Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale (Pima: Va?ai Sva?oni) is a satellite city of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Named by the New York Times as "The Beverly Hills of the Desert,"[1] 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 horse corral new construction 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%.

Geography

Scottsdale 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 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

South Scottsdale has been known for many years as a less affluent region of Scottsdale although it is transforming into a dynamic urban area. Many foodbanks and homeless shelters are located in South Scottsdale, as well as several strip clubs and check cashing stores. The median resale home price is $291,500, compared to $667,450 in North Scottsdale.[4] South Scottsdale will also soon be home to the new research center for Arizona State University [1]. South Scottsdale extends from McKellips Road at the city's southern border, north to Osborn Road, where Old Town/Downtown begins.

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.[5][6] Also located in this cultural district is the high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the twenty largest malls in the United States,[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[9] 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, 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 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 the late Geordie Hormel, Bennett Dorrance and the Sperling Family.

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), 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,[14] more art galleries per capita than any other city in the US.[15] 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.

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,[17] 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.[18] Other notable golf courses in the area include Desert mountain,Pinnacle Golf, Grayhawk, and Desert Highlands.

Shopping and 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.[19] 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 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 (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX) in Phoenix.

Scottsdale is home to the Scottsdale Municipal Airport (IATA: SDL, ICAO: KSDL), 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:

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 District
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:

Arcadia High School
Chaparral High School
Coronado High School
Desert Mountain High School
Saguaro High School

Sister cities

Scottsdale has four sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc.:

- Álamos (Sonora, Mexico)
- Cairns (Queensland, Australia)
- Interlaken (Switzerland)
- Kingston (Ontario, Canada)

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