City of Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona
Location
You will find Scottsdale located in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, adjacent to Phoenix. It was officially incorporated in 1951 with a population of just 2,000. According to the 2005-2007 U.S. Census American Communities Survey, it has morphed from a small, military town to a diverse city known as one of the world's top premier golf and resort destinations with a population of 240,410.
Scottsdale is Arizona's 6th largest city and is popularly defined as possessing a high quality of life. In fact, in 1993 Scottsdale was named the "Most Livable City" in America by the United States Conference of Mayors. Scottsdale has a sizable portion of tax revenue being derived from tourism and was described by The New York Times as "a desert version of Miami's South Beach" and having "plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene."
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Urban Living at It's Best
Gain a renewed zest for life with Urban living in Scottsdale, Arizona. The city, and the greater Phoenix area surrounding it, is energized with a high concentration of galleries featuring the best Western and Southwestern art found in the U.S., complimented with outdoor sculptures and xeriscaping that includes water conservation-friendly lush green lawns.
Downtown Scottsdale
Sparkling fountains in Downtown Scottsdale allure residents and tourists to the grounds of the Civic Center Mall - which offers more than 320 shopping opportunities. Some of the finest galleries, specialty retail, cultural attractions and dining in the Valley of the Sun are located in Downtown Scottsdale, commonly referred to as the heart of Contemporary and Western Art.
Scottsdale's Art District includes Theatre 4301 and a wide variety of outdoor sculptures and a rare glimpse into the "Old Town," where shopkeepers sell quality, one-of-a-kind Native American crafts, hand-woven Navajo rugs and Zuni silver jewelry. For detailed maps of Downtown Scottsdale visit www.scottsdaledowntown.com.
Getting Around
Downtown Scottsdale is divided into seven districts. As defined in Scottsdale's General Plan, the city is bordered approximately by Chaparral Road on the north, Osborn Road to the south, Miller Road to the east and 68thStreet to the west. It is a walkable area accessible by public transit server, Valley Metro, serving the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Valley Metro provides regional public transportation by bus, dial-a-ride service, carpools and vanpools. Valley Metro is available in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Peoria, Gilbert and Glendale. Visit www.valleymetro.org.
A Few of the Well-Preserved Historic Scottsdale Neighborhoods
Scottsdale has a large and varied collection of intact post World War II residential housing. This type of construction represents a distinct period in the growth of the city and the entire Southwest region. During World War II, the federal government located several military installations in the Phoenix area to take advantage of the region's optimal year-round flying conditions to train military flyers, which in turn attracted several military contractors to the region. The new bases and the relocation of several large manufactures created a dramatic growth of the population in Arizona, which until this time had been quite small. Between 1940 and 1950, the state's population increased by nearly 25,000 annually. In the 1950s this doubled to 55,000 new residents each year. (Source: Scottsdale Neighborhoods Historic District Contexts)
Town and Country Scottsdale
Subdivided in 1958, Town and Country Scottsdale was planned and constructed by Fred E. "Woody" Woodworth. "Woody" was a local builder who specialized in small and medium sized developments that were distinctive for their Contemporary styling. The sixty-two Woodworth homes built in Town and Country are two, three, and four bedroom homes. Ralph Haver, a prominent Valley architect known for his prolific and architecturally distinctive body of work, designed the homes. Haver's trademark Contemporary style homes are characterized by a very low-pitch front-facing gable roof and the use of clerestories (floor to ceiling windows) and window walls (rows of large side-by-side windows). Buyers in Town and Country Scottsdale could customize their homes with a choice of exterior concrete block, brick, and wood trim patterns across the front facades. Homeowners could also select options such as an all-electric kitchen or birch kitchen cabinets. Town and Country Scottsdale is significant for its representation of post-World War II single-family subdivision practices in Scottsdale in a medium-sized development, as an example of the unique practice of a prominent architect and local builder working together, and because of its unique Contemporary-style homes. (Source: Scottsdale Neighborhoods Historic District Contexts)
Village Grove Neighborhood
Allied was one of the largest production homebuilders in the metropolitan area in the 1950s. The company gained national repute for its extensive and concerted advertising campaigns to sell its subdivisions. The homes were specifically marketed to families complete with decorated bedrooms specifically for children and teenagers. Allied touted the "outstanding features" of their Village Grove homes including 1,800 square feet of living space with a large family room, three bedrooms, and 1 baths; attached double carport; and decorative features such as a brick banding and natural finished wood doors and cabinets. The neighborhood is an excellent example of typical post World War II single-family subdivision practices in Scottsdale, and illustrates the planning and marketing philosophies guiding successful neighborhood developments in the late 1950s. It is also significant for its design characteristics, including its use of mass-produced products and its Simple and California Ranch architectural styles. (Source: Scottsdale Neighborhoods Historic District Contexts)