many businesses and shops
hoping to boom here. This area is home to Phoenix's Ritz Carlton, Biltmore
Fashion Park which includes many high-end tenants including Saks Fifth
Avenue, Ralph Lauren, Cartier, and Escada, and many highly-acclaimed
eateries. This area is also a booming mecca for real estate with median home
values a $1.1 million with many exceeding $10-12 million. In a study by
Coldwell Banker in 2005, Scottsdale, along with its neighbor Paradise Valley
are the only two cities outside of California ranked in the top 10 markets
for luxury home sales.
This collective area stretching from Scottsdale Road to 24th Street sees
premiere restaurants, luxury resorts, and high-end retailers. However, most
important, this area has some of the most expensive real estate in Phoenix,
with some homes selling as much as $25 million. Many celebrities live in
this quiet community for its scenic beauty including Alice Cooper, Dave
Mustaine, Rob Halford, Phil Mickelson, Brandy Norwood, Jenna Jameson,
Charles Barkley, Wayne Gretzky, Glen Campbell, Leslie Nielsen, Stevie Nicks,
Rod Stewart, Vince Vaughn, Mike Tyson, and Bil Keane. Many celebrities own
second homes in the area, including Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Doug
Taylor (jetcareers.com), and Jessica Simpson.
The area is under constant construction with luxurious office buildings,
hotels, condominiums, and new retailers constantly sprouting in the area.
The famed Esplanade Towers in the area are among the most luxurious and
highly-demanded office buildings in the entire Phoenix area. Currently
planned for the area includes a Trump International Hotel, a second Ritz
Carlton, new residential towers at the highly luxurious Biltmore Fashion
Park mall, and luxury residential units.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 202,705 people, 90,669
households, and 54,492 families residing in the city. The population density
was 424.9/km (1,100.4/mi). There were 104,974 housing units at an average
density of 220.0/km� (569.9/mi). The racial makeup of the city was 92.19%
White, 1.23% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.96% Asian,
0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more
races. 6.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 90,669 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age
of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had
a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families.
30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone
living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18,
6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who
were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100
females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,484, and the median
income for a family was $73,846. Males had a median income of $51,204 versus
$34,739 for females. The per capita income for the city was $39,158. About
3.4% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line,
including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Major corporations headquartered in Scottsdale
Allied Waste Industries (Fortune 500)
Cold Stone Creamery
The Dial Corporation
Discount Tire Company
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
General Dynamics C4 Systems
Go Daddy
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Taser International
Service Groups of America
Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation
Museums and art collections
Ranked as one of the "Top 25 Art Destinations" in the nation,
Scottsdale's number of art galleries are only second to New York City. Home
to more than 125 art galleries, Scottsdale has quickly become a mega-center
for art in the United States. The famed Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary
Art, Heard Museum, and Scottsdale's Center for the Arts boast unique art
from contemporary to musicals to historic Native American.
Golf
Gainey Ranch Golf Course in Central ScottsdaleWith more than 330 days of
sunshine, Scottsdale is best known as a premiere destination in the United
States and the world for golfing. Recently named "America's Best Place to
Live for Golf" by the Robb Report, Scottsdale is home to more than 200 area
courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of
traditional course architecture to the cactus-studded excitement of desert
golf designs. The combined quality and quantity of the city's daily fee golf
clubs and courses have labeled Scottsdale a "must-visit" destination for the
avid golfer. Scottsdale is home to the Phoenix Open Golf Tournament held at
the Tournament Players Club, and later in March, hosts the Ping LPGA
Tournament. Scottsdale is also home to many famed professional golfers:
Heather Farr, Phil Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Tom Weiskopf, Billy Mayfair,
Annika S�renstam, Andrew Magee, Hale Irwin, Jim Carter, Brandel Chamblee,
Kirk Triplett, Jonathon Kaye, Tom Purtzer, Curt Byrum, Gary McCord, Mike
Nicolette, Dan Pohl, Jerry Smith, Grace Park, Carin Koch, Danielle
Ammaccapane and Dina Ammaccapane.
Some notable Scottsdale golf courses have won several awards, including
"Best Golfing" by Golfweek Magazine (Troon Mountain Course),[citation
needed] "Best Public Golfing in the US" by Golf Digest (Pinnacle Golf), "Top
10 Courses You Can Play in the US" by Golf Magazine (Grayhawk and DC), and
"Best Golf Courses in America" by Golf Magazine (The Boulders and Desert
Highlands). The Boulders Resort and Golden Spa and Four Seasons Resort
Scottsdale at Troon North were ranked respectively second and third after
Pinehurst Resort (which hosted two U.S.Open tournaments) by Travel and
Leisure Golf Magazine as the nation's most exclusive golf resorts.
Shopping and nightlife
Scottsdale is the premiere shopping destination of the southwest, home
to many upscale and high-end boutiques and shops, with many stores such as
Tiffany'sreporting their Scottsdale location as one of the highest sales per
square foot in the nation. With more than 15 shopping centers (with the most
popular being Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and Biltmore
Fashion Park), Scottsdale is home to myriad designers, from some of the most
popular such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, to rarer luxuries such as Stuart
Weitzman, Juicy Couture, Dana Buchman and Escada.
Due to the recent merger between Federated Department Stores and May
Department Stores, the vacant space left at Scottsdale Fashion Square may
bring the first Barneys New York to the Arizona market. Barneys
representatives have stated they hope to open in Scottsdale by 2008.
Scottsdale continues to expand its plethora of shopping destinations. The
current Scottsdale Waterfront project is intended to bring many new high-end
luxury retail stores unique to Arizona. City officials hope that current
re-development projects, such as the Scottsdale Waterfront, in downtown
Scottsdale will heighten Scottsdale's already strong reputation to a new
degree. The Waterfront will bring more luxury, high-end local boutiques to
the Fashion Square area. The popular Mahsa boutique and Estilo boutique both
opened their second stores in the valley here, offering selections such as
Stella McCartney, Michael Kors, and others.
Westcor, the major Arizona shopping giant, has announced plans to begin
construction for Palisene, a luxury mall in north west Scottsdale/Phoenix.
This outdoor shopping and residential area is claimed to be different from
all previous centers in Arizona. Current planned retailers include Prada,
Herm�s (both new to Arizona), and Scottsdale's second Louis Vuitton, Gucci,
and Tiffany's. The shopping mall will include select lower-end retailers,
including Banana Republic, Coach, and Abercrombie and Fitch. More luxury
retailers are yet to be named. This mall will be anchored by four department
stores, including Nordstrom. Westcor is also looking at Neiman Marcus, Saks
Fifth Avenue, and Barneys Co-Op for the area.
In addition to a mall, the Palisene estate would include a boutique hotel,
golf course, nightlife, and exclusive eateries.
Besides shopping, Scottsdale is the location for hordes of night clubs and
bars. There are more than 80 night clubs and bars, and Scottsdale has one of
the highest concentrations of clubs and bars in the United States. Rated as
one of the "Top 10 Cities for Best Nightlife" by the Travel Channel,
downtown Scottsdale becomes a sea of young people after 10 PM. Many of these
clubs and bars are filled with college students from the nearby Scottsdale
Community College and Arizona State University.
Tourism
Scottsdale is a premiere tourist destination in the western United
States. With its great number of exquisite eateries, 5-star hotels and
resorts, luxury golf course, high-end boutiques, and famed night-life,
Scottsdale contributes millions of dollars to the economy of Greater
Phoenix.
The city is home to more than 70 resorts and hotels and boasts one of the
highest numbers of five-star resorts and hotels in the United States. Hotels
such as The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort
and Spa, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and Fairmont
Princess Resort and Spa routinely see high-profile guests. The Fairmont
Princess Resort and Spa was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the "Top 10
Celebrity Hideouts."[citation needed]
It is estimated more than 7.5 million tourists visit Scottsdale each year
for its horde of nationally-renowned resorts and spas. Named by the Sunset
Magazine as the ideal destination for relaxation, Scottsdale's numerous
luxury spas have gained national recognition.
However, most important is the warm weather that attracts the most visitors.
Scottsdale, and its adjacent neighbors, annually sees thousands of people
flood the community during the winter season. These people are dubbed "snow
birds" by locals. The beautiful weather hovers around 65 degrees during the
winters, making Scottsdale's outdoor activities popular year round. With its
number of mountains, Scottsdale attracts hikers for its many trails,
preserves, and scenic views. Other popular activities include horseback
riding, off-roading, water rafting, and hot air ballooning. Scottsdale is
the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants.
Government
Scottsdale is governed by a mayor and city council, all of whom are
elected "at large" to represent the entire city. A city manager is
responsible for the executive leadership of the city staff, as well as
implementing council policies, developing programs and budgets to respond to
council goals, and ensuring that citizens receive effective and efficient
city services. The city manager also serves as the city treasurer.
The current mayor is Mary Manross (term ends June 2008), and the current
members of the city council are Council Member Betty Drake, Councilman Wayne
Ecton, Councilman W.J. "Jim" Lane, Councilman Robert Littlefield, Councilman
Ron McCullagh, and Councilman Kevin J. Osterman. The current city manager is
Janet M. Dolan.
Transportation
Scottsdale is conveniently located along state route 101, which provides
quick access to Phoenix and other cities in the metro area. Commercial air
travel is served primarily by Sky Harbor International Airport, which is in
Phoenix. Also serving the city is Scottsdale Municipal Airport, one of the
busiest single-runway facilities in the nation. While the airport serves
some tour and commuter flights, it is used mainly by corporate jet traffic.
Most high-profile individuals, including actors, executives, and athletes
use one of Scottsdale Airport's two private terminals to avoid crowds at Sky
Harbor International Airport.
Education
The city of Scottsdale is divided into 5 school districts: Phoenix Union
High Schools (Includes Balsz Elementry District), Tempe Union, Cave Creek
Unified, Paradise Valley Unified, and Scottsdale Unified. The latter covers
the most city area and serves the most residents, and includes the following
high schools:
Arcadia High School
Chaparral High School
Coronado High School
Desert Mountain High School
Saguaro High School