Timeline of Mesa, Arizona facts for kids

The following is a of the history of Mesa, Arizona, a city in Arizona, United States.

Mesa, Arizona, is a large city with a rich history, especially for a place in the desert! It started as a small farming community and grew into one of the biggest cities in Arizona. This timeline will take you through some of the most important moments in Mesa's past, from its early days to the present. You'll learn about how it got its water, built schools, opened fun places, and became the vibrant city it is today.

Early History (Before 1900)

• 1878 – Settlers from the Mormon faith arrived in the area, starting the community.
• 1883
  • Mesa City officially became a town. Its first boundaries were Broadway Road to the south, Mesa Drive to the east, University Drive to the north, and Country Club Drive to the west.
  • Alexander Findlay Macdonald became the first mayor of Mesa.
• 1892 – The local newspaper, Mesa Free Press, started being published.
• 1896 – The Sirrine House, an important historic building, was built.

The 20th Century: Mesa Grows Up

The Early Years (1900s–1960s)

• 1902 – The Evans School for Boys opened. It was later renamed Mesa Ranch School.
• 1908 – The Granite Reef Diversion Dam was finished. This dam helped the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association provide water for farming in Mesa. This replaced earlier efforts by the Mormon settlers.
• 1909 – The first main building, called "Old Main," for Mesa High School opened.
  • Mesa also installed a system to provide clean drinking water to its residents.
• 1911 – The Roosevelt Dam was completed. This dam helped control the flow of the Salt River and brought affordable electricity to parts of Mesa.
  • Mesa took over managing the irrigation system within the city limits.
• 1915 – Mesa installed a sewer system to handle wastewater.
• 1917 – Mesa bought the existing gas and electric companies from Dr. A.J. Chandler.
• 1921 – The Mesa Welfare League, a group helping the community, was started.
• 1923 – Another local newspaper, the Mesa Tribune, began publishing.
• 1927 – The Mesa Arizona Temple was dedicated for the first time.
• 1928 – The first performance of the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant took place. This is a large outdoor play about the life of Jesus.
• 1931 – The city area of Mesa expanded.
• 1937 – The new City Hall building was constructed.
• 1941
  • The U.S. Williams Air Force Base, a military air base, was established nearby.
  • A British Flying Training School became active at Falcon Field near Mesa.
• 1948
  • The Mesa Country Club was established.
  • Falcon Field officially became part of Mesa.
• 1949 – A modern plant for treating wastewater was built.
• 1950
  • The radio station KTYL-FM began broadcasting.
  • Mesa's population reached 16,790 people.
• 1953
  • The General Motors Desert Proving Grounds opened. This was a special place where General Motors tested new cars.
  • KTYL-TV (Channel 12), which is now KPNX, started broadcasting. Even though it operates from Phoenix, its license is still for Mesa.
  • Mesa celebrated its 75th anniversary, called the Diamond Jubilee.
  • A large 10-million-gallon water reservoir was completed.
• 1962 – Westwood High School opened.
• 1965 – Mesa Community College, a local college, and Adelante con Mesa, a community organization, were established.
• 1967
  • The Maricopa Association of Governments, a regional planning group, was established.
  • The original "Old Main" building of Mesa High School was destroyed in a fire.
• 1968
  • The Tri City Mall, a shopping center, opened for business.
  • The radio station KMND began broadcasting.
  • The City of Mesa took over running Falcon Field.

Later Years (1970s–1990s)

• 1970
  • The community of Lehi became part of Mesa.
  • Mesa's population grew to 63,049 people.
• 1971 – Prehab of Mesa, a non-profit group helping young people, was established.
• 1972
  • Mesa High School reopened at a new location.
  • Mesa Central High School opened at the site of the original Mesa High campus.
• 1973 – Dobson Ranch, a large planned community with many homes, started selling houses.
• 1975
  • After many updates, the Mesa Arizona Temple was rededicated.
  • The Park of the Canals was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Work then began to develop the park and a botanical garden there.
• 1976 – Mountain View High School opened.
• 1977
  • The Mesa Southwest Museum, later renamed the Arizona Museum of Natural History, was founded.
  • The original Hohokam Park opened.
• 1978 – Western Design Center, a technology company, was founded by Bill Mensch.
  • Mesa celebrated its 100-year anniversary, called the Centennial.
• 1979
  • Fiesta Mall, another shopping center, opened.
  • The Mesa Amphitheatre, a place for concerts and events, was built.
  • The Mesa Weekly News newspaper began publication.
• 1980
  • Mesa's population reached 152,453 people.
  • The Arizona Museum for Youth opened.
  • The movie Used Cars, which was filmed mostly in Mesa, opened in theaters.
• 1981
  • Dobson High School opened.
  • The Mesa Sister Cities Association and Mesa United Way became active. These groups help connect Mesa with other cities around the world and support local charities.
  • Mesa established a sister city relationship with Guaymas, Mexico.
  • The Champlin Fighter Museum opened.
• 1983
  • Mesa established a sister city relationship with Upper Hutt, New Zealand.
  • Mesa Golfland opened, and by 1986, it expanded to become Golfland Sunsplash, a popular water park and mini-golf center.
• 1984 – Al Brooks became the mayor.
• 1987
  • The Mesa Historical Museum opened.
  • Living Word Bible Church became active.
• 1988
  • Peggy Rubach became the mayor.
  • Red Mountain High School opened.
• 1989 – Mesa established a sister city relationship with Caraz, Peru.
• 1990
  • Mesa's population reached 288,091 people.
  • Superstition Springs Center, a large shopping mall, opened.
  • The first part of Arizona State Route 202, a major highway, opened. Part of downtown Lehi was removed to make way for it.
• 1991
  • The main campus of the East Valley Institute of Technology, a technical school, opened.
  • Mesa Community Action Network became active.
• 1992
  • Willie Wong became the mayor.
  • The Mesa Solar Sox, a baseball team, was founded.
• 1993
  • Mesa established a sister city relationship with Kaiping, China.
  • Williams Air Force Base closed and began to change into Williams Gateway Airport.
• 1994
  • Williams Gateway Airport opened.
  • The Paz De Cristo Community Center, which helps people in need, opened.
• 1995
  • A.T. Still University's Arizona School of Health Sciences opened.
  • Heritage Academy (Arizona) opened.
  • The current Organ Stop Pizza location in Mesa, known for its large pipe organ, opened.
• 1996
  • The City of Mesa's website went online.
  • Wayne Brown became mayor.
  • Arizona State University at the Polytechnic campus opened on the land that used to be Williams Air Force Base.
  • Sun Valley High School opened.
• 1997
  • Harkins Superstition Springs cinema opened.
  • Noah Webster School opened.
  • The new HoHoKam Stadium opened.
• 1998 – The Tri City Mall closed, and most of its buildings were torn down.
• 1999
  • Skyline High School opened.
  • AMC Mesa Grand 24 cinema opened.
  • Saint Ignatius of Antioch Church became active around this time.
  • Mesa established a sister city relationship with Burnaby, Canada.
• 2000
  • Keno Hawker became mayor.
  • Mesa's population reached 396,375 people.

The 21st Century: Mesa Today

• 2002 – Desert Ridge High School opened. Even though it's in Mesa, it's part of Gilbert Public Schools, not Mesa Public Schools.
• 2003
  • The Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health opened at A.T. Still University's Mesa campus.
  • The Champlin Fighter Museum closed.
• 2005
  • The Mesa Arts Center, a large center for arts and culture, was built.
  • The Mesa Miners, a baseball team, was founded.
  • Mesa adopted its own city flag.
• 2006 – Mesa Preparatory Academy opened.
• 2007
  • Mesa Riverview, a large shopping and entertainment area, opened.
  • Gateway 12/IMAX Theatre (cinema) opened.
  • A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona opened at A.T. Still University's Mesa campus.
• 2008
  • October: The Maricopa County Sheriff conducted an immigration raid.
  • The Sycamore Drive and Main Street Valley Metro Rail station opened. This was the first light rail station in Mesa.
  • Scott Smith became mayor.
• 2009
  • The General Motors Desert Proving Grounds officially closed.
  • The East Valley Mormon Choral Organization was established as part of the Millennial Choirs and Orchestras.
• 2010
  • United Food Bank became active.
  • Mesa's population was 439,041 people. The population of the whole metro area was 4,192,887.
• 2011
  • The East campus of the East Valley Institute of Technology opened next to ASU Polytechnic.
  • The Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix became active.
• 2012
  • February 22: A Republican Party presidential primaries debate was held in Mesa.
  • December 10: The Alexander murder trial began.
• 2013
  • The Mesa Grande Cultural Park opened.
  • Matt Salmon became the U.S. representative for Arizona's 5th congressional district, and Kyrsten Sinema became the U.S. representative for Arizona's 9th congressional district.
  • The first Visit Mesa Gateway Classic annual golf tournament was held.
• 2014
  • Cubs Park, a baseball stadium, opened.
• 2021 – After many updates and changes to the surrounding area, the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was rededicated on December 12, 2021.