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Renting an Apartment in Scottsdale
What You Should Know
Scottsdale is a suburb of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. 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 become
internationally recognized and regarded as one of the most expensive and posh
areas in the United States and a premiere tourist destination, while maintaining
its own identity and culture as "The West's Most Western Town." This affluent
culture is further perpetuated by shows such as MTV's My Super Sweet 16, which
has come to the area to film two episodes, and by the upcoming CBS reality
series Tuesday Night Book Club, which has more to do with a group of upper-class
housewives and their lifestyles and problems than discussion of literature.
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 (2004) is 221,792,
an increase of 9.1%.
History
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.
Before Anglo settlement, Scottsdale was a Pima village known as Vaṣai Svaṣonĭ,
meaning "rotting hay". Some Pima remained in their original homes well into the
20th century. For example, until the late 1960s, there was a still-occupied
traditional dwelling on the southeast corner of Indian Bend Rd. and Scottsdale
Rd. By now, however, all Pima have either moved into modern homes within
Scottsdale (mainly in South Scottsdale), to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community, or elsewhere.
The Hohokam's unbelievable legacy was in their creation of more than 125 miles
(200 km) of canals to provide water for their agricultural needs. The remnants
of this ancient irrigation system were adapted and improved upon in 1868 by the
first Anglo company to stake a claim in the Valley of the Sun, when Jack
Swilling set up the Swilling Irrigation Canal Company.
Twenty years later Scottsdale's future would turn sharply upwards, when a U.S.
Army Chaplain, Winfield Scott, paid the paltry sum of $2.50 an acre for a 640
acre stretch of land where the city is now located. Winfield's brother, George
Washington Scott, was the first resident of the town that was then known as
Orangedale and later changed to Scottsdale in 1894.
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.
In 1951 the Town of Scottsdale was officially incorporated with a population of
2000. Since then it has grown to a 2004 Census estimate of 221,792. It has grown
to become Arizona's fifth-largest city, and one of its most celebrated.
Scottsdale is commonly defined by its high quality of life, and in 1993 was
named the, "Most Livable City," in the United States by the United States
Conference of Mayors.[2] It is continually ranked as one of the premier golf and
resort destinations in the world, with a sizable portion of tax revenue being
derived from tourism. It is also home to the FBR Open Golf Tournament held at
the Tournament Players Club, which carries the distinction of the best-attended
event on the PGA Tour. The city continues to see rapid growth, mainly in the
northern areas of the city.
Geography
Location of Scottsdale, Arizona, within Maricopa CountyScottsdale 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 km� (184.4 mi�). 477.1
km� (184.2 mi�) of it is land and 0.6 km� (0.2 mi�) of it (0.12%) is water.
Cityscape
The city is loosely divided these areas: South Scottsdale, Old Town/Downtown
Scottsdale, Civic Center/Fashion Square, Shea Corridor, and North Scottsdale.
South Scottsdale This area has been known for many years as a less affluent
region of Scottsdale, but more recently is transforming into a dynamic urban
core. Many foodbanks and homeless shelters are located in South Scottsdale, as
well as several strip clubs and check cashing stores. This contradicts the
overall stereotype of Scottsdale being a bastion of wealth. For many years,
South Scottsdale ranked among the nation's cheapest real estate with a median
home resale value at $100,000. Many homes in South Scottsdale are much smaller
and older than their Northern counterparts. However, in recent years, South
Scottsdale has seen a drastic turn of events. According to The Arizona Republic,
the average home resale value in South Scottsdale has skyrocketed to $205,000.
Many deteriorating buildings are being destroyed and rebuilt. South Scottsdale
will also soon be home to the new research center for Arizona State University.
Although South Scottsdale's geophraphic boundaries are the subject of frequent
debate, South Scottsdale extends from McKellips Road at the city's southern
border, north to Osborn Road, where Old Town/Downtown appears to begin.
Old Town/Downtown Scottsdale/Civic Center/Fashion Square has many streets
emulating the cowboy era, stores and primarily western art galleries.
Scottsdale's number of art galleries is second only to New York City. This area
includes many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Streets are usually filled with
walking traffic after 10:00pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, as
Downtown Scottsdale has one of the highest concentrations of bars and nightclubs
in the country. It has also seen a renaissance of sorts in the last five years
as city living is sweeping many areas in the nation. The Scottsdale Waterfront
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. The condos are estimated to cost between $1-4
million. Tourism has also shot up, with new trendy hotels coming to the area
such as The Mondrian, and the revived Hotel Valley Ho. Recently accounced was
the new W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences,
taking a spot in Scottsdale's prime nightclub district. Also nearby is the
high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the ten largest malls in the
nation, anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, Robinsons-May, and
Dillard's. Loosely, this area extends from Osborn Road north to Chaparral Road.
Shea Corridor is an area where many shows and movies, such as Silk Stalkings,
Beverly Hills 90210 and Clueless have come to shoot neighborhood scenes. Real
estate in central Scottsdale is certainly booming, ranked as one of the "Top 10
Hot Spots" by Fortune Magazine. According to CNN World Report, the
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale real estate has boomed, seeing a 75% increase in value —
the greatest change in the nation. Encompassing areas such as McCormick Ranch
have seen real estate values jump from $4-500,000 to $700,000. Central
Scottsdale routinely sees the demolition of older homes and new million-dollar
ones constructed. Some areas, such as Gainey Ranch, remain very expensive and
highly desirable in the Phoenix area real estate market; homes in this area see
median values in the $1.5-2 million range with many exceeding $5 million. 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 is where most new home construction takes place. North
Scottsdale is by far the most expansive area in Scottsdale. The city's borders
rapidly expand to the east and west in this area, occupying 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 $750,000 range, with
a good majority in the newer areas sky-rocketing above $3 and $4 million. This
area is also famous for hosting the world-renowned Barrett-Jackson Auto Show, a
collector's auction with many automobiles sold over $1 million a piece. In
addition to the auction, North Scottsdale attracts car-enthusiasts from all over
the world for its collection of luxury car dealerships including Maybach, Spyker,
Panoz, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Saleen, Lotus, McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche,
Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maserati.
Nearby areas
By many locals, the areas of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and the Biltmore
Region of Phoenix are often seen as one entity because they share one common
characteristic — wealth. Following the luxury of the famous Arizona Biltmore
Hotel, this region has become known as the prestigious Biltmore area of the
Greater Phoenix area. This region has become nationally and internationally
renowned for its luxury and real estate. The area is now the prime real estate
of the Phoenix area with many businesses and shops hoping to boom here. This
area is home to Phoenix's Ritz Carlton, Biltmore Fashion Park which includes
many high-end tenants including Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren, Cartier, and
Escada, and many highly-acclaimed eateries. This area is also a booming mecca
for real estate with median home values a $1.1 million with many exceeding
$10-12 million. In a study by Coldwell Banker in 2005, Scottsdale, along with
its neighbor Paradise Valley are the only two cities outside of California
ranked in the top 10 markets for luxury home sales.
This collective area stretching from Scottsdale Road to 24th Street sees
premiere restaurants, luxury resorts, and high-end retailers. However, most
important, this area has some of the most expensive real estate in Phoenix, with
some homes selling as much as $25 million. Many celebrities live in this quiet
community for its scenic beauty including Alice Cooper, Dave Mustaine, Rob
Halford, Phil Mickelson, Brandy Norwood, Jenna Jameson, Charles Barkley, Wayne
Gretzky, Glen Campbell, Leslie Nielsen, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Vince Vaughn,
Mike Tyson, and Bil Keane. Many celebrities own second homes in the area,
including Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Doug Taylor (jetcareers.com), and
Jessica Simpson.
The area is under constant construction with luxurious office buildings, hotels,
condominiums, and new retailers constantly sprouting in the area. The famed
Esplanade Towers in the area are among the most luxurious and highly-demanded
office buildings in the entire Phoenix area. Currently planned for the area
includes a Trump International Hotel, a second Ritz Carlton, new residential
towers at the highly luxurious Biltmore Fashion Park mall, and luxury
residential units.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 202,705 people, 90,669 households,
and 54,492 families residing in the city. The population density was 424.9/km�
(1,100.4/mi�). There were 104,974 housing units at an average density of
220.0/km� (569.9/mi�). The racial makeup of the city was 92.19% White, 1.23%
Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 1.96% Asian, 0.08% Pacific
Islander, 2.27% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. 6.96% of the
population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 90,669 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18
living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 30.8% of all
households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was
65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average
family size was 2.79.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 6.6%
from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65
years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there
were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,484, and the median income
for a family was $73,846. Males had a median income of $51,204 versus $34,739
for females. The per capita income for the city was $39,158. About 3.4% of
families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4%
of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Major corporations headquartered in Scottsdale
Allied Waste Industries (Fortune 500)
Cold Stone Creamery
The Dial Corporation
Discount Tire Company
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
General Dynamics C4 Systems
Go Daddy
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Taser International
Service Groups of America
Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation
Museums and art collections
Ranked as one of the "Top 25 Art Destinations" in the nation, Scottsdale's
number of art galleries are only second to New York City.[2] Home to more than
125 art galleries, Scottsdale has quickly become a mega-center for art in the
United States. The famed Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Heard Museum,
and Scottsdale's Center for the Arts boast unique art from contemporary to
musicals to historic Native American.
Golf
Gainey Ranch Golf Course in Central ScottsdaleWith 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,[3] Scottsdale is home to more than 200 area
courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of
traditional course architecture 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.
Scottsdale is also home to many famed professional golfers: Heather Farr, Phil
Mickelson, Tom Lehman, Tom Weiskopf, Billy Mayfair, Annika S�renstam, Andrew
Magee, Hale Irwin, Jim Carter, Brandel Chamblee, Kirk Triplett, Jonathon Kaye,
Tom Purtzer, Curt Byrum, Gary McCord, Mike Nicolette, Dan Pohl, Jerry Smith,
Grace Park, Carin Koch, Danielle Ammaccapane and Dina Ammaccapane.
Some notable Scottsdale golf courses have won several awards, including "Best
Golfing" by Golfweek Magazine (Troon Mountain Course),[citation needed] "Best
Public Golfing in the US" by Golf Digest (Pinnacle Golf),[citation needed] "Top
10 Courses You Can Play in the US" by Golf Magazine (Grayhawk and DC),[citation
needed] and "Best Golf Courses in America" by Golf Magazine (The Boulders and
Desert Highlands).[citation needed] The Boulders Resort and Golden Spa and Four
Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North were ranked respectively second and
third after Pinehurst Resort (which hosted two U.S.Open tournaments) by Travel
and Leisure Golf Magazine as the nation's most exclusive golf resorts.
Shopping and nightlife
Scottsdale is the premiere shopping destination of the southwest, home to
many upscale and high-end boutiques and shops, with many stores such as
Tiffany'sreporting their Scottsdale location as one of the highest sales per
square foot in the nation. With more than 15 shopping centers (with the most
popular being Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and Biltmore Fashion
Park), Scottsdale is home to myriad designers, from some of the most popular
such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton, to rarer luxuries such as Stuart Weitzman,
Juicy Couture, Dana Buchman and Escada.
Due to the recent merger between Federated Department Stores and May Department
Stores, the vacant space left at Scottsdale Fashion Square may bring the first
Barneys New York to the Arizona market. Barneys representatives have stated they
hope to open in Scottsdale by 2008.
Scottsdale continues to expand its plethora of shopping destinations. The
current Scottsdale Waterfront project is intended to bring many new high-end
luxury retail stores unique to Arizona. City officials hope that current
re-development projects, such as the Scottsdale Waterfront, in downtown
Scottsdale will heighten Scottsdale's already strong reputation to a new degree.
The Waterfront will bring more luxury, high-end local boutiques to the Fashion
Square area. The popular Mahsa boutique and Estilo boutique both opened their
second stores in the valley here, offering selections such as Stella McCartney,
Michael Kors, and others.
Westcor, the major Arizona shopping giant, has announced plans to begin
construction for Palisene, a luxury mall in north west Scottsdale/Phoenix. This
outdoor shopping and residential area is claimed to be different from all
previous centers in Arizona. Current planned retailers include Prada, Herm�s
(both new to Arizona), and Scottsdale's second Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and
Tiffany's. The shopping mall will include select lower-end retailers, including
Banana Republic, Coach, and Abercrombie and Fitch. More luxury retailers are yet
to be named. This mall will be anchored by four department stores, including
Nordstrom. Westcor is also looking at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and
Barneys Co-Op for the area.
In addition to a mall, the Palisene estate would include a boutique hotel, golf
course, nightlife, and exclusive eateries.
Besides shopping, Scottsdale is the location for hordes of night clubs and bars.
There are more than 80 night clubs and bars, and Scottsdale has one of the
highest concentrations of clubs and bars in the United States. Rated as one of
the "Top 10 Cities for Best Nightlife" by the Travel Channel, downtown
Scottsdale becomes a sea of young people after 10 PM. Many of these clubs and
bars are filled with college students from the nearby Scottsdale Community
College and Arizona State University.
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 course, high-end boutiques, and famed night-life, Scottsdale contributes
millions of dollars to the economy of Greater Phoenix.
The city is home to more than 70 resorts and hotels and boasts one of the
highest numbers of five-star resorts and hotels in the United States. Hotels
such as The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and
Spa, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and Fairmont Princess Resort
and Spa routinely see high-profile guests. The Fairmont Princess Resort and Spa
was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the "Top 10 Celebrity Hideouts."[citation
needed]
It is estimated more than 7.5 million tourists visit Scottsdale each year for
its horde of nationally-renowned resorts and spas. Named by the Sunset Magazine
as the ideal destination for relaxation, Scottsdale's numerous luxury spas have
gained national recognition.[citation needed]
However, most important is the warm weather that attracts the most visitors.
Scottsdale, and its adjacent neighbors, annually sees thousands of people flood
the community during the winter season. These people are dubbed "snow birds" by
locals. 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. Scottsdale is the spring training home of the
San Francisco Giants.
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 Council Member Betty Drake, Councilman Wayne Ecton,
Councilman W.J. "Jim" Lane, Councilman Robert Littlefield, Councilman Ron
McCullagh, and Councilman Kevin J. Osterman. The current city manager is Janet
M. Dolan.
Transportation
Scottsdale is conveniently located along state route 101, which provides
quick access to Phoenix and other cities in the metro area. Commercial air
travel is served primarily by Sky Harbor International Airport, which is in
Phoenix. Also serving the city is Scottsdale Municipal Airport, one of the
busiest single-runway facilities in the nation. While the airport serves some
tour and commuter flights, it is used mainly by corporate jet traffic. Most
high-profile individuals, including actors, executives, and athletes use one of
Scottsdale Airport's two private terminals to avoid crowds at Sky Harbor
International Airport.
Education
The city of Scottsdale is divided into 5 school districts: Phoenix Union
High Schools (Includes Balsz Elementry District), Tempe Union, Cave Creek
Unified, Paradise Valley Unified, and Scottsdale Unified. The latter 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