Scottsdale, Arizona

• 8 miles east of downtown Phoenix
• Population 168,176
• Area 185.2 square miles
• City Hall - 3939 North Civic Center Blvd (602) 994-2414
• Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce (602) 945-8481

Like many who came after him, Army Chaplain Winfield Scott was looking for a retirement home when he founded Scottsdale in 1888. Today Scottsdale is world-renowned for its resorts and resort lifestyle, yet it still retains its nickname, the West's Most Western Town, although many of the western facades of Old Town Scottsdale have evolved into a more contemporary look. Even so, numerous horses can be seen on Scottsdale Road during Parada del Sol Rodeo Week, held annually in late January.

Because of its resort reputation, Scottsdale's shops, restaurants, art galleries and golf courses entice tourists and Valley residents alike. In fact, downtown Scottsdale is one of the nation's biggest art districts with more than 100 galleries-most with a western or southwestern theme. And Thursday night "art walks" proved so popular during the tourist season that they've become a year-round favorite for locals as well.

Scottsdale might also be called Shopsdale, with such retail delights as the Borgata and Fifth Avenue Shops. In addition, the city is also home to the Valley's only Neiman Marcus and a much-anticipated future Nordstrom department store near Scottsdale and Camelback Roads.

The Scottsdale Center for the Arts, located on a grassy pedestrian mall next to downtown shopping and dining areas, is a popular venue for both indoor and outdoor concerts, as well as exhibits and touring shows. Just blocks away, Scottsdale Stadium hosts the San Francisco Giants during spring training and will continue to be the home stadium of the AAA Phoenix Firebirds until Major League Baseball arrives in downtown Phoenix. As for more participatory forms of recreation, the city has nearly 3,000 acres of parks and golf courses, 36 acres of lakes, 50 miles of bike trails and nearly 40 recreational facilities. With all of these amenities it's no wonder that the 1993 U S. Conference of Mayors named Scottsdale The Most Livable City.

Scottsdale's residential neighborhoods are more moderately priced on the south, while luxury homes and condominiums extend north through such planned communities as Gainey Ranch, Troon North and Desert Mountain Properties. Major employers include Scottsdale Memorial Health System, Scottsdale Unified School District and Motorola. In addition, the Scottsdale Airport is surrounded by a thriving 2,000-acre business and technical center with many small- to medium-sized tenants.