The lowest temperature ever recorded in the city is 16.0 °F (-8.9 °C), on January 7, 1913, and the highest was 122 °F (50 °C), on June 26, 1990.

During the first World War, Scottsdale supported a large cotton farming industry due to the creation of Long Staple Egyptian Cotton, developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cotton is still grown in southern Arizona, but Scottsdale's cotton boom ended with the loss of government contracts at the end of the war.

The tourism industry is Scottsdale's primary employer, accounting for 39% of the city's workforce. In 2005, Scottsdale attracted over 7.5 million visitors to the city, providing an economic impact of over $3.1 billion.

The city is home to more than 200 golf courses, offering layouts that range from the rolling green fairways of traditional courses, to desert golf designs. In 2006, the Robb Report cited Scottsdale as "America's Best Place to Live for Golf."