The city of Mesa is in Maricopa County, Arizona and is a suburb of Phoenix. Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson. Mesa is considered one of the United States fastest growing cities and ranks 37th largest. Mesa was founded in the late 1800's by Latter-day Saint pioneers and its population is still approximately one-tenth Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints runs one of its oldest temples in Mesa.
Even though Mesa has a large population, the city is a “bedroom community.” Neighborhoods throughout the city are diverse; while some experience urban despair; others are in middle class with custom homes. The businesses surrounding Mesa vary from small to large in size and differ in profession. For those interested in learning more about the business side of Mesa, the Arizona business directory provides resources online. Mesa is also home to Mesa Community College, the largest of the Maricopa Community Colleges, which enrolls more than 22,000 students. In addition, Arizona State University lies in southeast Mesa. This satellite campus enrolls over 6,000 students in scientific and engineering fields. The online yellow pages offer more listings of educational institutions.
One of the most fascinating stops in Mesa is the Mesa Historical Museum. The Mesa Historical Museum is located in the Old Lehi School Buildings of Mesa, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The auditorium features enchanting murals, commissioned in the1990's, depicting important people and events in Mesa’s history, and much more.