Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale (
Pima:
Vaṣai Svaṣonĭ) is a satellite city of
Phoenix in
Maricopa County,
Arizona,
USA. Named by the
New York Times as "The
Beverly Hills of the Desert,"
[O'Connor, Ian. "NATIONAL NOTEBOOK: SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.; Anchorless In the Desert." New York Times. August 6, 1989. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.] Scottsdale has become internationally recognized as a premiere (and posh) tourist destination, while maintaining its own identity and culture as "
The West's Most Western Town." This affluent image is further perpetuated by shows such as
My Super Sweet 16, which has recently filmed an episode in the area, and by the
CBS reality show
Tuesday Night Book Club (cancelled after two episodes due to low ratings), which has more to do with a group of upper-class housewives and their lifestyles and problems than discussion of
literature.
[Rose, Jaimee. "Welcome to Marissa's world." Arizona Republic. April 26, 2006. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.][Scharnberg, Kirsten. "A new sin city: `Snottsdale'." Chicago Tribune. July 4, 2006. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.] 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%.
[U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 Population Estimates, Census 2000, 1990 Census. ( link) Retrieved on June 1, 2006.]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.
["Scottsdale History." Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on June 1, 2006.] This title is notoriously lampooned across the state since the cost of living in Scottsdale is quite high. 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.
Scottsdale is located at (33.590709, -111.895985).
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 477.7
km² (184.4
mi²). 477.1 km² (184.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) 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. Many homes in South Scottsdale are much smaller and older than their Northern counterparts, and the median resale home price is
$291,500, compared to
$667,450 in North Scottsdale.
[Butler, Jay; Lambrakis, Christine. "Greater Phoenix August Resale Market Housing Price Increases Slow." Arizona State University. September 14, 2005. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.] South Scottsdale will also soon be home to the new research center for
Arizona State University. Although South Scottsdale's geographic 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 begins.
|
Downtown Cowboy Era Statue |
Old Town/Downtown Scottsdale/Civic Center/Fashion Square has many streets, stores and western art galleries evoking the old cowboy era. In contrast, Scottsdale is also home to many nationally-known
contemporary art galleries such as the
Bentley Gallery and
Chiaroscuro. This area also includes many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Streets are usually filled with walking traffic after 10:00pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. 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 Residences 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. Tourism and hotel occupancy rates have also shot up, with the renovation of the hip
The Mondrian Scottsdale (formerly
The James Hotel), introduction of the hip and trendy British hotel
Hotel Indigo and revival of the historic
Hotel Valley Ho. Two new hotels are also planned to open in Scottsdale's prime nightclub district, the
W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences and the
Ritz Carlton Paradise Valley.
["[http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/about/news_release_detail.html?obj_id=0900c7b9803bb304 W Hotels Continues Rapid Expansion with a New W Hotel and Residences in Scottsdale]." Starwood Hotels (press release). July 8, 2004. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.][Corbett, Peter. "Ritz-Carlton plans PV hotel." Arizona Republic. June 22, 2006. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.] Also located in this cultural district is the high-end
Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the twenty largest malls in the United States,
["[http://www.easternct.edu/depts/amerst/MallsLarge.htm Largest Shopping Mallsin the United States (2004)]." American Studies, Eastern Connecticut State University. December 17, 2005. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.] and the newly constructed
Shops at the Waterfront, both of which offer eclectic variety for shoppers and diners.
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 booming, and overall, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale real estate market has seen the largest gain in home prices in the nation, with a 38.4% increase in value.
[Christie, Les. "Real estate cools down." CNN (CNN Money). May 16, 2006. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.] 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 and expensive area in Scottsdale. The city's borders rapidly expand to the east and west in this area, containing 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 $850,000-$1,200,000 range, with a good majority in the newer areas reaching $3 and $4 million. With these prices, only the wealthy can afford to live in this area. Some of the Valley's best doctors, lawyers, and surgeons reside here. 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 each. In addition to the auction, North Scottsdale attracts car enthusiasts from all over the world for its number of luxury car dealerships including
Maybach,
Spyker,
Panoz,
Ferrari,
Lamborghini,
Saleen,
Lotus,
McLaren,
Aston Martin,
Porsche,
Rolls-Royce,
Bentley, and
Maserati. Many new luxury developments are proposed for the area, including Westcor's
Palisene.
Nearby areas
Due to the luxury establishments and numerous businesses including
Best Western,
Petsmart, and
U-Haul calling this area home, it is now the prime real estate of the Phoenix area. In 2005, both Scottsdale and Paradise Valley were among the top ten markets in the nation for luxury home sales, and the only two cities outside of California.
[Yantis, John. "State tops $1 billion in luxury home sales in 2005." East Valley Tribune. March 7, 2006.] Paradise Valley was ranked ninth with $637 million dollars in luxury home sales, while Scottsdale was ranked tenth with $594 million dollars in luxury home sales.
Epitomizing the area's wealth and real estate is the famed
Wrigley Mansion, built by chewing-gum magnate
William Wrigley, Jr. in 1932, blending Spanish, California Monterey and Mediterranean architecture.
The area also contains some of the most expensive real estate in the Greater Phoenix metropolitan area, with some homes selling as much as $25 million. Many celebrities have homes here, including musicians
Alice Cooper,
Dave Mustaine,
Rob Halford,
Brandy Norwood,
Stevie Nicks,
Glen Campbell,
Rod Stewart, the late
Lou Rawls, athletes
Phil Mickelson,
Danica Patrick,
Mike Tyson,
Charles Barkley,
Wayne Gretzky,
Muhammad Ali, radio personality
Paul Harvey, actors
Leslie Nielsen,
Vince Vaughn,
Rick Schroder cartoonist
Bil Keane, and porn star
Jenna Jameson. Many celebrities own second homes in the area, including
Britney Spears,
Sharon Stone,
Jennifer Aniston,
Larry King,
Elle Macpherson, and
Jessica Simpson. Arizona's handful of billionaires also enjoy residing in this area including the late
Geordie Hormel,
Bennett Dorrance and the
Sperling Family.
Climate
See
Phoenix: Climate.
As of the
census of 2000, there were 202,705 people, 90,669 households, and 54,492 families residing in the city. The
population density was 424.9/km² (1,100.4/mi²). There were 104,974 housing units at an average density of 220.0/km² (569.9/mi²). 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.
The
tourism industry is Scottsdale's primary employer, accounting for 39% of the city's workforce. Nearby
Biltmore Fashion Park includes many high-end tenants such as
Saks Fifth Avenue,
Ralph Lauren,
Cartier,
Escada, as well as many highly-acclaimed eateries. Several popular
restaurant chains are also headquartered in Scottsdale, including
Cold Stone Creamery,
Peter Piper Pizza, and
P.F. Chang's China Bistro.
The city is also home to several technology firms, such as
Motorola Research and Development and Medical Operations,
General Dynamics C4 Systems,
Taser International, internet company
Go Daddy, and
JDA Software.
The
aviation industry has also grown in Scottsdale, with the
Scottsdale Airport, which opened in the
1960s. By
2004, the airpark area around the airport employed nearly 50,000 people, and housed 2,200 businesses with a combined economic impact of
$3 billion annually.
Other companies based in Scottsdale include
Allied Waste Industries (
Fortune 500),
The Dial Corporation,
Discount Tire Company,
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and
Service Groups of America.
Scottsdale has a
sales tax rate of 7.95%
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 courses, high-end boutiques, and famed night-life, Scottsdale contributes millions of dollars to the economy of Greater Phoenix.
It is estimated more than 7.5 million tourists visit Scottsdale each year for its nationally-renowned resorts and
spas. The city has the highest number of spas per capita of any city in the U.S, earning the city a national recognition as an ideal destination for relaxation.
[Hogan, Shanna. "Scottsdale is tops in country for spas." East Valley Tribune. July 11, 2006. Retrieved on July 13, 2006.] The city's year-round warm weather is a great factor in its appeal, thus, it annually sees thousands of tourists (known locally as "snowbirds") flood the community during the winter season. 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.
The city is home to more than 70 resorts and hotels, with four of them listed as
AAA Five-Diamond hotels in
2005 (
The Phoenician,
Scottsdale Camelback Inn,
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and the
Fairmont Princess Resort and Spa).
[Sardone, Susan B. "AAA Five-Diamond Hotels 2005 - AAA Hotel Listings." About.com. 2005. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.]Scottsdale is also the
spring training home of the
San Francisco Giants.
Western Rodeo
The
West's Most Western Town prides itself in its rich Western cowboy history, preserving while heavily promoting its plethora of "western" activities and events. The renowned
Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has been a Scottsdale tradition since
1955. Today, the show attracts thousands of visitors and tourists, hoping to catch a glimpse of nearly 2000 purebred Arabian and Half-Arabian horses competing for various prizes and recognition. The show also features over 300 vendors and exhibitions, and over 25 demonstrations and shows.
[Hedding, Judy. "Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show." About.com. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.]Perhaps the most famous present-day cowboy event is the
Parada del Sol Rodeo, an annual 3-day event held in Scottsdale since
1956. Thousands of cowboys from across the nation converge in Scottsdale to participate in this cultural and historical event. The event begins each year with the
Parada del Sol Parade, the world's largest horse-drawn parade with over 150 entries in any given year.
Museums & Art
Scottsdale is home to more than 125 art galleries,
["Listings of Scottsdale Art Galleries." Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.] more art galleries per capita than any other city in the US.
["Scottsdale's art scene." Scottsdale Republic. Retrieved on August 9, 2006.] The city has quickly become a mega-center for art in the United States. Its horde of art galleries boast some of the greatest western and Native American themed art in the country.
The Scottsdale Gallery Association also sponsors a weekly Art Walk on Thursday evenings, featuring some of the Southwest's most prominent artists, including nationally-renowned
Fritz Scholder.
["Scottsdale Galleries Art Walk." Retrieved on July 6, 2006.]Located in Old Town is Scottsdale's performing arts district. The
Scottsdale Center for the Arts hosts musicals and plays, with several open-ended performances including the nationwide
Menopause: The Musical and Arizona's longest running show,
The Late Night Catechism.
Also in this district since
1971 is the
Scottsdale Arts Festival, which has established a solid reputation as one of the premiere arts festivals in the country. Held every March during the height of Scottsdale's tourist season, the Festival draws over 40,000 visitors in a single three-day weekend. Scottsdale's oldest arts festival, it remains a popular favorite among visitors and artists. Proceeds from the Festival help support the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' arts education and community outreach programs. The Festival is known for the high quality and variety of arts and fine crafts available, as well as the continuous presentations, performances and demonstrations that take place throughout the weekend.
Golf
With 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,
[Bennett, Liam. "Scottsdale's Fantasy 18." Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Retrieved on June 1, 2006.] Scottsdale is home to more than 200 area courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of traditional courses 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. As a result, many famed golfers have chosen to settle in the Scottsdale area.
The Boulders Resort & Golden Spa and
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North were selected in
2005 as the second and fourth best golf resorts in the nation by
Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine.
[Staff Writer. "2005 World's Best Golf Resorts." Travel + Leisure Golf. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.] Other notable golf courses in the area include Pinnacle Golf, Grayhawk, and Desert Highlands.
Shopping & nightlife
Scottsdale is one of the premiere shopping destinations of the southwest, home to many upscale and high-end boutiques and shops, with many stores such as
Tiffany's reporting their Scottsdale location as one of the highest sales per square foot in the nation. There are more than 15 shopping centers, including the more upscale
Kierland Commons,
Scottsdale Fashion Square, and
Biltmore Fashion Park. Scottsdale is home to many designers, such as
Gucci,
Louis Vuitton,
Stuart Weitzman,
Juicy Couture,
Dana Buchman and
Escada.
Scottsdale continues to expand its plethora of shopping destinations with both the
Scottsdale Waterfront and the northern Scottsdale
Palisene.
Scottsdale is also home to a wide variety of
nightclubs and
bars. Along with nearby
Phoenix and
Tempe, the Phoenix Metro Area is one of the most happening places in the entire southwest.
[Staff Writer. "One Night Stand in Phoenix/Scottsdale." PubClub.com. Retrieved on July 6, 2006.] The clubs in Scottsdale cater to a wide variety of patrons, some catering to the younger college crowd from nearby Scottsdale Community College and
Arizona State University, while more upscale establishments are geared towards the 30 to 40+ crowds. While many patrons dress stylishly, there is no formal dress code, due to the hot climate.
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 Betty Drake, Wayne Ecton, W.J. "Jim" Lane, Robert Littlefield, Ron McCullagh, and 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
Several school districts serve the city of Scottsdale.
The districts include:
* Unified
**
Cave Creek Unified School District**
Paradise Valley Unified School District**
Scottsdale Unified School District (serves most of Scottsdale)
* High school
**
Phoenix Union High School District* Elementary school
**
Balsz Elementary School DistrictA small portion of Scottsdale is within the Tempe Elementary School District and the
Tempe Union High School District, but has no residents.
Scottsdale has Unified 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 SchoolScottsdale has four
sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc.:
[Sister Cities information obtained from the Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI)." Retrieved on June 1, 2006.]* -
Álamos (
Sonora,
Mexico)
* -
Cairns (
Queensland,
Australia)
* -
Interlaken (
Switzerland)
* -
Kingston (
Ontario,
Canada)
*
Official City Website*
Scottsdale.com*
Scottsdale City Guide*
Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
