About Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s humble beginnings of citrus farms and cattle ranches has transformed into a cosmopolitan city attracting the young, upwardly mobile families and retirees. Its reputation as “a little slice of paradise” is well deserved, with its amazing combination of perfect weather, spectacular desert landscape, rich history and abundant culture. Scottsdale provides the ultimate upscale lifestyle with its exclusive gated communities, opulent spas and lush fairways.
Location
Scottsdale is located just east of Phoenix, between Carefree and Tempe. It is in Maricopa County in central Arizona, covering most of the Northeast Valley. Tempe and Mesa are to the south of Scottsdale, separated by the typically dry Salt River. The Salt River Indian Community runs along most of the city’s eastern border. State Route 101 runs north and south, and connects Scottsdale to Phoenix and the other cities in the metro area. Route 202 runs east and west in the same area.
Scottsdale is 5.2 miles northeast of Paradise Valley, 11.5 miles west of Fountain Hills, 13.1 miles east of Phoenix, 114.2 miles north of Tempe, 15.8 miles south of Carefree, 16.1 miles northwest of Mesa, 16.1 miles northeast of Guadalupe, and 17.2 miles southeast of Cave Creek.
Scottsdale is located 53 miles east of Wickenburg, 94 miles south of Prescott, 117 miles north of Tucson, 119 miles south of Sedona, 138 miles south of Flagstaff, and 390 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
Airports
Scottsdale is accessible via Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or Scottsdale Municipal Airport.
Sky Harbor International Airport is located north of the I-10 in Phoenix, and is the largest airport in the Southwest. It is used by 21 major airlines, has more than 1,500 flights arriving and departing daily, and offers non-stop service to 114 cities worldwide. Serving over 35 million passengers yearly, Sky Harbor has one of the highest percentages of on-time flights of any US major airport.
Scottsdale Municipal Airport offers full services for corporate jet traffic, as well as tours, charters and commuter flights. It is currently the second busiest single-runway airport in the country and the busiest corporate jet facility in the state. Its two private terminals allow traveling VIPs to avoid the Sky Harbor International crowds.
Phoenix Deer Valley Airport is a small Phoenix facility used for private planes and to relieve congestion at Sky Harbor International. It boasts over 900 aircraft and an 8,500 foot runway.
Terrain
Scottsdale covers an area of 184.4 square miles, consisting of 184.2 square miles of land and 0.2 square miles, or 0.12 percent of water. Stretching 31 miles north to south, it is the second largest city in Arizona by area.
Scottsdale is in the Sonoran Desert, sitting at the base of the McDowell Mountains at an average elevation of 1,260 feet above sea level. It is surrounded by desert land, mountain preserves, and parks. One of these, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, is an extraordinary 57 square-mile, 34,000-acre expanse of land with trails that hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders thoroughly enjoy.
Population
Scottsdale is the fastest growing community in the Valley of the Sun, having grown to become Arizona’s fifth-largest city. It has undergone a 9 percent growth in population since 2000, with a current population of approximately 250,000.
The median income in Scottsdale is presently 27 percent higher than the metro Phoenix area. The population of Scottsdale is very well educated. 93.5 percent of those over 25 years old are high school graduates, 44.1 percent have a Bachelor’s degree and 14.7 percent have a graduate or other professional degree. Scottsdale unemployment is a low 3.5 percent.
Jobs
Scottsdale is a prime location for both visitors and businesses. Tourism is its largest industry, with over 6 million tourists flocking to the city. Its many upscale resorts, retail establishments and lush golf courses contribute millions of dollars annually to greater Phoenix area’s thriving economy.
The business services sector provides a high percentage of jobs in Scottsdale at 21%. Hospitality services supply over 11% of the jobs, the health industry 10%, retail trade 14.5%, and construction 5.5%.
Scottsdale’s primary employers are Scottsdale Healthcare, Mayo Clinic, General Dynamics, Scottsdale Unified School District, Advance PCS, City of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Insurance Company, The Vanguard Group and the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess. Other major corporations which have their headquarters in Scottsdale are Allied Waste Industries (Fortune 500), Cold Stone Creamery and The Dial Corporation.
There is a growing influx of businesses relocating to Scottsdale, many of them basing themselves at Scottsdale Airpark. It is a commercial, industrial and office complex in North Scottsdale; the industrial base for Scottsdale and Northeast Phoenix.
The average commute time for Scottsdale workers is 24 minutes, as compared to 26 minutes nationwide.
Colleges/Universities
Scottsdale schools are highly rated and considered some of the best schools in the Phoenix metro area.
Scottsdale is also home to many fine colleges and universities.
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and the Professional Institute of Real Estate are also located in the Scottsdale area.
Scottsdale Community College is a public community college with an enrollment of 5,345.
Scottsdale Culinary Institute is a private institute, with an enrollment of 602.
Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College is a private college with an enrollment of 121.
A new research center at Arizona State University is being constructed in South Scottsdale.
Other nearby colleges with an enrollment of over 2,000 are: Paradise Valley Community College, Devry Institute of Technology, University of Phoenix, and Gateway Community College, all about 8 miles away in Phoenix. Rio Salado Community College, Al Collins Graphic Design School Ltd, and Arizona State University-Main Campus, are all located approximately 12 miles away in Tempe.
Housing
Scottsdale real estate is booming, according to CNN World Report. Housing prices have increased by 75 percent in Scottsdale, the largest real estate change nationwide. The strongest growth is in the North Scottsdale area, with its spectacular residential neighborhoods and high-end malls. The median value of homes here is $750,000. Many newer area homes exceed $3 and $4 million.
In some areas like South Scottsdale (Old Town), older, deteriorating homes are being replaced with new beautiful homes. South Scottsdale used to have some of the nation’s lowest housing prices, but the average home value is presently $205,000. In Downtown Scottsdale, 5 new ultra-luxury condo towers are being built, estimated to cost from $1 to $ 4 million.
Scottsdale has some of the best mastered-planned communities in the country, such as Silverleaf and DC Ranch, offering world class golf, shopping, schools, tennis and more.
Some of these gated communities follow environmental desert preservation rules ensuring that any visible property remains as much as possible a natural desert.
DC Ranch has seventeen unique Market Street buildings provide for your every need. It also boasts an extraordinary one-acre park, which links the neighborhoods of DC Ranch to Market Street. Their exclusive Country Club is one of Scottsdale’s finest, and Desert Camp, the 9-acre community recreational facility, provides an extensive range of cultural, civic and entertainment resources. Membership to the private golf club is available to residents and non residents.
Silverleaf, in North Scottsdale, is a private enclave of custom estate home sites boasting a Tom Weiskopf golf course, outstanding Spanish Mediterranean architecture and world-class amenities. Membership to the Silverleaf golf club is available to residents within the Silverleaf community.
GrayHawk has a wide range of home styles and prices, attracting residents from all walks of life. It has 2 public golf courses, and is located conveniently close to the city, yet far enough not to sacrifice its serene lifestyle.
Whisper Rock Estates is an exclusive guard-gated community, also in North Scottsdale. Membership here is limited to 350 and is obtained through invitation and sponsorship. Its elegant, custom homes were built by the finest craftsmen and architects. The sites range from one to five acres. Whisper Rock Estates offers community living in an authentic desert environment.
Desert Highlands, situated in the valley, is renowned for its high standard in community, amenities and individualized, environmentally harmonious architecture. It is a member-owned private club community and membership to Desert Highlands Golf and Tennis Club is available for residents.
Troon North, in the scenic McDowell Mountains, is an elite, world-class golf community. Sitting at high elevations, beside a 185-acre mountain preserve, it offers incredible panoramic views, cooler summer temperatures and cleaner air. Its residents have membership rights to its semi-private club.
Troon Village is cozily situated between Troon Mountain and Pinnacle Peak. It is a private, world- class community offering a variety of residential properties. The exclusive, member owned, Troon Golf & Country Club is located at Troon Village.
Estancia, located on the northern slope of Pinnacle Peak, encompasses approximately 640 acres. It is an exclusive private and guard gated community, with 223 custom home sites and 39 developer villas. Membership to Estancia golf club is available to residents.
Scottsdale Mountain, located in eastern Scottsdale, features exceptional homes, stunning city lights and mountain views, a 24-hour guard gate, tennis courts, and spa.
McDowell Mountain Ranch is an award winning, family-oriented community with its own schools and library, a five-acre park, and a full range of amenities and recreational facilities. It has miles of trails connecting neighborhoods to each other and to the Scottsdale Public Library, the Citizen Service Center, the school and the recreation center.
Ancala is a community site chosen by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Nestled in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, this upscale country club community offers membership to both residents and non residents.
Stonegate, situated in north-central Scottsdale, is a private gated tennis community. This immaculate and prestigious community features classic Southwestern architectural styles surrounded by lush vegetation.
Terravita is located in the foothills of North Scottsdale on 823 acres of elegant, harmonious desert terrain. It has a varied population of full and part-time residents and home purchase includes Social Membership to the Terravita Country Club.
Winfield is a world-class tennis community located on the 300-acre Winfield Mountain Preserve. It was named after the founder of Scottsdale, Winfield Scott, and was designed both for the maximum enjoyment of the desert beauty and the preservation of the natural environment. The Winfield Clubhouse features amenities only found in the most exclusive facilities.
Desert Mountain is renowned as the only Golf and Recreational Club Community in the world with 6 premier golf courses as well as 6 separate clubhouses. It is an 8000-acre community located in the high mountain foothills of the Sonoran Desert. It is bordered on two sides by the 2.9 million acre Tonto National Forest.
Legend Trails has seven individual communities providing a wealth of housing choices. It was developed in one of the most scenic areas of the Sonoran Desert, maintaining half of its 640 acres as natural open space. Its boulder strewn landscape, bountiful vegetation and bright green fairways are not to be forgotten.
Sincuidados, a private luxury home community, is found in the Sonoran Desert in North Scottsdale. It covers 3/4 of a square mile area with 396 lots ranging in size from just under one acre to two acres. All of its homes are either Santa Fe or territorial style architecture.
Gainey Ranch is located in the central Scottsdale area and includes the Hyatt-Regency resort. All subdivisions are gated and homes prices vary from $350,000s to over $3,000,000. The Gainey Ranch semi-private golf course has 27 holes.
McCormick Ranch, the first master planned community in Scottsdale, has beautifully landscaped streetscapes, interconnected open spaces, and a wide range of housing types. Much of the architecture has a Mediterranean flavor, along with contemporary style employment and civic buildings.
Historic Buildings
Scottsdale’s Pueblo Grand Museum and Archaeological Park features the prehistoric Hohokam ruin which is surrounded by a 2/3 mile interpretive trail. Inside the museum there are various exhibits exploring Hohokam archaeology, Southwestern cultures and modern day American Indian arts.
In Scottsdale’s Old Town you can find Cavalliere’s Blacksmith Shop, where early settlers had their horses shod. The Little Red School House, which is the present location of the Scottsdale Historical Society museum, and the Rusty Spur Saloon are historic places of interest in Old Town.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Scottsdale provides many sports adventures such as rock climbing in the McDowell Mountains, horseback riding or mountain biking over the desert trails, kayaking on a desert lake, or soaring in a glider plane.
Tennis is an important sport in Scottsdale, with its prestigious tennis communities. The Arizona Men’s Tennis Championships are also held annually at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort. This annual ATP tennis championship brings thousands to Scottsdale and has hosted many of the game’s greatest stars.
Major League Baseball teams play exhibition games at Scottsdale Stadium.
Scottsdale calls itself "The West's Most Western Town," and horses play a major role in the city's sporting events. WestWorld is a 360-acre nationally recognized equestrian center that offers numerous events throughout the year. The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, held at WestWorld, involves nearly 2000 horses, and brings top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world. Scottsdale also features Rawhide, a classic Wild West theme town with attractions, restaurants and the Arizona Cowboy College.
Some of more relaxing activities available in the city are river floats and hot air balloon flights.
Special Attractions/Events
Scottsdale offers some of the best shopping in the southwest, having over 15 shopping centers and a myriad of designer boutiques and shops. The Borgata features one-of -kind shops and is modeled after a 14th century Italian village. Scottsdale Fashion Square has over 225 shops, some of them not found anywhere else in Arizona. Market Street is the premier dining, shopping and social district in North Scottsdale, and has 15 architecturally unique buildings. Downtown Scottsdale combines art studios and galleries with its shops.
Scottsdale has more than 600 restaurants, many of which receive honorable mention in Gourmet magazine, Food & Wine, Saveur and Bon Appetit magazines. Scottsdale Culinary Institute continues to produce skilled new chefs.
Scottsdale has over 80 night clubs and bars, and was rated one of the “Top 10 Cities for Best Nightlife” by the Travel Channel. It hosts over 70 resorts and hotels, having one of the most 5-star resorts and hotels in the nation. Its many luxury spas are nationally renowned.
Scottsdale is noted as one of the "Top 25 Art Destinations" in the nation. With over 125 galleries and studios, it is second only to New York City. It attracts world famous talent to its galleries, museums and performing arts centers. The renowned Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Heard Museum, and Scottsdale's Center for the Arts feature unique art from contemporary to classic to historic Native American.
The Scottsdale Arts Festival is one of the major national arts festivals and the Scottsdale ArtWalks have been happening in the city for over 30 years.
Scottsdale provides year-round entertainment, with events such as the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction, the Scottsdale Arts Festival or the Scottsdale Culinary Festival.
Taliesin West is Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter camp and an architectural wonder. It
attracts many thousands of visitors each year.
Interesting Facts
Internationally recognized as one of the most expensive and posh areas in the United States, Scottsdale was named by the New York Times as "The Beverly Hills of the Desert" and by Travel Channel as one of the most luxurious destinations in the nation.
Scottsdale has been named the “Most Livable City” in the United States by the United States Conference of Mayors. It has also been named one of the, “Top 30 US Cities to Raise Children”, one of the “50 Fabulous Places To Retire” and the number one resort community in America according to Zagat’s US Hotel, Resort and Spa Survey.
From 800 to 1400 AD, Scottsdale’s inhabitants were the ancient Hohokam and Anasazi civilizations, who farmed and built over 200 miles of incredible irrigation canals. The Hohokam people disappeared leaving no evidence of what had caused their disappearance.
Scottsdale is the birthplace of Mike Brown, NFL player for the Chicago Bears, Edwin Buffmire, college basketball player for the Princeton Tigers, and Vanessa Nygaard, WNBA player for the Houston Comets.
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