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Scottsdale is a satellite city of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Named by the New York Times as "The Beverly Hills of the Desert," 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." However, despite this motto, in the 1970's, most construction of new horse corrals was prohibited. It seems that repairs are permitted on old corrals. What had, in the twentieth century, been vacant desert, is vastly converted to either urban &/or suburban environment. 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 (2005) is 234,752, an increase of 15.8%.
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 truly unbelievable (and many do not believe it?) 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. 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. Geography 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 into the following five areas. South Scottsdale
Old Town/Downtown Scottsdale/Civic Center/Fashion Square This area 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 10pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. It has also seen a renaissance 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 risen 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. Also located in this cultural district is the high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the twenty largest malls in the United States, and the newly constructed Shops at the Waterfront, both of which offer eclectic variety for shoppers and diners. Shea Corridor Shea Corridor is an area where many television shows and movies, such as Silk Stalkings, Beverly Hills 90210 and Clueless have shot 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. Encompassing areas such as McCormick Ranch have seen real estate values rise from $400,000 to $700,000. Central Scottsdale routinely sees the property acquisitions purely for lot value. 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 North Scottsdale is currently the most actively developed area of Scottsdale. North Scottsdale is regarded as the most expansive and expensive area in Scottsdale, and it is also the wealthiest part. 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. North Scottsdale hosts the Barrett-Jackson Auto Show, a collector's auction with many exotic automobiles. In addition to the auction, North Scottsdale attracts car enthusiasts from all over the world for its number of luxury and exotic car dealerships found only in a handful of U.S. communities, including Maybach, Spyker, Panoz, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Saleen, Lotus, McLaren, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maserati. 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. 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. (It should be noted that the Wrigley Mansion is technically located to the west of Scottsdale in the City of Phoenix in the Biltmore region.) 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, 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 adult film 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 Geordie Hormel, Bennett Dorrance and the Sperling Family. Climate See Phoenix: Climate. Demographics 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. Economy 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, Kona Grill, 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), ClubJenna, The Dial Corporation, Discount Tire Company, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and Service Groups of America. 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. 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). 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. Perhaps the most famous present-day cowboy event is the Scottsdale Jaycees Parada del Sol, an annual month long event held in Scottsdale since 1954. Originally named The Sunshine Festival, the PRCA Rodeo was added in 1956. Cowboys and cowgirls 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, The Scottsdale Gallery Association sponsors a weekly Art Walk on Thursday evenings, featuring many prominent artists. 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. Held every March, the Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors over a three-day weekend. It is Scottsdale's oldest arts festival, with proceeds supporting the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' arts education and community outreach programs. The Festival includes arts and fine crafts for sale, as well as presentations, performances and demonstrations. Golf
Shopping & nightlife
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 located along state route 101, which provides access to nearby Phoenix and other cities in the metro area. Commercial air travel is served primarily by Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. Scottsdale is home to the Scottsdale Municipal Airport , a single-runway airport with over 500 operations per day. While the airport serves some tour and commuter flights, the plurality of aircraft operations are transient general aviation traffic. Education Several school districts serve the city of Scottsdale. The districts include: A 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: Sister cities Scottsdale has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc.: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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