In 1888,
U.S. Army Chaplain Winfielf Scott paid $2.50 an acre for a 640 acre
piece of land in what is now known as Scottsdale. His brother George
Washington Scott became the first resident in December of that same
year. In two short months he had cleared the land, dug irrigation
ditches and planted fields, vineyards and a citrus orchard.
The
name of the town was officially changed from Orangeville to Scottsdale
in 1894 but the city was not officially incorporated until 1951 at
which time it consisted of one square mile and had a population of
2,000 citizens.
The town's
first newspaper, The Scottsdale Bulletin, was published by playwright
Roy George.
The adobe
home of artist Jessie Benton Evans' son and daughter-in-law becomes
the Jokake Inn, the first resort in the Scottsdale area.
World-renowned
architect Frank Lloyd Wright purchased some homestead land in Scottsdale
and started his architectural school and winter retreat, Taliesin
West.
The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce was reactivated. Silversmith Wesley
Segner was elected as the chamber's first president. Originally organized
in 1921, the chamber had been defunct since the depression.
The Town of Scottsdale was incorporated as a city and Malcom White
was elected mayor. At the time of incorporation, Scottsdale consisted
of one square mile and had a population of 2,000.
A Life magazine article called Scottsdale "one of the most desirable
communities in the West." This endorsement helped contribute
to the city's boom in population and building.
The Scottsdale census reported a population of 67,823; the city's
land area had expanded to just over 68 square miles.
In 1970, Scottsdale Community College opened. The school was built
on land leased from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
1987 The Phoenix Open moved to Scottsdale's Tournament Players Club.
Today it is the most-attended PGA golf tournament in the world.
1988 Scottsdale's centennial year reported a population of 126,000
people. The city encompassed 183.4 square miles. And in 1993 The City
of Scottsdale was awarded the Most Livable City Award by the U.S.
Conference of Mayors.
Present-day Scottsdale is a thriving Southwestern city with the luxurious
amenities of the new west and all the charm of the old west. Explore
the rest of our site for a taste of today's Scottsdale!
Scottsdale
History
Scottsdale Living
Scottsdale Schools
Scottsdale Homes
