SCOTTSDALE
For a long time Scottsdale has been known as "The West's Most Western Town." Scottsdale was voted the Most Livable City by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1993, it is consistently named among the top cities in the country which to raise children, to retire, and is rated the number one resort community in America. Scottsdale is located just east of Phoenix.
Scottsdale is often associated with wealthy residents and expensive resorts. Although there is quite a bit of wealth in Scottsdale, and some of the most beautiful and expensive resorts in the country are there, there are also middle class neighborhoods in Scottsdale.
Location:
Geographically, Scottsdale covers about 185 square miles. It is located in central Arizona just east of Phoenix, between Carefree and Tempe.
Airports:
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Scottsdale: Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl. is located about 13 miles from Scottsdale in Phoenix. Williams Gateway is located about 27 miles from Scottsdale in Mesa, and Luke AFB is about 33 miles from Scottsdale in Glendale.
Other public-use airports nearest to Scottsdale: Scottsdale Airpark, Phoenix Deer Valley Airpark, and Falcon Field in Mesa.
Terrain:
Scottsdale has a desert landscape and is 1,248 feet above sea level.
Population:
Population in July 2007 was 235,677. The population change since 2000 is up 14.4%. Unemployed percentage is below the state average. The median age is above the state average at 41 years. The foreign-born population percentage is significantly below the state average. The percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher is above state average. As of 2005 there are 113,690 males and 121,987 females residing in Scottsdale. The population density is 1,279 people per square mile.
Employment & Industries:
Tourism and hospitality make up the major portion of the economic base of Scottsdale, but there are also financial services, healthcare, retail, electronics and mid-sized corporate headquarters. Major employers include Scottsdale Healthcare, Motorola, Mayo Clinic, PCS and Vanguard.
The median household income in Scottsdale is about $58,000. According to the 2007 census update, the most common industries for men in Scottsdale are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (12%), Finance and insurance (9%), Accommodation and food services (8%), Construction (8%), Health care (5%) Real estate and rental and leasing (5%), & Computer and electronic products (4%) The most common occupations for men in Scottsdale are: Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (11%), Other sales and related workers including supervisors (9%), Sales representatives, services, wholesale and manufacturing (6%), Top executives (5%), Entertainers and performers, sports, and related workers (3%), Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers (3%), Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (3%)
The most common industries for females in Scottsdale are Health care (12%), Professional, scientific, and technical services (10%), Educational services (10%), Finance and insurance (9%), Accommodation and food services (8%), Real estate and rental and leasing (5%), & administrative and support and waste management services (4%) The most common occupations for women in Scottsdale are: Other sales and related workers including supervisors (7%), Registered nurses (6%), Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (6%), Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%), Secretaries and administrative assistants (5%), Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%), Sales representatives, services, & wholesale and manufacturing (4%).
Education, Colleges and Universities:
Scottsdale's public school system is highly rated nationally. Scottsdale is home to Scottsdale Community College, as well as several technical and vocational schools.
Colleges & Universities in Scottsdale: Scottsdale Community College, Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College, Allure Career College of Beauty, Scott Cole Academy, Keller Graduate School of Management, John Casablanca’s, Phoenix Seminary, Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, & Professional Institute of Real Estate.
Housing:
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $511,300 (it was $205,000 in 2000) Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $600,430; Detached houses: $689,752; Townhouses or other attached units: $392,685; In 2-unit structures: $348,414; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $328,475; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $257,970; Mobile homes: $55,179. Median gross rent in 2007: $1,085.
Historic Sites:
Cosanti Foundation: Headquarters/workshop of architect Paolo Soleri, Rawhide: An 1800s town recreated with stagecoaches, saloons and even a jail., Scottsdale Historical Museum, Fleischer Museum: Impressionist paintings and sculpture, & Taliesin West: Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural school/studio.
Recreation:
The City of Scottsdale has a great selection of sports and recreation activities for your personal needs. Walking, skating, jogging, fishing, baseball, volleyball, swimming, and a wide variety of leisure activities await the visitor. The facilities where these activities are held also make great locations for corporate or social functions. Pick the sport or activity that best fits your interests, we are sure you will not be disappointed!
Attractions & Events:
There is a great deal to see and do in Scottsdale. Some of my favorite attractions are Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen, the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, and, for shopping, Scottsdale Fashion Square. Other attractions include the Heard Museum, Scottsdale Historical Museum, Studio Alexander, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Southwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Educational Foundation, and the Mystery Mansion Dinner Theatre.
Interesting Facts:
- 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.
- 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.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
