Scottsdale, Arizona is highly regarded for its fashion, unique arts and crafts and laid-back aura. Visitors regularly flock to this suburb of Phoenix to purchase gift items and relax in the sun for a week or so. However, Scottsdale was not developed to be a tourist attraction. Like any other southwestern city, it has a history all its own.

Scottsdale was founded in 1888 and takes its name from the surname of its founders, Winfield and George Scott. The site was originally a stagecoach landing that was located between Camp McDowell and Phoenix. After arrival, Winfield, an eclectic man who was first a preacher then a farmer turned developer, purchased over 600 acres of land for the minuscule price of $2.50 an acre, less than a gallon of gas at today’s prices. Soon after settling in on his new land, Winfield decided that he would like to plant citrus trees in the middle of the Sonoran desert and he managed to develop an irrigation system. Before the Scotts even knew about the area, however, Hohokum Indians were said to farm this land as far back as 800AD. They are also credited with building hundreds of miles of canal passageways which helped toil the land. Unfortunately, their numbers greatly decreased by the 1500s due to flooding and other unforeseeable, tragic events. Their imprint on Scottsdale can still be seen in artifacts and Native-American inspired art and jewelry, though.

In the early-to-mid 1900s, more business transactions began occurring in Scottsdale. One of the most profitable was the introduction of resort buildings. In 1929, people began staying at the Wigwam resort. It was originally a stay-over for ranchers, but soon was converted into a resting place for general travelers. Attached to it was a golf course, another huge attraction for anyone visiting Scottsdale. Two other resorts that are still famous today are the Royal Palms Resort, an intimate, luxurious Spanish-Colonial style establishment, and the San Carlos hotel, which was the first in town to offer coveted amenities such as air-conditioning and hot water. The former welcomed guests beginning in 1948 and the latter was established soon after. All of these developments interested Frank Lloyd Wright, who opened a school for aspiring architects at Taliesin West. As a result, his vision can be seen in numerous buildings across Scottsdale, adding to the town’s historic allure.

With the baby boomers earning steady incomes throughout the 1950s and 1960s, more people than ever began taking advantage of Scottsdale’s vacation spots. Still others moved in to stay, taking jobs offered by Motorola beginning in 1956. These people wanted a safe, less congested environment in which to raise their children, and Scottsdale’s residential communities offered just that.

Scottsdale has progressed with the times, but it’s stayed ahead of the pack by maintaining strict building codes. There are height restrictions on new residences so that people’s views of the mountains will not be compromised, and it’s not a place that installs billboards on every major corner for the same reason. The town relishes a certain clean and classy appearance, but there’s also a flourishing nightlife scene as well.

Overall, Scottsdale boasts outstanding architecture, golf courses, a thriving tourist-based economy and beautiful scenery. It’s the perfect place to be.