Scottsdale AZ Moving Companies

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona, just east of Phoenix in the larger city’s metropolitan area, is a major center in its own right. Its population of 203,293 (in 2008) makes it Arizona’s sixth-largest city, with an economy focused on tourism, especially in golfing, shopping and the arts. With a great deal of natural beauty from its Sonoran Desert location west of the McDowell Mountains, Scottsdale creates a place for itself as “The West’s Most Western Town.” Whatever your interests, moving to Scottsdale should meet them.

Economy:
Tourism, high-tech research and medicine are the biggest industries in Scottsdale. Tourism is the most important of these, employing 39 percent of all workers in the city in hotels and resorts. Other major employers include the Scottsdale Health Group, the Mayo Clinic of Scottsdale, General Dynamics-Decision Systems and the Scottsdale Unified School District. Due to proximity, a large number of Scottsdale’s residents work in Phoenix. There is also a major light industrial area within Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Airpark. This area, surrounding the city airport, is one of the most important industrial centers for the greater Phoenix area.

History:
Founded by U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott in 1888, Scottsdale’s early growth came from settlers recruited by Scott, looking for land and in need of climate-induced health cures. While agriculture initially remained limited, the area proved to be a draw for writers and artists by the early 1900s. Dam construction on area rivers increased the availability of arable land for farming and ranching, which in turn increased the importance of Scottsdale as a regional center. With World War II, Scottsdale received a boost of another kind when military installations, such as the Thunderbird II Airfield and a prisoner of war camp, arrived. After the war, the growing city became connected to the urban expansion of the greater Phoenix area. Incorporated in 1951, with a population of only 2000, Scottsdale grew rapidly in the following decades. The population reached 10,000 in 1960, 68,000 in 1970, 88,000 in 1980, 130,000 in 1990 and 202,000 in 2000-making this area a hot destination for new residents and Scottsdale moving companies.

Tourism:
Visitors to Scottsdale can enjoy museums, golf courses and high-end resorts and shopping. Among the major Scottsdale museums are the Scottsdale Historical Museum, the Heard Museum North Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Golfing is a major draw of the city with over 200 courses available in and around Scottsdale. The PGA Tour even makes a stop in Scottsdale, for the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the highest-attended Tour stop each year. The city’s resorts offer top accommodations, with more five-diamond facilities than any city in America except New York City. Shoppers can take advantage of the best options as well, with luxury shops available both Downtown and in Southbridge. Travel around Scottsdale is possible via the Valley Metro bus service (covering the greater Phoenix area) and on the free trolley system with stops in Old Town, the Arts District, the Fifth Avenue shops, Scottsdale Fashion Square, the Waterfront and Southbridge. Air passengers to Scottsdale travel to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, since only private and corporate planes can land at the Scottsdale Airport.

Colleges/Universities:

• Scottsdale Community College
• Penn Foster College

Interesting Facts:

• Several films have been made in Scottsdale in order to take advantage of the dry climate. These include “Raising Arizona,” “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” and “Back to the Future.”
• The mayor of Scottsdale proclaimed chili to be the official food of the city in 1994.
• The major league San Francisco Giants baseball team holds its spring training in Scottsdale each year. Their field, the Scottsdale Stadium, also houses the minor league Scottsdale Scorpions in the fall.

Helpful Links:

• City of Scottsdale
• Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Scottsdale Moving Guide