Mesa, Arizona

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The City of Mesa logo

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Mesa is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona and part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale Metropolitan Area. It is the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson.

Mesa is one of the nation's fastest-growing cities, and currently ranks as the 41st-largest. In 2005 The City of Mesa website estimated the city's population at 451,860. Though a suburban city, Mesa actually has a larger population than more well-known cities such as St. Louis, Missouri and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite its large population, Mesa has a decidedly bedroom-community, sprawl-like character. Its downtown is minimal, and there are very few buildings in Mesa with more than two stories. Nevertheless, the recently completed Mesa Arts Center may help invigorate downtown Mesa.

Mesa was founded in January 1878 by Mormon (LDS) pioneers and its population is still roughly one-quarter Mormon. Since the city's population is well over twice that of Salt Lake City (which is now only about one-third LDS), Mesa has a greater Mormon population than any other single city in the world. The LDS Church operates one of its oldest temples in Mesa, (the Mesa Arizona Temple), and the city is a hub of sorts for Latter-day Saints residing in the Phoenix Metro area.

Mesa's residents exhibit jarring economic diversity, with low-income areas and mobile-home parks somewhat close to high-scale neighborhoods with extravagant custom homes.

Geography

Mesa's elevation is approximately 1,241 feet and is located at 33°24'40" North, 111°44'47" West (33.411199, -111.746438)Template:GR. The city spreads over a mesa or plateau that stands about one hundred feet higher than Phoenix. Thus, the name given to it by its Mormon settlers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 324.2 km² (125.2 mi²). 323.7 km² (125.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.16% water.

History

• Circa 0 AD. The Hohokams arrived in the area. They built an extensive canal system.[1]

• 1358. A large flood occurred, perhaps damaging the canal system.[2]

• 1865. At a ferry west of present-day Val Vista Road, an establishment called Maryville was created. The ferry was used by soldiers.[3]

• 1877. After Maryville was abandoned, a group of LDS pioneers arrived in March 1877 and settled in an area called Lehi (in the northwest part of present-day Mesa). The pioneers were led by Daniel Webster Jones, who had been asked by LDS officials to direct a party of people in establishing a settlement in Arizona.[4]

• 1878. An 85-member LDS pioneer contingent called "The First Mesa Company" arrived from Utah and Idaho. Their leaders were named Crismon, Pomeroy, Sirrine, and Robson. They decided not to stay with Daniel Webster Jones' group in Lehi and moved southward and began to clear out the Hohokam canals. [[5]]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR 2004 estimate, there were 447,845 people, 146,643 households, and 99,863 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,224.4/km² (3,171.3/mi²). There were 175,701 housing units at an average density of 542.8/km² (1,405.7/mi²).

The racial makeup of the city was 79.30% White, 3.30% Black or African American, 1.80% Native American, 2.00% Asian, 0.30% Pacific Islander, 12.00% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 20.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 146,643 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,817, and the median income for a family was $49,232. Males had a median income of $35,960 versus $27,005 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,601. 8.9% of the population and 6.2% of families were below the poverty line. 10.7% of those under the age of 18 and 7.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Cultural attractions

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• HoHoKam Park Cactus League spring training home of the Chicago Cubs and former summer home to the now defunct Mesa Miners professional baseball team of the Golden Baseball League.
• Mesa Arts Center
• Mesa Amphitheatre
• Mesa Arizona Temple, a large LDS temple, where an elaborate Easter pageant is held every spring.
• Museums
  • Arizona Museum for Youth
  • Commemorative Air Force Museum
  • Mesa Historical Society and Museum
  • Mesa Southwest Museum
  • Sirrine House
• Library
  • Main Library (MN)
  • Dobson Ranch Branch (DR)
  • Red Mountain Branch (RM)

Schools

Public schools serving the city are operated by the Mesa Unified School District. The district includes elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and alternative schools. Mesa's schools have earned awards rating them among Arizona's top schools.

Senior High Schools

• Dobson High School
• East Valley Academy
• Mesa High School
• Mountain View High School
• Red Mountain High School
• Skyline High School
• Westwood High School

Junior High Schools

• Brimhall Junior High School
• Carson Junior High School
• Fremont Junior High School
• Hendrix Junior High School
• Kino Junior High School
• Mesa Junior High School
• Poston Junior High School
• Powell Junior High School
• Rhodes Junior High School
• Shepherd Junior High School
• Smith Junior High School
• Stapley Junior High School
• Taylor Junior High School

Elementary Schools

• Elementary Schools as listed on the Mesa Public Schools website

Military

Williams Air Force Base closed in 1993 and is now Williams Gateway Airport and ASU Polytechnic.

Mesa is also home to Falcon Field airport and aircraft museum. Originally opened at the beginning of WWII for the training of British RAF pilots, it was turned over to the City of Mesa at the end of the war.

Other information

In the Pima language, Mesa is known as Mo:mli. Alternative/pop-punk band Jimmy Eat World is from Mesa. MLB Player Adam Hyzdu resides in Mesa during the winters

See also

List of cities in Arizona, List of cities in Arizona (by population), List of Arizona counties

External links

• Mesa city government.
• City of Mesa Library on the Web.
• Williams Gateway Airport.
• Mesa Storytelling Festival Annual storytelling festival in October