Mesa, Arizona facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Mesa, Arizona

City

Mesa Arts Center building in downtown Mesa

Flag

Logo

Location of Mesa in Maricopa County, Arizona

Mesa, Arizona

Location in Arizona

Mesa, Arizona

Location in the United States

Country

United States

State

Arizona

County

Maricopa

Founded

1878

Government

• Type

Mayor–council

Area

• Total

139.42 sq mi (361.09 km²)

• Land

138.79 sq mi (359.48 km²)

• Water

0.62 sq mi (1.62 km²)

Elevation

1,326 ft (404 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

504,258

• Estimate

(2021)

509,475

• Rank

36th in the United States
3rd in Arizona

• Density

3,633.14/sq mi (1,402.76/km²)

Time zone

UTC−7 (MST (no DST))

ZIP codes

85201-85216, 85274-85275, 85277

Area code(s)

480 602

FIPS code

04-46000

GNIS feature ID

2411087

Mesa (/ˈmeɪsə/ MAY-sə) is a large city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. In 2020, about 504,258 people lived there. This makes Mesa the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson. It is also one of the biggest cities in the U.S. that is not a county seat. Mesa is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area, often called the "East Valley." It shares borders with cities like Tempe, Chandler, and Gilbert.

Mesa is home to many colleges and universities. It also has the Mesa Arizona Temple, which is one of the first temples built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints outside of Utah. The city has a major airport, Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport, which helps with air travel in the Phoenix area.

Mesa's History: From Ancient Canals to a Modern City

The story of Mesa began over 2,000 years ago with the Hohokam people. This ancient group built an amazing system of canals. These canals were the largest and most advanced in the ancient New World. Some were as wide as 90 feet (27 meters) and 10 feet (3 meters) deep. They stretched for up to 16 miles (26 kilometers) across the desert.

By the year 1100 AD, these canals could water over 110,000 acres (445 square kilometers) of land. This turned the dry Sonoran Desert into a green farming area. Many of these old Hohokam canals are still used today!

How Mesa Was Founded

After the Hohokam people disappeared, not much is known about the area until the late 1800s. In 1877, a group of Mormon pioneers from Utah arrived. Their leader, Daniel Webster Jones, was asked to start a new settlement in Arizona. They settled north of where Mesa is today. This first settlement was called Fort Utah, then Jonesville, and later Lehi.

Around the same time, another group of pioneers arrived. They decided to settle on a flat-topped hill, or "mesa," which is how the city got its name. They dug new irrigation canals and even used some of the old Hohokam canals. By April 1878, water was flowing, helping them farm the land.

Mesa Grows into a City

On July 17, 1878, Mesa City was officially registered as a town. It was about 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) in size. The first school opened in 1879. By 1883, Mesa City became an official city with about 300 people.

In 1895, Dr. A. J. Chandler helped make the Mesa Canal wider. This allowed enough water to build a power plant. The city of Mesa bought this power company in 1917. The money from this company helped pay for many city projects until the 1960s. During the Great Depression, government funds helped Mesa build paved streets, a new hospital, a town hall, and a library.

Mesa's Growth in the 20th Century

In the early 1940s, two military airfields, Falcon Field and Williams Field, opened near Mesa. This brought more military people to the area. After World War II, the invention of air conditioning made living in hot Arizona much easier. This, along with more tourism, caused Mesa's population to grow very quickly.

Industries, especially aerospace companies, also grew in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1960, half of Mesa's residents worked in farming. However, as Mesa became more suburban, fewer people worked in agriculture.

Mesa's Geography and Climate

Mesa is a large city, stretching about 18 miles (29 kilometers) from west to east. It covers a land area of about 138.70 square miles (359.2 square kilometers). Mesa uses a special grid system for its street numbers. Center Street divides Mesa into eastern and western parts. Streets west of Center Street are in West Mesa, and streets east of Center Street are in East Mesa.

Mesa's Desert Climate

Mesa is located in the Sonoran Desert. This means it has a hot desert climate. Winters are mild and pleasant, but summers are very hot.

Climate data for East Mesa, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2002–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	84 (29)	89 (32)	102 (39)	105 (41)	112 (44)	120 (49)	121 (49)	117 (47)	115 (46)	105 (41)	98 (37)	85 (29)	121 (49)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	78.8 (26.0)	83.1 (28.4)	90.4 (32.4)	99.5 (37.5)	105.7 (40.9)	113.2 (45.1)	115.0 (46.1)	113.3 (45.2)	109.6 (43.1)	101.1 (38.4)	91.4 (33.0)	78.9 (26.1)	116.6 (47.0)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	67.5 (19.7)	70.1 (21.2)	77.2 (25.1)	85.2 (29.6)	94.4 (34.7)	104.1 (40.1)	105.9 (41.1)	104.6 (40.3)	100.2 (37.9)	89.5 (31.9)	76.8 (24.9)	66.1 (18.9)	86.8 (30.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	54.2 (12.3)	56.4 (13.6)	62.4 (16.9)	69.3 (20.7)	78.0 (25.6)	87.4 (30.8)	92.4 (33.6)	91.5 (33.1)	85.8 (29.9)	74.3 (23.5)	62.2 (16.8)	53.1 (11.7)	72.3 (22.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	41.0 (5.0)	42.7 (5.9)	47.6 (8.7)	53.3 (11.8)	61.6 (16.4)	70.7 (21.5)	78.9 (26.1)	78.4 (25.8)	71.4 (21.9)	59.1 (15.1)	47.6 (8.7)	40.1 (4.5)	57.7 (14.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	28.0 (−2.2)	30.4 (−0.9)	36.0 (2.2)	42.1 (5.6)	51.3 (10.7)	61.7 (16.5)	71.1 (21.7)	70.4 (21.3)	59.7 (15.4)	45.8 (7.7)	35.6 (2.0)	28.3 (−2.1)	25.5 (−3.6)
Record low °F (°C)	20 (−7)	20 (−7)	30 (−1)	35 (2)	46 (8)	57 (14)	63 (17)	65 (18)	50 (10)	35 (2)	27 (−3)	24 (−4)	20 (−7)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	1.36 (35)	1.46 (37)	1.31 (33)	0.36 (9.1)	0.16 (4.1)	0.05 (1.3)	1.18 (30)	1.29 (33)	1.13 (29)	0.56 (14)	0.79 (20)	1.11 (28)	10.76 (273.5)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.1	3.7	2.6	1.5	1.1	0.7	4.8	5.2	3.3	2.4	2.3	4.6	36.3
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)

Climate data for Mesa
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily daylight hours	10.0	11.0	12.0	13.0	14.0	14.5	14.0	13.5	12.5	11.5	10.5	10.0	12.2
Source: Weather Atlas

Who Lives in Mesa? A Look at the Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1900	722	—
1910	1,692	134.3%
1920	3,036	79.4%
1930	3,711	22.2%
1940	7,224	94.7%
1950	16,790	132.4%
1960	33,772	101.1%
1970	63,049	86.7%
1980	152,404	141.7%
1990	288,104	89.0%
2000	396,375	37.6%
2010	439,041	10.8%
2020	504,258	14.9%
2022 (est.)	512,498	16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010–2020

Mesa is a diverse city with people from many different backgrounds. The U.S. Census collects information about the people living in cities.

Mesa's Population in 2020

According to the 2020 Census, here's a breakdown of the people in Mesa:

White: 65.7% (59.6% of these were not Hispanic)
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%

**Mesa city, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition**
*Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	290,180	282,505	300,502	73.21%	64.35%	59.59%
Black or African American alone (NH)	9,377	14,101	18,819	2.37%	3.21%	3.93%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	5,454	8,359	9,754	1.38%	1.90%	1.93%
Asian alone (NH)	5,755	8,174	12,725	1.45%	1.86%	2.52%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	874	1,532	1,892	0.22%	0.35%	0.38%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	402	555	2,250	0.10%	0.13%	0.45%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	6,052	8,062	19,826	1.53%	1.84%	3.93%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	78,281	115,753	137,490	19.75%	26.36%	27.27%
Total	396,375	439,041	504,258	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Mesa's Economy: Major Employers and Industries

Mesa has a strong economy with many different types of jobs. The city's 2022 financial report shows the top employers. These are the companies and organizations that hire the most people in Mesa.

Top Employers in Mesa

Here are some of the biggest employers in Mesa:

#	Employer	Employees	Percentage of Total City Employment
1	Mesa Public Schools	7,726	4.35%
2	Banner Health	6,826	3.84%
3	The Boeing Company	3,945	2.22%
4	City of Mesa	3,579	2.02%
5	Walmart	3,269	1.84%
6	Fry's Food and Drug	1,371	0.77%
7	DriveTime Automotive Group	1,367	0.77%
8	The Home Depot	1,309	0.74%
9	Maricopa County Community College	1,215	0.68%
10	Gilbert Public Schools	1,004	0.57%

Fun Things to Do: Cultural Attractions and Parks

Mesa offers many fun places to visit and things to do for all ages.

Cultural Spots and Museums

Mesa Arts Center: A great place for art shows, plays, and concerts.
Mesa Amphitheater: Hosts outdoor music events.
Museums:
- I.d.e.a. Museum: A hands-on museum for kids.
- Commemorative Air Force Arizona Wing Aircraft Museum: See historic airplanes at Falcon Field.
- Arizona Museum of Natural History: Learn about dinosaurs, ancient cultures, and Arizona's past.
Mesa Grande Ruins: An ancient site where you can see the remains of Hohokam canals.
Organ Stop Pizza: Enjoy pizza while listening to the world's largest Wurlitzer organ.
Bell Bank Park: A huge sports and recreation complex with many fields and courts.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Mesa has over 2,280 acres (923 hectares) of parkland. The largest is Red Mountain Park, which has a lake, playgrounds, and sports courts.

Golf Courses

Mesa is known for its many championship golf courses. Mesa Country Club was one of the first courses in the city.

Shopping and Entertainment Areas

Mesa Riverview: A large outdoor shopping center with many stores and restaurants.
Superstition Springs Center: A shopping mall in East Mesa with an outdoor amphitheater and fountain.

Learning in Mesa: Schools and Colleges

Mesa has many schools and colleges, offering education for students of all ages.

Public Schools in Mesa

Most of Mesa is served by Mesa Public Schools. Some parts of the city are also served by Gilbert Public Schools, Higley Unified School District, and Queen Creek Unified School District. A small part in the west is served by the Tempe Elementary School District and Tempe Union High School District.

Colleges and Universities

Mesa is a hub for higher education, with over 40,000 students attending more than 10 colleges and universities.

Mesa Community College: The largest of the Maricopa Community Colleges, with over 24,000 students.
Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus: Located in southeast Mesa, it focuses on science and engineering.
A. T. Still University: Has a medical school in Mesa.
Other private colleges include Arizona College, Carrington College, and Pima Medical Institute.
The Media and Immersive eXperience Center at ASU at Mesa City Center opened in 2022. It offers programs like a film school.

Getting Around: Transportation in Mesa

Mesa City Hall in downtown Mesa

Mesa has a good transportation system to help people get around.

Freeways and Roads

Several major freeways serve Mesa, including U.S. Route 60, known as the Superstition Freeway. Loop 101 and Loop 202 also help people travel around the city and the wider Phoenix area. Main Street is a key road that runs through downtown Mesa.

Public Transportation

Valley Metro provides public transportation in Mesa. You can travel by bus or by light rail (Valley Metro Rail). The light rail line goes through downtown Mesa.

Airports Serving Mesa

Mesa has two airports:

Falcon Field: Located in the northeast, it was a training field for British pilots during World War II. Today, Boeing builds AH-64 Apache attack helicopters next to it.
Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport: In the far southeast, this airport used to be Williams Air Force Base. It offers flights to various destinations, especially with Allegiant Air.