SCOTTSDALE  The City of Scottsdale was built on land once farmed by the Hohokam. The canals that run through Scottsdale are built exactly where the Hohokam laid them out 2,000 years ago. Over 200 miles of irrigation canals enabled the tribe to farm the desert. In 1888, Army chaplain Winfield Scott bought 640 acres of land for $2.50 per acre. Orangedale, later named Scottsdale, became a community that has a national reputation for affluence, upscale resorts, and shopping. Arguably the artistic heart of the Valley, Scottsdale has thriving Scottsdale Center for the Arts which hosts fine arts performances. The Scottsdale Civic Center Mall includes galleries, fine dining, and a series of outdoors events including jazz concerts, food, and arts festivals which attract tourists and residents alike. Scottsdale is one of America's Promise Alliance: 100 Best Communities for Young People 2008.
Founded: 1888
Elevation: 1,160 feet
Size: 185 square miles
Population: 204,680 (1999 census)
Major Attractions: Numerous world-class resorts, including the Scottsdale Princess Resort and The Phoenician; nearby Camelback Mountain; the Scottsdale Center for the Arts; spring training for the San Francisco Giants Major League Baseball team; approximately 200 golf courses, 23 of which are public; numerous art galleries, boutiques and restaurants in historic Old Town Scottsdale; upscale shopping and dining at the Borgata, Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, and the adjoining WaterFront area.