Scottsdale is regarded as an upscale tourist and shopping destination and as a representation of western American style. The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as "a desert version of Miami's South Beach" and as having "plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene." It was once named the "West's Most Western Town." Scottsdale is also world renowned for its exclusive golf, spas, resorts, and high-end designer shopping.

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 because of the high cost of living in Scottsdale. 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.

 
Check out the new Scottsdale Flip guide!  Browse through the virtual guide with video, music and more.




HISTORY

Scottsdale was originally inhabited by Hohokam. From circa 300 BC to 1400 AD, this ancient civilization 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 civilization mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

The remnants of this ancient irrigation system were adapted and improved upon in 1868 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 an everlasting influence from Frank Lloyd Wright. Many buildings throughout the region were designed by the famous architect. Today, a Frank Lloyd Wright memorial stands in North Scottsdale and a major street bears his name.

Real estate development had begun in what is now the Old Town area, and moved south. With Phoenix bordering the west and an Indian reservation bordering the east, the town (which is now the long, narrow, extreme southern portion of Scottsdale) developed its narrow shape, stopped by Tempe in the south, and an enormous privately owned ranch, McCormick Ranch to the north.

In the 1950's the then mayor of Phoenix was quoted as saying "who would ever want to live in Scottsdale, it's nothing but a pile of rocks." As Scottsdale progressed, the city built a series of grassy parks along the entire length of the town, known as the Indian Bend Wash. These parks were designed as flood control during heavy rains, but were normally accessible to most citizens as walking and biking trails. It greatly enhanced the beauty and appeal of Scottsdale. The Indian Bend Wash flood parks remain today, as beautiful as ever.

Ms. McCormick, the owner of McCormick Ranch, died in the 1970's, and instead of preserving the ranch as mostly scrub land, the McCormick ranch/Scottsdale Ranch area of Scottsdale was developed into homes and business parks. Because of the rising status of the city from the newly-built parks and golf course system, the developers were able to upgrade the houses they built in what became the McCormick Ranch/Scottsdale Ranch portions of the city, which opened up Scottsdale to the north and added a wide eastern portion. The nouveau riche that quickly filled these more expensive homes became the butt of many jokes and the source of the "Snottsdale" or "Snobbsdale" nickname. 

SCOTTSDALE TODAY

From its official incorporation in 1951 with a population of 2000, the town of Scottsdale has grown to a 2007 Census of 240,710. It is now the state's sixth-largest city. Luxury resorts, top ranked golf courses, world class shopping, sparkling nightlife, scenic mountains and desert, and 300 days of sunshine. What's not to love?

For those who like the urban lifestyle, mid and high rise luxury condo/lofts are now available near the downtown area and surrounding the bustling Scottsdale Fashion Square.

For those who prefer a more sedate lifestyle, single family homes in manicured clean neighborhoods make Scottsdale one of the most desireable cities in the state. From modest homes to luxurious private estates, Scottsdale has it all.

WELL KNOWN COMMUNITIES

Scottsdale has several very well known major master-planned communities. You'll find that living in a Scottsdale master-planned community is highly desireable, so expect real estate prices to be higher in these areas:

• McCormick Ranch - developed in the late 1970's - 1980's, McCormick Ranch is located in what is now considered "central" Scottsdale and was Scottsdale's first master-planned community. It was a working ranch, owned by the McCormick family until they sold it to developers after Mrs. McCormick's death in the 1970's. McCormick Park is located on a donated piece of land at the corner of Scottsdale Rd and Indian Bend Rd. The park is free to the city as long as they continue to operate the small train ride the goes around the park.
• Scottsdale Ranch - located just east of McCormick Ranch and has a stricter HOA. It was developed mostly in the 1980's.
• Gainey Ranch - a high-end community surrounding the Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch and the private Gainey Ranch Golf Club. All of the residential neighborhoods are gated. Housing includes condos, towhomes, and luxury single-family homes. Drive down Gainey Dr. and you'll see beautiful palm trees with up-lighting...very Beverly Hills. The residential portions of Gainey Ranch were developed mostly in the 1990's and early 2000's, although they just recently added more high-end commerical and retail areas.
• McDowell Mountain Ranch - located on the slopes of the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale, this 3,300 acre community set aside almost 1/3 of its land as "preserved natural desert" in order to get the master plan approved by the city of Scottsdale. Developed mostly in the late 1990's to early 2000's.
• Grayhawk - farther north and newer than the other communities, this community was developed in the late 1990's - 2000's.
• DC Ranch - the newest entrant to Scottsdale master-planned life. This community was started in the early 2000's and is still under development. The overall look and feel of it was designed to look "Main St America" and farm buildings, with lots of corrogated metal siding, exposed wood beams, etc. DC Ranch has a section known as "Silverleaf" that has minimum home prices over $1.5 million, and has its own very exclusive and very private golf and country club that not even the other DC Ranch residents have access to.