Learn More About Scottsdale, Arizona
A Little Backstory on Scottsdale
Scottsdale is located in Maricopa County which is part of the Greater Arizona Area. The city is named after Winfield Scott who founded land in 1894. It was not until 1951 that the town became incorporated, at this time there were only 2,000 people living in Scottsdale. As of the most recent United States Census Bureau report, the population in Scottsdale was just under 247,000. Scottsdale is approximately 31 miles long and a little more than 11 miles wide. The city is a total of 184 square miles. Scottsdale has been described as the desert version of Miami’s South Beach. The New York Times did a write up on the city and described Scottsdale as “a dessert version of Miami’s South Beach.” The article went on to say that reason behind this was because Scottsdale had “plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene.” There is plenty to do in the large, dessert community. The climate in Scottsdale is what is known as arid which basically means a desert climate. The winters in Scottsdale are generally mild and sometimes warm. During the summer months it is hot and very dry which can be expected since this a desert area.
Four Areas in Scottsdale
Scottsdale is broken up into four areas. There is North Scottsdale, South Scottsdale, Old Town Scottsdale which is known as Downtown Scottsdale and Central Scottsdale. Each area offers something different to the city.
-North Scottsdale is by far the most active part of Scottsdale. This area features some of the most expensive real estate in the area. Scottsdale Airpark can be found here, it is the second largest employment center in the Phoenix Metro area. This airpark has more than 55,000 employees, a staggering 2,600 business and more than 23,000,000 square feet of office space. This number is expected to grow by more than 3,000 employees each year making this area a great place to not only live, but work as well. There are many regional headquarters found here such as GoDaddy.com, Quicken Loans, Fidelity Investments just to name a few. This list goes on and on.
-South Scottsdale is known as more of the working class section of Scottsdale. In South Scottsdale you will find SkySong which is a new research center for Arizona State University. This research center is a collaboration between local businesses, some global companies and the university. In South Scottsdale the median price for a home is just under $300,000 which is nearly half the price of the median price for a home in North Scottsdale.
-Old Town Scottsdale aka Downtown is a place where you will find bars, restaurants, nightclubs and more. This part of Scottsdale has the most nightlife in the area. If you’re looking for the cultural district, this is also the place to go. If you want to visit one of the twenty largest malls in the United States then take a trip to the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall located here in Old Town Scottsdale. This mall is more than 2 million square feet!
-Central Scottsdale aka The Shea Corridor is an area of Scottsdale that features homes that were built primarily back in the 70’s. In this area you will find many highly sought after housing communities like the Gainey Ranch and McCormick Ranch. This area has experienced significant growth since the 1990’s when the housing market here really picked up here.
Fun Facts about Scottsdale
-The primary employer in Scottsdale is the tourism industry.
-The city has more than 70 resorts and hotels totaling more than 15,000 hotel rooms.
-Behind New York City, Chicago and Las Vegas, Scottsdale is tied with Atlanta for having the most AAA Five-Diamond hotels and resorts in all of the United States.
-Scottsdale has the highest number of destination spas and more than any other city per capita in the United States.
Points of Interest in Scottsdale
-Talking Stick Resort – This resort has plenty for you to do if you’re looking to escape the hectic day to day life. Here you can get a facial or massage, see a concert, enjoy some fine dining and even play a round of golf. This four star resort is the perfect place to vacation in Scottsdale.
-OdySea Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the Southwest United States. This aquarium is more than 200,000 square feet and features more than 30,000 different kinds of animals in 50 different kinds of exhibits. This place is interactive and the perfect spot to take your kids if you’re looking for a little family time.
Summary
Scottsdale, Arizona is a beautiful dessert community that features some of the best spas in the country and some of the most beautiful real estate on the west coast. Don’t overlook this part of the country when thinking of relocating!
