Cave Creek Real Estate & Information
Your Introduction to Cave Creek and Cave Creek Real Estate & Homes for Sale
Cave Creek - Today
Cave Creek is a beautiful, small town nestled among desert hills due north of Scottsdale with Carefree to the distant east. The town is known for its wonderful desert vegetation and eclectic feel. The town has a strong Artisan presence which culminates in the many shops and galleries that offer unique art, jewelry, and furniture. It also has a rustic, Old West history that is complemented by mining tours, hiking, horseback, and other activities. The town is a hotspot for local residents to take a drive, have lunch (The Satisfied Frog is a favorite) at one of several well-known eateries, and spend the afternoon shopping.
Cave Creek's population numbers at 3,728 residents in 2000 but that number is sure to have grown and likely is closer to 5,500 residents today. Compared to other Valley cities, Cave Creek is quaint and only a tiny fraction the size of other areas in terms of population. But for a town of such a small size, its has an enduring charm for many Valley residents and visitors.
Cave Creek - A History
The city of Cave Creek is another Valley city with a history that goes way back to the olden days of the West. But before even then, the Hohokam Native Americans had settled parts of the area. The Hohokams used water from the Cave Creek river and farmed the land centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The town's name is derived from a stream of the same name that runs through the hills to the northeast traveling nearly to Paradise Valley at the time.
In the 1800s, the California Gold Rush brought miners and fortune seekers west with some settling in the Cave Creek area. Arizona saw its own gold rush which peaked in 1863. The Tonto Apache Native Americans (who came long after the Hohokams disappeared) resisted expansion by settlers of the area during this time and as a result, the U.S. Army built Fort McDowell in 1865. The town of Cave Creek has its roots in this decision as the trail route between Fort McDowell and Fort Whipple which ran through Cave Creek.
In 1874, significant deposits of gold were discovered on Gold Hill, northwest of Cave Creek. As the news spread about the discovery, more miners and fortune seekers arrived in the area and began to settle there.
The 1900s brough the slow establishment of infrastructure including a school, stores, improved roads, and the like. Livestock and farming were dominant in the area now as mining had eased up.
More modern development included eletricity and telephone service in the 1940s. It wasn't until 1952 that the road stretching from Phoenix to Cave Creek was paved! Decades later in 1986, after a long history of measured change, the Town of Cave Creek was officially incorporated. And even today, that sense of an old west ruggedness and charm still pervades parts of the town.
Great Resources and Information on Cave Creek
Cave Creek Real Estate
Real estate in Cave Creek offers a wide range of choices as newer, less expensive tract developments have expanded the city's reach. Homes attract a higher premium than many other parts of the Valley with single family homes starting in the $300Ks typically and custom homes. Land can be expensive, especially in open, higher elevation areas that give a future home an impressive view. The terrain is gorgeous and probably some of the most beautiful real estate in the Valley. Tonto National Forest is located just to the north and provides nearly 3 million acres of fantastic desert vistas and terrain.
The city's overall population makes it much less dense than other cities. The fact that your home could be nestled within the lush desertscape of tall Sahuaro cacti and desert vegetation gives the area its appeal - a soothng getaway from the regular days of bustle in the city . People in Cave Creek are proud of their town and its long and fascinating history as well as its extensive array of shops and appealing eateries.
Given Cave Creek's location, commuters to the core Valley areas have to be conscious of drive times and of course, be prepared to pay more for a home. Depending on where one works, Cave Creek may not be an option. However, if you want a different speed of lifestyle that is connected to the natural order around it, Cave Creek is a fantastic place to live!
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