Brief History of the City of Mesa

In the early days of Mesa, the city was called the “Gateway City”

It was the first city you passed through before entering the Salt River Valley.

The first documented piece of history of the city of Mesa is the irrigation system leftover from the Hohokam Indians in 500 BC (for more information visit about Hohokam Indians visit our History of Peoria page). A couple thousand years later, Homesteaders and Mormon colonists arrived.

These settlers arrived in February 1878 and used the abandoned Hohokam canals as part of their first irrigation project. They cleaned out the irrigation to allow water to flow. These pioneers founded the housing community called Springtown which was incorporated into the new city.

The city of Mesa is rich in history and culture. Because we are roofers, our timeline will focus on the city’s growth and construction. However, readers will find plenty of sources to do more research.

2000 – 500 BC

Hohokam Indians built the first sewer system in Mesa. It is 125 miles long and is still in operation. The Indians developed an elaborate and effective network of irrigation canals that turned the Mesa’s arid land into arable land. Intermittent conflicts between the Pima, Maricopa, Gila River, Yavapai, and Apache in the Salt River Valley meant that the Mesa area was not settled until the mid-19th century.

1878 AD

Homesteaders and Mormons settle in Mesa. Mormon colonists called themselves “The Mesa Company”. Wilson Wesley Dobson establishes the first master plan housing community in Mesa called Dobson Ranch.

1879 AD

President Rutherford Hayes established a sovereign reservation for Pima and Maricopa Indians who migrated from the Gila River due to scarcity of water. Known as the Salt River Indian Community, the Maricopa Tribe is known for their crimson pottery, natural dyes, and the very intricate geometrical shapes.

1883 – 1893 AD

Town of Mesa City was incorporated, and a local government was established. The first newspaper “Mesa Free Press” showed up in 1892. The paper is now better known as the “East Valley Tribune”.

Before Mesa was incorporated there were Churches that were built by Homesteaders and early settlers. However, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, and Episcopalians started building Churches around 1893 in preparation for the economic boom that came with the arrival of railroads.

1895 AD

The Maricopa, Phoenix, Salt River Valley railroad runs through the city to Tempe. This brought residents and tourists between the cities for many years – becoming the economic boom Mesa needed.

Dr. A.J. Chandler enlarges the Mesa Canal which brings in water supply to various homesteaders and construction sites, meaning more people are moving in.

1898 – 1902 AD

City of Mesa gets hydroelectric power at the Crosscut Canal. The power was utilized for municipal reasons such as street lighting. As the city grew, a steam generating plant supplies power to residents to this day.

Consolidated Telephone installed a switchboard at a local store. As the city grew the company changed its’ name to Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph which was later acquired by Mountain Bell as telecommunication technology advanced.

1911 AD

President Theodore Roosevelt used the federal government to build the largest irrigation project in our history. The Roosevelt Dam helps give enough water for urban, agricultural, and residential needs.

1920 AD

The city of Mesa built a new city hall, fire department, police statement and library with the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The Arizona Museum of Natural History has acquired the city hall built during this period.

1937 AD

The Mesa Journal-Tribune published articles and advertisements on the first AC unit to be used in a home. Residents were invited to see a demonstration of the new technology. After World War 2 the AC unit would be an economic boom to Mesa and the Salt River Valley area.

1947 – 1953 AD

First radio stations KARV and KTYL went through the airwaves and shortly after that in 1953 KTYL-TV began live and live to tape coverage of news and events on the Mesa-Tempe highway. Later KTYL-TV became KPNX-TV.

1952 AD

Chicago Cubs play spring training in Mesa at the Rendezvous Park. In 1965, they moved to Scottsdale and then came back in 1979. The Cubs continue to play at Sloan Park. Oakland Athletics also played from 1969-1979.

1957 AD

Fortune 500 company, Talco, the rocket space engine manufacturer moves to Falcon Field. This jump starts the high-tech industry in Mesa. Motorola and Boeing (known as Hughes Helicopter at the time) shortly opened a plant.

1973 AD

Dobson Ranch is open for residential homebuyers. The sub-division housing featured artificial lakes, a golf course, and an HOA. In the 1990’s, nearly 10,000 people lived in Dobson Ranch.

1977 – 1979 AD

Since 1962, the superstition freeway was planned. The freeway reached the city limits, and it brought in more residents and tourists. The freeway was finally completed in 1991 when it intersected with Highway 60.

Mesa was named an All-American City. This award was given to Mesa for collaborating with citizens, schools, non-profit organizations, and civic groups to address community problems.

1990 AD

The city of Mesa is named one of the fastest growing cities in America. During the 1990’s the population of the city of Mesa went from 150,000 to nearly 300,000.

2008 AD

Mesa installs a state-of-the-art METRO light rail system that travels from Mesa to Tempe and Phoenix. The rail system provides residents with inner city travel and local businesses with new customers and advertising opportunities.

2011 AD

The government of Mesa launched a campaign called “Mesa’s Historic Preservation Program” to preserve the architectural and cultural history of the city. Neighborhoods as well as other landmarks throughout the city were designated as historic districts.

Other historic buildings in downtown Mesa include:

• Sirrine House
• Ellis Johnson Home (49 West First Street)
• Alhambra Hotel (43 South Macdonald)
• Angulo-Hostetter House
• Dr. Lucius Alston House
• Marion Flake House
• Pomeroy Building
• Lehi School aka Adobe School House
• Nile Theater Building (the first AC building in Mesa)
• Falcon Field World War II Aviation Hangars

There are more landmarks! You can visit for Roboson Historic District more information.

Present Day

Today, the city of Mesa is a thriving desert community bordered by smaller neighboring towns on both sides. Mesa is located 20 miles south of the bustling metropolis of Phoenix and is Arizona’s second largest city with more than 500,000 residents. The only other city in central Arizona with a larger city than Mesa is Phoenix.

According to Census Bureau data for 2010, Mesa has a population of 439,041, exceeding the population of cities like Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Greensboro, Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne, St. Louis, Tulsa, Wichita and Cleveland. From a small settlement of farming families, Mesa with over 400,000 inhabitants has become Arizona’s largest city and the 40 largest city in the country.

For In-Depth Research