Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona is the sixth-largest city in Arizona, with a population of 203,293 in 2008. The city is part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, lying to the east. The natural beauty of Scottsdale is enhanced by its location in the Sonoran Desert, close to the McDowell mountain range. “The West’s Most Western Town,” as Scottsdale terms itself, associates both with a western past and a cosmopolitan future. When moving to Scottsdale, you can take advantage of both.
Economy:
Many of Scottsdale’s residents are affluent and work in the tourism, high-tech and medical industries. The tourism industry, mainly represented by hotels and resorts, is the largest of these, employing 39 percent of all Scottsdale workers. The largest single employers in Scottsdale are the Scottsdale Health Group, the Mayo Clinic-Scottsdale, General Dynamics-Decision Systems and the Scottsdale Unified School District. Scottsdale Airpark, surrounding the city’s airport, is a major light industrial area for the greater Phoenix region. Many large and small businesses, small manufacturing plants and auto dealerships operate there.
History:
Scottsdale was founded by Winfield Scott, a U.S. Army chaplain who purchased 640 acres of land there in 1888. The dry but fertile climate of the Salt River Valley lured settlers seeking agricultural land and health cures. While early Scottsdale quickly attracted writers and artists, the commercial purpose of the town remained as a local farming market until the construction of dams in the early 20th century allowed for increased agriculture and ranching. Military installations arrived during World War II. The Thunderbird II Airfield (an early training site for air cadets) and a prisoner of war camp were both located in Scottsdale. In 1947, the city began to link its new identity to the “old west,” at the same time as the population began to grow into an urban area. From the 1950s onward, Phoenix’s spread east led to a population boom that increased a population of 2000 (in 1951) to 10,000 (in 1960), 68,000 (in 1970), 88,000 (in 1980), 130,000 (in 1990) and even 202,000 (in 2000), making Scottsdale a very popular moving destination.
Tourism:
Visitors come to Scottsdale for shopping, golfing and the arts. The shops in the Downtown and Southbridge neighborhoods tend to be upscale and include such draws as the only Barney’s New York in Arizona. Golfers can enjoy one of over 200 golf courses in the Scottsdale area, many of which are attached to high-end resorts. The Waste Management Phoenix Open is a stop on the PGA Tour, occurring at the end of January each year. More spectators attend this tournament than any other on the Tour. Among the many museums in Scottsdale are the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Scottsdale Historical Museum and the Heard Museum North Scottsdale (a satellite museum of the Heard Museum in Phoenix). Performance spaces in the city include the Scottsdale Desert Stages and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Other than private and corporate planes, all air travel to Scottsdale is through the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. In addition to a free trolley service (with stops in Old Town, the Arts District, the Fifth Avenue Shops, Scottsdale Fashion Square, the Waterfront and Southbridge), Valley Metro provides bus service throughout the greater Phoenix area. New residents will quickly be immersed to numerous facilities when moving to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Colleges/Universities:
• Penn Foster College
• Scottsdale Community College
Interesting Facts:
• In 1937, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright purchased 600 acres of land adjacent to the McDowell Mountains. He would eventually build Taliesin West, his home and architectural headquarters, on the site.
• Among the films shot in Scottsdale are “Wayne’s World,” “Transamerica,” “Back to the Future” and “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”
• Scottsdale serves as a spring training location for the San Francisco Giants. In the fall, the Scottsdale Scorpions, a minor league team, play in the Scottsdale Stadium.
Helpful Links:
• Scottsdale Insurance
• Scottsdale Real Estate
• Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Scottsdale Moving Guide