Scottsdale Historic Timeline
(Joan Fudala, Scottsdale Community Historian edits, 10-30-2024)
Beginning 8,000 years ago, the Scottsdale area has been visited or populated by First Peoples of the Southwest, including the Archaic, Hohokam, Yavapai People.
1880's
1885: W.J. Murphy completed construction of the Arizona Canal, which provided water access to land now part of Scottsdale. Homesteaders and speculators bought land along the canal to begin farming, especially growing citrus.
1888: U.S. Army Chaplain/Major Winfield and Helen Scott purchased 640 acres for $2.50 per acre at what is now the area within Indian School, Scottsdale, Chaparral, and Hayden Roads.
1890's
1892: The oldest, still occupied residential house in Scottsdale was built, the Titus House, by industrialist Frank Titus, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (FYI: the Scotts’ and other homes were earlier, but are no longer standing)
1896: Scottsdale Unified School District No. 48 was established, and the first wooden schoolhouse was erected by the community. Mrs. Blount taught in their home before the district was established.
1897: Scottsdale’s first business, the J.L. Davis General Store and Post Office, opened on the southwest corner of what is now Brown Avenue and Main Street.
1897: The Underhills opened their home on the northwest corner of Indian School and Scottsdale Roads to boarders, calling it Oasis Villa. Under new owners, it became the Graves Guest Ranch, and was the first guest ranch and health camp in Scottsdale.
1900's
1909: Scottsdale’s first artist Marjorie Thomas arrived from Boston. Together with Jessie Benton Evans who arrived a few years later, they formed the nucleus of an art colony and the town’s image as an arts and cultural destination.
1910's
1910: Scottsdale Grammar School, nicknamed The Little Red Schoolhouse, was dedicated February 26, 1910. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and now houses the Scottsdale Historical Museum.
1910: Scottsdale founder/namesake Winfield Scott died from his Civil War wounds in a hospital in Phoenix.
1914: WWI established the need for cotton produced in Arizona. Cotton became Scottsdale primary cash crop, and a cotton gin opened on Second Street in 1920.
1916: The area north of the Scottsdale settlement saw the development of cattle and sheep ranching operations, the largest of which were Brown’s Ranch and DC Ranch.
1930's
1937: Frank Lloyd Wright purchased property on the foothills of the McDowells and established his winter home and school of architecture there, calling it Taliesin West.
1940's
1942: Hollywood investors, under contract with the U.S. Army Air Corps, opened Thunderbird Airfield No. 2 north of Scottsdale. During World War II, 5,500 aviation cadets completed basic pilot training at the field, run by civilian employees living in Scottsdale. The City of Scottsdale acquired the airfield and opened Scottsdale Airport in 1967. Today, Scottsdale is one of the premier general aviation airports with a single runway in the country, and one of the busiest corporate jet facilities in the state.
1947: The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce was formed, and Scottsdale Leaders began promoting Scottsdale’s links to the Old West to draw in more tourists. The chamber also began hosting public hearings to consider whether Scottsdale should incorporate as a municipality.
1950's
1951: Scottsdale was incorporated as a town on June 25, 1951, with a population of 2,032 on approximately half a square mile. Five town council members were selected by the County. The council selected Malcolm White as the first Mayor of Scottsdale.
1951: Led by the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce and Scottsdale Riding Club, town residents began the annual Sunshine Festival, later renamed the Parada del Sol. The event has been held every year since, except during the COVID pandemic.
1956: The Arabian Horse Show moved from the Wrigley’s arena near the Arizona Biltmore to Anne and Fowler McCormick’s ranch in Scottsdale. Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show has been a Scottsdale area signature event since 1956, now held at WestWorld.
1956: After the Scottsdale Baseball Club built Scottsdale Stadium, the first spring training season was held in Scottsdale when the Baltimore Orioles played their Cactus League games here. Other teams calling Scottsdale Stadium home have been the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Oakland A’s and, since 1982, the San Francisco Giants.
1960's
1961: Scottsdale voters approved a city charter, and the Town became the City of Scottsdale.
1961: Scottsdale Fashion Square opened as the city’s first shopping mall. It was anchored by Goldwater’s Department Store.
1962: City Hospital of Scottsdale, the city’s first hospital, opened on Osborn Road. After several name changes and expansion to other parts of Scottsdale and the Valley, it is now part of the HonorHealth system, headquartered in Scottsdale.
1968: Scottsdale City Hall, Scottsdale Civic Center Library, and the east side of Scottsdale Civic Center – designed by local architect Bennie Gonzales – were dedicated, consolidating city offices from several rented or temporary facilities. Scottsdale’s renowned public art program began with a goal of installing art pieces throughout the new civic center.
1970's
1970: Fact being added – hold a spot
1973: After Scottsdale voters approved a bond issue, the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt Flood Control Project began. Once completed in 1985, it was made up of an oasis of parks, lakes, paths, and golf courses that also served as a flood control project.
1975: The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts opened, also designed by Bennie Gonzales.
1980's
1985: Scottsdale begins using Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project. During the late 1980s, Scottsdale also pioneered the use of reclaimed water to irrigate golf courses.
1987: Scottsdale dedicated a large equestrian park north of the Central Arizona Project canal, initially calling it Horseman’s Park. Today, WestWorld has facilities for equestrian and major year-round events of all themes, including the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction.
1987: After opening the Tournament Players Club stadium golf course in December 1986, TPC Scottsdale, The Thunderbirds, and the City of Scottsdale began hosting the Phoenix Open tournament, one of the largest on the PGA Tour.
1990's
1994: The Scottsdale City Council formally established the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, initially consisting of three parcels totaling 2,860 acres. After Scottsdale voters approved a 0.02 percent sales tax to buy land for the Preserve, its size grew to over 30,000 acres as it is today.
2000's
2000: Scottsdale’s population officially reached a population of 202,705.
2001: The Loop 101 Pima Freeway was completed through Scottsdale, and business development along its route contributed to Scottsdale's economy and employment base.
2004: R Entertainment was founded in Scottsdale, Arizona.
2005: The north and south banks of the historic Arizona Canal in Old Town Scottsdale were developed into a pedestrian-friendly area of shops, restaurants, and event areas.
2005: The City of Scottsdale and the Arizona State University Foundation reached an agreement to redevelop the site of the former Los Arcos shopping mall at the corner of Scottsdale Road and McDowell Road into what will become SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center (opened in 2008).
2005: After nearly 50 years of contracting with Rural Metro for fire protection, the City of Scottsdale established an in-house Fire Department.
2009: The Gateway Trailhead at Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve was opened at Thompson Peak Parkway in North Scottsdale. Several other trailheads opened to give access to the Preserve.
2010's
2013: Decades in the planning, the City of Scottsdale approved a museum management agreement with Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Inc. (Opened in January 2015, it is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution).
2020's
2024: The Scottsdale population is 245,231 in an area of 184.5 square miles.
2025: Orangedale Lounge, a dive bar located in North Scottsdale, was founded.
2026: Scottsdale celebrates its 75th anniversary with Celebrate 2026.