Scottsdale has become internationally recognized as a premiere and posh tourist destination, while maintaining its own identity and culture as "The West's Most Western Town." However, despite this motto, in the 1970s, most construction of new horse corrals was prohibited. What had, in the twentieth century been vacant desert, was converted to either urban and suburban environment. As of the 2000 census, the city is the 83rd largest city in the United States, with a population of 202,705. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 231,127, moving Scottsdale in to the 79th position on the 100 largest cities list.

Public education in Scottsdale is provided for by the Scottsdale Unified School District.

There are 5 major high schools in Scottsdale

• Arcadia High School
• Chaparral High School
• Coronado High School
• Desert Mountain High school
• Saguaru High School

The primary institution of higher education is Scottsdale Community College. Many students also commute to nearby Arizona State University in Tempe.

The city is loosely divided into four areas: South Scottsdale (McKellips Road north to Chaparral Road), Old Town (Downtown) Scottsdale, Central Scottsdale (also known as the, "Shea Corridor"; extends from Chaparral Road north to Shea Boulevard), and North Scottsdale. In 2005, both Scottsdale and Paradise Valley were among the top ten markets in the nation for luxury home sales, and the only two cities outside of California. Paradise Valley was ranked ninth with $637 million in luxury home sales, while Scottsdale was ranked tenth with $594 million in luxury home sales.

South Scottsdale has been known for many years as more or less the working class region of Scottsdale, although today it is transforming into a dynamic urban area. It contains the major nightlife for the area and is a major art center of metro Phoenix. The median resale home price is $291,500, compared to $667,450 in North Scottsdale. South Scottsdale will also soon be home to a new research center for Arizona State University.

Old Town Scottsdale is an area with many streets, stores, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and western art galleries evoking the old cowboy era. New development is being built in the area. The Scottsdale Waterfront Residences will soon anchor the once desolate Arizona Canal banks, and no less than five new ultra-luxury condominium towers have been approved. There are over 20 hotels in the area, including The Mondrian Scottsdale (formerly The James Hotel), the Hotel Indigo, the Scottsdale Marriott Suites Old Town, and the Hotel Valley Ho. Two new hotels are also planned to open in Scottsdale's prime nightclub district, the W Scottsdale Hotel and Residences and the Ritz Carlton Paradise Valley. Scottsdale's main cultural district is also in this area, which includes the high-end Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, one of the twenty largest malls in the United States, and the newly constructed Shops at the Waterfront, both of which offer eclectic variety for shoppers and diners.

The Shea Corridor, so named because it a region of north-central Scottsdale in close proximity to the east-west running Shea Boulevard, and is primarily a residential section of town, with suburban-style businesses and shops. Real estate in the Shea Corridor (Central Scottsdale) has increased during the 1990s, and overall, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale real estate market has seen the largest gain in home prices in the nation, with a 38.4% increase in value. North Scottsdale is currently the most actively developed area of Scottsdale, and is one of the most expansive and expensive areas in Scottsdale. The city's borders rapidly expand to the east and west in this area, containing the McDowell Mountain range. Homes in North Scottsdale see median values of $667,450.

The tourism industry is Scottsdale's primary employer, accounting for 39% of the city's workforce. In 2005, 7.5 million visitors stayed in the city, providing an economic impact of $3.1 billion. The city is home to more than 70 resorts and hotels, with four of them listed as AAA Five-Diamond hotels in 2005 (The Phoenician, Scottsdale Camelback Inn, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and the Fairmont Princess Resort and Spa). Scottsdale also boasts the highest number of resort spas per capita of any city in the U.S, earning the city a national recognition as an ideal destination for relaxation. The city's year-round warm weather is a great factor in its appeal, as many tourists from the midwest (known locally as "snowbirds") flood the community during the winter season, and many also purchase second homes in the area.

Several popular restaurant chains are also headquartered in Scottsdale, including Cold Stone Creamery, In-n-Out Burger, Peter Piper Pizza, Kona Grill, and P.F. Chang's China Bistro. Movie theater chain Harkins Theatres is also based in Scottsdale.

The city is also home to several technology firms, such as Motorola Research and Development and Medical Operations, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Taser International, and internet company Go Daddy. Mayo Clinic also has one of its three major locations in Scottsdale, as well as a hospital.

The aviation industry has also grown in Scottsdale, with the Scottsdale Airport, which opened in the 1960s. By 2004, the airpark area around the airport employed nearly 50,000 people, and housed 2,200 businesses with a combined economic impact of $3 billion annually.

Other companies based in Scottsdale include Allied Waste Industries (Fortune 500), The Dial Corporation, Discount Tire Company and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

Annual Cultural Events and Fairs

The West's Most Western Town prides itself in its rich Western cowboy history, preserving while heavily promoting its plethora of "western" activities and events. The renowned Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has been a Scottsdale tradition since 1955. Today, the show attracts thousands of visitors and tourists, hoping to catch a glimpse of nearly 2000 purebred Arabian and Half-Arabian horses competing for various prizes and recognition. The show also features over 300 vendors and exhibitions, and over 25 demonstrations and shows.

Museums and Art Galleries Scottsdale is home to more than 125 art galleries, The city has quickly become a center for art in the United States. Its galleries are most famous for western and Native American themed art. The Scottsdale Gallery Association sponsors a weekly Art Walk on Thursday evenings, featuring many prominent artists.

Located in Old Town is Scottsdale's performing arts district. The Scottsdale Center for the Arts hosts musicals and plays, with several open-ended performances including the nationwide Menopause: The Musical and Arizona's longest running show, The Late Night Catechism.

Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school from 1937 until 1959, is also a popular tourist attraction. Wright also designed the Gammage Auditorium in nearby Tempe.

Also in this district since 1971 is the Scottsdale Arts Festival. Held every March, the Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors over a three-day weekend. It is Scottsdale's oldest arts festival, with proceeds supporting the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts' arts education and community outreach programs. The Festival includes arts and fine crafts for sale, as well as presentations, performances and demonstrations.

Shopping and Nightlife Scottsdale is one of the premiere shopping destinations of the southwest, home to many upscale and high-end boutiques and shops, with many stores such as Tiffany reporting their Scottsdale location as one of the highest sales per square foot in the nation. There are more than 15 shopping centers, including the more upscale Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Fashion Square.

Scottsdale continues to expand its plethora of shopping destinations with both the Scottsdale Waterfront and the northern Scottsdale Palisene.

Scottsdale is also home to a wide variety of nightclubs and bars. Along with nearby Phoenix and Tempe, the Phoenix Metro Area is one of the most happening places in the entire southwest. The clubs in Scottsdale cater to a wide variety of patrons, some catering to the younger college crowd from nearby Scottsdale Community College and Arizona State University, while more upscale establishments are geared towards the 30 to 40+ crowds. While many patrons dress stylishly, there is no formal dress code, due to the hot climate.

There are no major league professional team sports in Scottsdale. Many residents follow the teams in nearby Phoenix and Glendale. The city is the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants, who practice at Scottsdale Stadium. Scottsdale Stadium also hosts the Scottsdale Scorpions, a minor league baseball team in the Arizona Fall League.

Scottsdale is widely known as a premiere destination in the United States for golf. The FBR Open Golf Tournament is held annually each spring at the Tournament Players Club, and the city is home to more than 200 area courses offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of traditional courses to desert golf designs. In 2006, the Robb Report cited Scottsdale as, "America's Best Place to Live for Golf." The Boulders Resort & Golden Spa and Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North were selected in 2005 as the second and fourth best golf resorts in the nation by Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine. Other notable golf courses in the area include Desert Mountain, Grayhawk, and Desert Highlands.

Links

• City of Chandler information – www.chandleraz.com
• Chandler Local News – www.chandlerlocalnews.com