Scottsdale Historic Homes Information, Map and Homes
For Sale
Scottsdale Historic Homes For Sale
(1965 and Older)
Scottsdale Luxury Historic Homes
For Sale (1
milion and up)
Scottsdale Homes For Sale $350,000-1 Million
Scottsdale Homes For Sale up to $350,000
Scottsdale Patio Homes and Townhomes For Sale
Scottsdale Lofts For Sale
Scottsdale Condos For Sale
Scottsdale is located centrally in
the state of Arizona. Smack dab in the middle of the
Sonoran Desert, with mountains ringing the city and
giant saguaro cactus guarding those mountains.
Scottsdale
was named after the Rev. Winfield Scott, Civil War
veteran. who was later a chaplain in the regular army.
He first visited the area in 1881. Later he homesteaded,
taking out a patent in 1891. Meanwhile he served at Fort
Huachuca, leaving his brother George in charge of the
homestead. Following his retirement, Scott promoted
property near his home as a health and agricultural
center. The name Scottsdale became official in 1896 with
the establishment of the school district. It had seventy
residents in 1897.
Scottsdale
experienced continuous growth though golf, art and
tourism, and also had a post war boom in the 40’s, and
continues to be a favored place to visit and enjoy the
plush offerings.
Scottsdale was first incorporated in 1951 and as such is
a relatively new city! And boy has it come a long way
baby. Scottsdale really came into its own when the
U.S. Conference of Mayors named Scottsdale as one of the
nation's "Most Livable Cities" in 1993. We have also
been named "Number One Resort Community in America" and
"A Fabulous Place to Retire". We've been called "The
Most Western Town" and in 2002, The Robb Report sited
Scottsdale as "America's Best Place to Live for golf".
And we have a number of chefs listed on the "Ten Best
New Chefs in America" listed by Food and Wine.
We know it's a great place to live, Scottsdale sparkles,
everything is clean, manicured and landscaped...and
you'll see no billboards, which totally sets it apart
from any other city you might visit! Our building height
is regulated, so that no matter where you are, you have
at least a peak of a mountain. The Spanish and Western
Architecture is very appealing and of course Frank Lloyd
Wright has left his mark on our fair city.
The first known residents of
Scottsdale were the Hohokam Indians (about 800 A.D.) who
farmed the land and built over 200 miles of canals (many
of which are still in use today) to carry water to
their crops. Can you imagine how they built these canals
1000 years ago without modern tools or air conditioning.
Very smart and very hardy! They disappeared
without a trace and everyone is still wondering what
happened to them. I sure hope that doesn't happen
to us!
Winfield Scott, the founding
father of Scottsdale arrived about 1888 and purchased
600 acres just outside Phoenix. The purchase was made
through the Desert Land Act, which required the owner to
irrigate the land. He proceeded to plant his land with
citrus trees. (I don't know what made him think he could
come to the desert and plant citrus), but obviously
ignorance was bliss and he proceeded to build an
irrigation system that did the job very well. (how far
we've come, now that only desert landscaping is
acceptable). The citrus thrived with the irrigation
system he developed, but a raging flood in 1891
destroyed most of the citrus.
He then started campaigning to bring "settlers" to
Orangetown. That name had been given to the area because
(you guessed it) of the citrus trees. However, and no
one knows exactly how this happened, Orangetown became
Scottsdale sometime in the 1890’s and officially
Scottsdale in 1897 when the U.S. Post Office came to
town.
Winfield Scott was no wild western
hombre, but a preacher, farmer, business man and
developer (yes we had them even then). When he arrived
there were approximately 3000 people in the Phoenix
area. Seven hotels, eight restaurants and probably some
bars. But he set out to attract more people to the
"Valley of the Sun", and it worked. And it is still
working.
Old Winfield would not recognize the place today. It
continues to grow with an influx of new people, new
ideas, and new developments. We boast everything from
Arabian Horse Shows to Native American Casinos.
Scottsdale was voted the "Most Livable City" in 1993.
Most of the original settlers came for their health,
those 300 plus days of sunshine probably had a lot to do
with it, as it still does. The sunshine is addictive and
must be responsible for our 200,000 residents today!
Today as then people were looking for their quiet
spot in the sun to live and work in a relaxed
environment. The early pioneers would not believe
Scottsdale of today. The little farming community has
grown up into an upscale resort area, complete with the
finest hotels, spas, restaurants and shopping galore.
With 200,000 population and growing daily it would be
hard for old Winfield Scott to find his way.
Since World War II Scottsdale has
been growing, from the fighter pilots that trained at
Scottsdale Airfield and came back after the war with
their wives and families. The McCormick’s came in 1947
and bought the land that comprises McCormick Ranch. 1956
brought Motorola to southern Scottsdale. Both of these
contributed to the growth of Scottsdale. Certainly when
McCormick Ranch opened its doors to corporate groups, it
didn't take long for the word to spread.
I remember one of my first times here in Scottsdale
about 1972, we stayed at the Royal Palms in a casita. It
certainly wasn't the extravagant resort it is today, but
wonderful just the same. I was so taken with the desert,
that I knew I would return time and time again. The town
was so quaint with the Sugar Bowl and their fantastic
banana splits. The Cavalliere Blacksmith Shop, was
downtown as it has been for almost 100 years. Back in
1909 they had boxing and wrestling matches there as well
shoe horses. And the same family owns Reata Pass, the
longest operating business in Scottsdale. The restaurant
is filled with Cavalliere family ironwork, western
antiques and old ranch tools...along with hundreds of
flapping dollar bills signed by their former
owners...a trend started long ago when cowboys used to
put in reserve a little money at their favorite local
watering hole before heading out on the trail. Reata
Pass has seen a lot of people come and go and it's still
going strong.
It's just not the sun and the weather that helped put
Scottsdale on the map. Certainly the "old" Phoenix
Resorts have helped. 1929 was a really big year for
Phoenix. Everyone was discovering the desert environment
and many people believed winter months in Arizona, the
place to be! Arizona Highway magazine in its infancy
lured a lot of people with its
Wigwam Resort also opened in 1929, on quite a smaller
scale than today, with just 13 rooms that could hold 24
guests. Originally a dude ranch it is now the largest of
the Arizona resorts.
Royal Palms Resort designed by a wealthy New Yorker in
the
Spanish colonial style on 65 acres was used as a
private home and finally opened as the Royal Palms Inn
in 1948. Today it is one of the most coveted small
luxury resorts in Phoenix.
San Carlos Hotel, was built around the same time, a
state of the art facility, the first hotel in Phoenix
with steam heat, elevators and air-cooling, costing a
$1.00 a day more that the other three area hotels!
Totally redone now of course!
With all these hotels and resorts dotting the desert
could golf courses be far behind? The first nine-hole
golf course was built at the Wigwam Resort in
1929. Today there over 120 Phoenix golf courses!
Golf, Resorts and these glimpses of the "old west"
coupled with the way the town has evolved keeps 'em
coming from all over the world. Scottsdale also attracts
artists and crafters, just look at our over 100
galleries on main street and you can see that's true.
Frank Lloyd Wright came to town, and started his school
for architects at Taliesin West and the arts have
flourished ever since.
|
Laura Boyajian
Mobile: 602.400.0008
HistoricCentralPhoenix@cox.net
HomeSmart, LLC
5225 N. Central Ave. #104
Phoenix, AZ 85012 (602)
400.0008
|