Scottsdale Tidbits

A United States Army Chaplain named Winfield Scott arrived in the Salt River Valley in 1888. He noted its significant potential, and to begin a farming operation soon thereafter made a down payment on some 640 acres. This acreage was close to what is currently known as the downtown area of Scottdale Arizona. This provided the impetus for the establishment of the community that bears his name.

Originally, the stunning scenery, irrigated desert location, and mild climate in Scottsdale influenced its settlement. Many people who sought better health arrived in Scottsdale although agriculture was the primary attraction. Scott recruited many of the original pioneers in the settlement from the Midwest and East had a deep appreciation of cultural activities and were highly educated. In 1896, the public-school system was established in Scottsdale by these early pioneers. During the early 1900's, they also supported burgeoning writers and struggling artists and writers culture. They also promoted that affiliation of Scottsdale with the earliest resorts in the region such as the Jokake Inn as well as the Ingleside Inn.

Scott's original homestead was located next to the new Arizona Canal, which drew water from the Salt River, and the development of a dependable water supply was critical to the entire Valley as well as the early growth of the community. In 1908, the Granite Reef Dam was constructed and in 1911 the Roosevelt Dam was constructed.

The region also experienced the establishment of ranching operations during the early years. Sometime later, this was the inspiration for the nickname of Scottsdale as the West's Most Western Town. In 1916, One of most prominent businessmen in Scottsdale started investing in property that was located just north of Scottsdale and established a cattle ranch that eventually encompassed some 44,000 acres. Throughout the 1950's, the DC Ranch continued operating complete with cattle drives and cowboys.

There was an influx of architects and artists into Scottsdale during the Great Depression. This included the renowned Frank Lloyd Wright. Mr. Wright and his wife bought some 600 acres of land in the desert at the foot of the McDowell Mountains in 1937 and constructed the Southwestern headquarters for his architectural firm and his winter home named Taliesin West.

In 1947 and the leaders in Scottsdale made a conscious effort to promote a special identity, which was linked to the Old West, as an attraction for tourists and as a reflection of the roots of Scottsdale. The chamber of Commerce developed a Western design theme for the downtown and also adopted the West's Most Western Town as the slogan for Scottsdale.

Close to the western edge of Scottsdale Motorola opened a factory in 1950, which signaled the start of an advanced technology industry that has continually grown. In 1956 Motorola also opened another factory within Scottsdale. Having a population of approximately 2,000 people who lived within a region of not quite a square mile and the year 1951 brought the incorporation of Scottsdale. The first appointed mayor was a man named Malcolm White.

During the 1950's, Scottsdale grew quickly to a population of over 10,000 people within an area of approximately five square miles by 1960. Also during the 1950's, the residents of Scottsdale organized the first All Arabian Horse Show and also started the yearly celebration of Parada del Sol and brought the Baltimore Orioles to Scottsdale for the first spring training season and organized the first All Arabian Horse Show. These events continue to be major attractions and continue to define the character of the current community of Scottsdale.

The population of Scottsdale had increased to almost 68,000 people while the land area had also increased to some 62 square miles by the late 1960's. Scottsdale also rejected federal plans to line a ditch with concrete to help handle floodwaters during the 1960's, and sometime later started work on an innovative project that converted the wash into a series of open spaces, golf courses, and parks that came to be known as the Indian Bend Wash greenbelt project.

There was even more growth in land area as well as the population during the next few decades. This occurred as Scottsdale experienced several more building booms and pushed northward into the high Sonoran Desert. The population of Scottsdale had increased to over 88,000 people and the land area had also increased to some 88.6 square miles by 1980. The population had again increased to over 130,000 people and the land area had also increased to its current size of approximately 185 square miles by 1990. The population of Scottsdale had once again increased to over 202,000 people by 2000.

As new resorts were established next to the Scottsdale Road corridor, there was a corresponding boom in the tourist industry in Scottsdale. Thousands of tourists are attracted to seasonal events. Previously known as the Phoenix Open, the FBR Open has set records for being the most-attended golf tournament in the world. These days, Scottsdale attracts over six million visitors every year and has become a renowned destination.

Scottsdale is now one of the 100 largest communities in America but still maintains its linkage to its small town, Western heritage. The community has become a study in contrasts, where both visitors and residents alike can visit one of the best contemporary art museums in the nation in the morning and go horseback riding through the pristine Arizona desert in the afternoon.