SCOTTSDALE
Scottsdale, in Arizona's Valley of the Sun, has grown from a tiny farming community of 2,000 people to more than 250,000 people spread over an area of 185 square miles. Founded by Army Chaplain Winfield Scott in 1888, Scottsdale, long known as the Wests Most Western Town, has matured into one of the premier examples of a new urban, sophisticated and cultured city.
The primary reason that people visit Scottsdale is shopping. The second reason is Golf. Scottsdale has many awards for some of the best and most challenging golf courses in the country. A little known statistic is that Scottsdale is second only to New York City for having the most restaurants on a per capita basis.
Scottsdale is characterized by a hospitality industry serving both the business and leisure visitors to the valley. The Scottsdale economy today contains, in addition to its resorts, a diverse mix of financial services from banking to insurance and investment; business services from advertising and public relations to software development; computer services, professional services from major health care providers anchored by Scottsdale Memorial Health Systems and the Mayo Clinic.
Few places can provide as many cultural opportunities as are available in Scottsdale. Within an easy driving distance are numerous high-level dramatic, dance and musical productions, art exhibits, and performances by the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra.
Scottsdale is noted throughout the country for its creative approach to city planning. A unique 7.5 mile greenbelt offers endless recreational opportunities including fishing, sailing and other sports. The city is the winter home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.
Paolo Soleri's studio, Consanti, and Taliesen West, Western campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture are located in Scottsdale.
Scottsdale offers 110 art galleries, three libraries, 32 indoor theaters, 28 parks, 30 golf courses, five museums, 20 tennis parks, 58 athletic fields, a stadium, and a center for the arts. Westworld, a major equestrian development provides 11 open arenas, 480 permanent horse stalls, two polo fields, and parking for 13,000 cars.
