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Scottsdale: is truly an oasis in the heart of the desert. Known as "The West's Most Western Town," the city is located just 10 miles northeast of Phoenix in "Valley of the Sun." Northern Scottsdale is at a higher elevation than Phoenix, and with a population of more than 200,000 residents scattered across 183 square miles, Scottsdale is renowned for its resort lifestyle and is filled with shops, restaurants and more than thirty-five resorts and first-class hotels. And while it is truly a world-class destination city, it is also a great place to call home. Residents enjoy an active lifestyle with more than 100 art galleries, 3,000 acres of parks and golf courses, 36 acres of lakes and 50 miles of bike trails. Scottsdale is many things to many people. It is a modern resort city with all the amenities you could dream of. At the same time, it offers a true taste of the Old West, complete with horseback riding, cowboy cookouts and western duds. The real estate market is extremely diverse.

Scottsdale is located in central Arizona in the heart of the Sonoran Desert and features stunning sunsets, towering Saguaro cactus, the curious javelina (pig-like creatures that are members of the peccary family) as well as an assort of reptiles including the Gila monster (HEE-la monster), the western coral snake and the rattlesnake. The Sonoran Desert covers nearly 100,000 square miles in southern Arizona, northern Mexico (state of Sonora), southeastern California and northeastern Baja California.

For many people, the word "desert" conjures up thoughts of sand dunes, intense heat, and strange reptilian creatures. But deserts can also be icy expanses such as the polar deserts of Antarctica or, in the case of the Sonoran Desert, they can be more temperate climates that support hearty cacti, lush plants, and abundant wildlife.

The city boasts seven and a half miles of lush parkland filled with lakes, golf courses, swimming pools, numerous recreational facilities and senior centers and an extensive network of paths for walking, biking, skating or jogging. The majority of Scottsdale�s parks are located in the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt and provide the perfect setting for business or social functions.

The arts are thriving in Scottsdale with more than 125 art galleries, most of which are located in the art and shopping districts, several museums and other fine art attractions that are scattered throughout the city. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art rests in the heart of the city and is the only museum in the state dedicated exclusively to modern and contemporary art, architecture and design. The museum features the largest holding of works by Arizona artists in the state and is the host of many internationally renowned art exhibits as well as lectures, tours and workshops. Also nearby is the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, an excellent place to catch a jazz, dance, theater, world music or classical music show. During the summer months the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall offers free outdoor events including noontime performances of Native American song and dance, a free Sunday concert series and the annual Scottsdale Arts Festival.

In addition to plants and animals, the "Valley of the Sun" is home to various sports teams as well as baseball spring training, internationally acclaimed golf courses and every variety of recreation and shopping including the sports teams of the Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks and home for the Phoenix Open. Scottsdale is one of the Southwest's most sophisticated and rapidly developing cities.

Scottsdale is easily accessible via two airports, Phoenix Sky Harbor International and Scottsdale Municipal. Sky Harbor International is located in Phoenix, just 15 minutes southwest of Old Town Scottsdale. Scottsdale Municipal, located in north Scottsdale, offers complete services for corporate jets and charters.

Adding to the great quality of life that residents enjoy, Scottsdale also provides its citizens with an excellent business environment. Businesses value all that Scottsdale has to offer and in turn are enthusiastic about giving back to the community.

The history of the area dates back more than 1,400 years when the Native American Hohokams farmed the land now called Scottsdale and built over 200 miles of canals to support their agrarian lifestyle. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott, the founding father of Scottsdale, arrived in town in 1888 and purchased land that he farmed with his brother, growing citrus, sweet potatoes and peanuts.

In 1937, 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's Thunderbird 11 Primary Training Facility began training pilots for World War II in 1942. By 1945, over 5,000 had trained at what is now Scottsdale Airport (which opened in 1967). Scottsdale was incorporated on June 25, 1951, with the Charter being adopted on November 16, 1961. Malcolm White was elected mayor. He is credited with giving the city its slogan, "The West's Most Western Town." At the time, the city was a 2,000-person farming cluster. Today, Scottsdale is home to more than 220,000 residents and millions of visitors who come each year to sample a taste of the good life.

Scottsdale Homes and Real Estate for Sale in Maricopa County, Arizona