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Mesa, located in south-central Arizona, is the third-largest city in the state and one of America's new breed of fast growing cities. A suburb of Phoenix, Mesa is the largest suburb in the country, with a population of 400,000 with 37% growth in the 1990s. Initially inhabited by Native Americans and Spanish explorers, the area became US territory after the Mexican American War. Mormon pioneers founded the city in 1878; a large Mormon population (25%) remains there today. During World War II, Mesa was a major Air Force training center at Falcon Field Airport and Williams Air Force Base. After the war, many military families decided to settle in Mesa permanently.
Today, Mesa is a prospering industrial area, with companies like Boeing and AT&T among its leading employers. The area's climate makes it an ideal tourist destination; a strong and growing economy lure top companies and young professionals.
In downtown Mesa, the Arts and Cultural District is home to the Mesa Arts Center, the Mesa Southwest Shakespeare Company, the Mesa Southwest Museum and several galleries, dance companies and theaters. The Mesa Amphitheatre is one of metro Phoenix's top places to see popular music's biggest acts. Other cultural attractions in Mesa include the Commemorative Air Force Museum and the Mesa Historical Society & Museum.
With sunshine throughout the year, Mesa is an ideal location for the Chicago Cubs' spring training operations. For season-long minor league baseball, the Mesa Angels are an affiliate of the Anaheim Angels. Just 18 miles away, Phoenix is home to major league baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks, the NFL's Phoenix Cardinals, the NBA's Phoenix Suns, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes.
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area is a golfer's paradise, with over 100 courses in the area. Desert Forest Golf Club in nearby Carefree and The Rim, an hour northwest in Payson, are among Golfweek Magazine's Best Courses in America list. For world-class hiking and rafting, the Grand Canyon is 3 hours away.
Mesa has an excellent nightlife, with many of the attractions of a larger city, but more of a small town personality. For big city action, Phoenix is just a short ride away.
Mesa strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Arizona):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Public Transportation Use (vs. State) | Top 12% |  |
| Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. Peers) | Top 12% | |
| Low Rate of Poverty (vs. Peers) | Top 16% | |
| Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State) | Top 18% | |
Comparing Mesa to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Arizona (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Citizens |  |  |
| Children Under 5 Years Old | |  |
| Male Share of the Population |  |  |
| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Age of the Population |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Women | | |
| Female Share of the Population |  | |
| Racial Diversity |  | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Average Household Size | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People Above Poverty | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| College Educated Adults | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Violent Crime | | |
| Low Property Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Mesa colleges • Mesa travel • Mesa mortgages and property.
 | Mesa Colleges Mesa colleges and trade schools. |
 | Mesa Hotels & Travel Mesa hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Mesa Mortgage Mesa property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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