Scottsdale

Welcome to Scottsdale!

When people think of life in Arizona, they usually are thinking about the City of Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, adjacent to the Greater Phoenix Area.

Named Scottsdale in 1894 after founder Winfield Scott and incorporated in 1951 with a population of 2000, the 2021 population of the city is estimated to be 243,953 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as “a desert version of Miami’s South Beach” and as having “plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene”. Its slogan is “The Most Livable City.”

Scottsdale, 31 miles long and 11.4 miles wide at its widest point, shares boundaries with many other municipalities and entities.

On the west, Scottsdale is bordered by Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and unincorporated Maricopa County land. Carefree is also located along the western boundary, as well as sharing Scottsdale’s northern boundary with the Tonto National Forest. To the south, Scottsdale is bordered by Tempe. The southern boundary also occupied by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, which also extends along the Eastern boundary, which also borders Fountain Hills, the McDowell Mountain Regional Park and more unincorporated Maricopa County land.

Scottsdale is now the state’s sixth-largest city. Scottsdale is commonly defined by its high quality of life. 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 Phoenix Open Golf Tournament held at the Tournament Players Club every year and the Barrett-Jackson car show, Arabian Horse shows to name a few of the popular attractions held at WestWorld.

The city is loosely divided into four areas: South Scottsdale (McKellips Road north to Thomas Road), Old Town (Downtown) Scottsdale, Central Scottsdale (also known as the “Shea Corridor,” extending from Camelback Road north to Shea Boulevard), and North Scottsdale.

South Scottsdale has for many years been regarded as a working-class neighborhood with more affordable options than other areas of Scottsdale.

Old Town Scottsdale is an area with many streets, old-fashioned stores, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and art galleries. It contains the major nightlife for the area and is a major art center of metro Phoenix. Scottsdale’s main cultural district is also in this area, which includes the high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square, one of the country’s 20 largest malls. The district has certainly seen a revival, with new condominiums and hotels under construction often.

The Shea Corridor is so named because it is in close proximity to the east-west Shea Boulevard.

The houses in this region were generally built during the 1970s. Real estate in the Shea Corridor (Central Scottsdale) has increased during the 1990s, and overall, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale real estate market saw the largest gain in house prices in the nation during the mid-2000s with a 38.4% increase in value. A number of communities in this central region of Scottsdale remain among the most highly desired residential areas in the metropolitan area, including Gainey Ranch and McCormick Ranch. A large portion of Scottsdale Road in the Shea Corridor has been dubbed the Resort Corridor for the high number of resorts on the street. The rebranded luxury Ritz-Carlton Residences are well underway and will feature some of the finest restaurant, luxury living and entertainment/shopping in the nation, quite possibly the world.

Home to:

• Scottsdale Municipal Airport
• The Mayo Clinic North Campus
• Old Town Scottsdale District
• San Francisco Giants (Spring Training Facility)
• Scottsdale Arts Festival
• The best in Indian Gaming (fine Casino’s and Restaurants)
• Scottsdale Artwalk
• Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
• Over 200 Area Golf Courses

Scottsdale Schools:

Public education in Scottsdale is provided for by both the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD), which serves most of Scottsdale, most of the town of Paradise Valley, as well as parts of Tempe and east Phoenix, and the Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD), which serves northeast Phoenix and North Scottsdale. SUSD includes five high schools: Arcadia High School, Coronado High School, Chaparral High School, Desert Mountain High School, and Saguaro High School. PVUSD is the 7th largest school district in the state. It contains 47 schools, including 7 high schools. The high schools which serve portions of Scottsdale are Horizon High School and Pinnacle High School.

Higher Learning

The primary institution of higher education in the city is Scottsdale Community College, which opened in 1970 on the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Reservation. In 1999, the school opened a second campus in the Scottsdale Airpark allowing it to serve the business community and North Scottsdale. Other institutions of higher education with locations in Scottsdale include the University of Phoenix and the Scottsdale Culinary Institute. Many students at nearby Arizona State University in Tempe also live in Scottsdale and commute.

Kurt’s Neighborhood Favorites:

https://www.odyseaaquarium.com/

https://www.breakfastclub.us/location/breakfast-club-oldtown-scottsdale/

https://www.experiencescottsdale.com/activities/

For some of the area’s finest landscapes and breathtaking sunsets, I welcome you to take a deeper look at these incredible communities:

Fountain Hills | Cave Creek | Carefree