Scottsdale is renowned as one of the world's premier golf destinations, and it's easy to see why. With its abundance of luxury resorts, 330 days of sunshine a year, and world-class courses like TPC Scottsdale, Troon North and Grayhawk, it's no wonder that golfers flock to the city. But Scottsdale has much more to offer than just golf. It is also home to a thriving wine industry, with over 100 wineries in the area.
The Scottsdale Wine Route is a great way to explore the region's offerings, and it's sure to please any wine connoisseur. The area that is now Scottsdale was first inhabited by the Hohokam people from around 300 BC until 1450 AD. This ancient civilization developed an impressive network of irrigation canals that extended for 250 miles (400 km). Many of these canals still exist today, and some have been renovated and put to use in the 20th century.
The Hohokam left the area around 1450 or 1500, likely due to prolonged drought. The Akimel O'odham (Pima) and Tohono O'odham (Papago) are believed to be the direct descendants of the Hohokam. The village of Vaṣai s-Vaṣon, which translates to “rotten hay” in Pima, was the original name for what is now Scottsdale. Traditional housing was still occupied on the southeast corner of Indian Bend Road and Hayden Road until the late 1960s.
Today, Pima living in Scottsdale reside in modern homes rather than traditional housing. Many Pima and Maricopa people live in the Pima-Maricopa Indian community of Salt River, which borders Scottsdale to the south and east. The population of Scottsdale boomed between 1908 and 1933 due to the construction of Granite Reef and Roosevelt dams in 1908 and 1911 respectively. It quickly grew into a small market town that served families participating in the agricultural industry.
According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Scottsdale has an area of 184.4 square miles (478 km), with 0.4 square miles (1.0 km), or 0.24%, being water. The aviation industry has also grown in Scottsdale with the construction of Scottsdale Airport in North Scottsdale in the 1960s.
It is now one of the busiest single-runway airports in the United States for corporate or general aviation operations, although there is little or no commercial air service. The immediate area surrounding Scottsdale Airport, known as Airpark, has become a regional center for commerce with over 50,000 people employed within a few miles of the airport itself, particularly in financial services, retail, technology, design and manufacturing fields. Scottsdale is home to corporate retail outlets as well as independent boutiques spread across several shopping areas within the city ranging from small districts to large centers such as Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter in North Scottsdale and Scottsdale Fashion Square downtown. These malls offer dozens of brands unique to both Phoenix and the Southwest region.
The city also hosts an annual International Film Festival which focuses on using cinema to promote different cultures, lifestyles, religions and ethnicities from around the world. Taliesin West is another popular tourist attraction in Scottsdale which was Frank Lloyd Wright's home and winter school from 1937 to 1959. The resort is located on the northeastern fringe of the city at the base of McDowell Mountains. There are many nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, lounges and bars throughout Scottsdale but particularly in Old Town district which has seen an influx of style-conscious hotels such as Mondrian Hotel by Morgan Hotel Group, FireSky Resort & Spa, Valley Ho Hotel and W Hotel catering equally to nightlife crowds. There are several attractions within Scottsdale including Great Wolf Lodge hotel and water park just off Highway 101 as well as Talking Stick Resort which features a 98,000 square foot casino along with Butterfly Wonderland, OdySea Aquarium housing more than 6,000 animals in 2 million gallons of water, iFly Zone and many shopping malls including Fashion Square just north of Old Town Scottsdale. Scottsdale Fashion Square presents Old Town Scottsdale which is among 30 largest malls in US offering exclusive shopping and luxury experiences while Southeastern Scottsdale borders Pima-Maricopa Indian community of Salt River where for several years only commercial property operating on tribal land was Scottsdale Pavilions. In 1998 tribe opened first permanent casino in Scottsdale area - Casino Arizona at Loop 101 & McKellips Road followed by second location - Casino Arizona at Indian Bend in temporary facility less than 8 miles (13 km) north. Scottsdale Grammar School also called The Little Red Schoolhouse built in 1909 George Ellis House built in 1925 Louise Lincoln Kerr House built in 1925 Frank Tilus House built in 1875 The Valley Field Riding & Polo Club of Scottsdale built in 1924 Roald Amundsen Pullman private railroad carAlthough none play specifically in city of Scottsdale all four major sports organizations from North American major leagues have franchises & play within Phoenix metropolitan area: Phoenix Suns from NBA Arizona Cardinals from NFL Arizona Diamondbacks from MLB Arizona Coyotes from NHL as well as franchise from WNBA - Phoenix Mercurio. Scottsdale is governed by mayor & city council all generally elected to represent entire city while city manager is responsible for executive leadership of city staff implementing council policies developing programs & budgets.
