Mesa, Arizona

Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 504,258, making it the third-most populous city in Arizona after Phoenix and Tucson. It is also the 37th-most populous city in the whole United States.

Located in the East Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Mesa is surrounded by several other cities and communities. It borders Tempe to the west, the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community to the north, and Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek to the south. To the east, it is next to Apache Junction.

Mesa is an important place for education, with at least ten colleges and universities in the area. It is also home to the Mesa Arizona Temple, one of the first temples built outside of Utah by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The city has its own large airport, called Mesa Gateway Airport, which is the largest relief airport in the Phoenix area.

History

The history of Mesa, Arizona, goes back more than 2,000 years to a group of people called the Hohokam. They built large canals to bring water through the desert, turning dry land into farms. These canals were very big, some as wide as a school bus and deeper than a grown-up’s height!

Later, in 1877, people from Utah came to settle near where Mesa is today. They called their town Lehi. Not long after, another group moved up onto the high flat land, or “mesa,” that gives Mesa its name. They used some of the old Hohokam canals to water their farms.

Mesa became an official town in 1878 and kept growing. Over time, new developments like airports brought more people to the area. With new technology like air conditioning, many more families moved in, and Mesa grew quickly along with the rest of the Phoenix area.

Geography

Mesa is a big city that stretches 18 miles from west to east. It covers an area of 138.70 square miles. The city uses a special grid system for its streets. Center Street divides Mesa into two parts: West Mesa and East Mesa.

Mesa is located in the Sonoran Desert and has a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh), with mild winters and very hot summers.

Demographics

According to the 2020 Census, Mesa's population was made up of:

• White: 65.7% (Non-Hispanic Whites: 59.6%)
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 27.3%
• Black or African American: 4.2%
• Two or more races: 12.3%
• Native American: 2.7%
• Asian: 2.6%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.4%

According to the 2010 Census, Mesa's population was:

• White: 83.8% (Non-Hispanic Whites: 62.6%)
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 27.4%
• Black or African American: 3.7%
• Two or more races: 3.1%
• Native American: 2.3%
• Asian: 2.0%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.4%

Government

Main article: List of mayors of Mesa, Arizona

Mesa has a council-manager style of government. This means there is a mayor and six council members who choose a city manager to help run the city. The council members are chosen to represent different areas of the city, and they serve for four years. The mayor also serves four years and represents the whole city. Neither council members nor the mayor can serve more than two terms in a row.

In 2014, some researchers found that Mesa had many people who held strong traditional views, making it one of the most traditional big cities in the United States.

Economy

Top employers

The city shares information about the biggest jobs and workplaces in Mesa. This list helps us understand where many people work in the area.

Cultural attractions

Mesa, Arizona, has many fun places to visit and learn about history. You can watch baseball games at Hohokam Stadium, where teams like the Athletics play, and once the Chicago Cubs practiced during spring training. Another spot is Sloan Park, where the Chicago Cubs now have their spring training home.

The city also has the Mesa Arts Center and the Mesa Amphitheater for shows and events. There are interesting museums too, such as the I.d.e.a. Museum, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, and the Mesa Historical Museum. You can explore old ruins at Mesa Grande Ruins and learn about ancient canals at the Park of the Canals.

Families can enjoy water fun at Golfland Sunsplash, a waterpark located on U.S. 60. Mesa also has several public libraries, including the Main Library and branches like Dobson Ranch and Red Mountain. One special building is the Bank of America highrise near Fiesta Mall, and Organ Stop Pizza features the world’s largest Wurlitzer organ. Plus, Legacy Park is a big area for sports and recreation.

Historic properties in Mesa

Main article: List of historic properties in Mesa, Arizona

Mesa has many buildings and places that are important to its history. Many of these are listed in special registers, like the National Register of Historic Places and the Mesa Historic Properties list.

Parks and recreation

Mesa has more than 2,280 acres of parks within the city. The largest park is Red Mountain Park, which covers 1,146 acres. It has a lake, playgrounds, a basketball court, and a volleyball court.

Mesa is known for its many championship golf courses, including the original course, Mesa Country Club, which was started in the late 1940s.

Golf

West Mesa

Main articles: Fiesta Mall and Mesa Riverview

The old Fiesta Mall in West Mesa is owned by Westcor. It used to have big stores like Sears and Best Buy. The area around it has many shops, banks, and restaurants. Plans exist to fix up and expand the mall.

Mesa Riverview is a big outdoor shopping place in the northwest part of the city, close to Loop 202 and Dobson Road. It has lots of shopping space.

East Mesa

Superstition Springs Business Park is in East Mesa. It includes the Superstition Springs Center, a shopping mall owned by Macerich. The mall has an outdoor area that can be used as a stage, with an amphitheater and fountain. Big stores there are Dillard's and JCPenney. There is also Mission Community Church there.

Education

Mesa has many schools that help children and adults learn. Most schools in Mesa are public and run by Mesa Public Schools. Some parts of the city use schools from other districts like Gilbert Public Schools, Higley Unified School District, and Queen Creek Unified School District.

There are also special schools such as Pilgrim Lutheran School, which teaches children from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Over 40,000 students go to colleges and universities in Mesa. Big schools like Mesa Community College and the Polytechnic campus of Arizona State University are there, along with other colleges and universities offering many different programs.

Transportation

Main article: Roads and freeways in metropolitan Phoenix

Several important roads help people get around Mesa. One major road is U.S. Route 60, also called the Superstition Freeway, which connects Apache Junction to Phoenix. Other roads like SR 87, Loop 101, and Loop 202 also serve the area. Main Street is the main road running east to west through downtown Mesa.

Public buses and a light rail system called Valley Metro Rail make it easy to travel around the city. The light rail runs from Sycamore/Main St. in the west through downtown to Gilbert/Main St.

Mesa has two airports for air travel. Falcon Field was used for training pilots during World War II and now has many airplanes. Nearby, Boeing builds helicopters. The other airport, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, offers extra flight options besides the main airport in Phoenix.

Healthcare

Mesa has two important health centers run by Valleywise Health. One is the Valleywise Community Health Center – Mesa, and the other is the Valleywise Behavioral Health Center – Mesa. These centers help people stay healthy and get care when they need it.

Notable people

Mesa, Arizona, has been home to many interesting people. Some are famous musicians like Jim Adkins, the lead guitarist of Jimmy Eat World, and Buck Owens, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Others are well-known athletes, such as Jagger Eaton, a professional skateboarder and Olympian, and Misty Hyman, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming.

The city has also been home to notable public figures, including Carl Hayden, a former Arizona senator, and Troy Kotsur, an Academy Award-winning actor. Many other accomplished individuals have lived or worked in Mesa, contributing to its rich community life.

Sister cities

Mesa has five sister cities around the world. These cities work together to share ideas and build friendships. The sister cities of Mesa are:

• Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• Caraz, Ancash, Peru
• Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico
• Kaiping, Guangdong, China
• Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand