Welcome to the City of Mesa
Mesa’s beginnings date back to a time when the ancient Hohokam people built a sophisticated canal system through the Sonoran Desert nearly 2000 years ago. Until then, unable to support agriculture, the area remained unexplored. Later, The Apache inhabited the area until the late 19th century when U.S. Army troops established control and settled the land.
The widening of the Mesa Canal led to the construction of a power plant and the purchase of the utility company. The Works Progress Administration funded continued development during the Great Depression, and military personnel began to populate the area. As the availability of air conditioning grew, so did the city’s tourism and industry.
The early aerospace industry supported Mesa’s population growth through the 50’s and 60’s. The agricultural industry began to decline as the Mesa and Phoenix areas experienced significant suburban expansion and economic growth.
Today, Mesa is one of the nation’s largest cities with dynamic international appeal. The economy and climate still attract leaders in the aerospace industry. In addition, technology and health care firms have chosen to established corporate headquarters in Mesa. Residents and retirees are drawn to our critically acclaimed cultural community. Visitors come to experience our natural and man-made wonders and to witness the magnificent landscape of the Sonoran Desert.
Whether you are coming for business, pleasure or permanent residence, you will soon understand why people who come to Mesa often decide to call our city home.