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WELCOME TO MESA!
Mesa,
located in Maricopa County, is one of the nation’s
fastest-growing cities, with a population that grew by more than 37 percent
between 1990 and 2000. There are solid reasons for Mesa’s growth: low costs of doing business,
reasonable tax structure, skilled and well-educated workforce, low crime rate,
superior schools, affordable housing and an excellent quality of life.
Enjoy Mesa’s
325 days of sunshine each year!
A wonderful climate feature is
Mesa’s sunny days --more annual days of sunshine than either
San Diego or
Miami Beach.
The average temperature in winter is 74.4 degrees, perfect for outdoor
recreation. The nearby mountains and ski resorts, however, provide for skiing
and snow sports.
Mesa’s
climate is best described as “arid,” averaging under 8 inches of precipitation
annually
Mesa’s
ethnic/minority population grew by 25 percent between 1990 and 2000. The
ethnic/minority population is estimated at 20 percent of
Mesa’s population, with continued growth forecasted
during the next decade
Sources: City of Mesa, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Claritas,
Arizona Real Estate Center, U.S.
Census Bureau
Money Magazine: 2006 Best Cities to Live, 3rd Best Big City, The City of Mesa,
according to MONEY Magazine, ranked third in their survey of best big cities,
surpassed only by Colorado Springs, Colo. and Austin, Texas. The survey
researched several areas from quality of life to health, where Mesa scored above average in most categories,
including education. Mesa was the only big city
in Arizona to
receive the honors.
CITY GOVERNMENT
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Mesa operates under
charter form of government with citizens electing a
mayor and six council members to set policy for the
City. In 1998, a voter initiative was approved that
changed the way Council members are elected from an
at-large to a district system. Six districts were created and in March 2000, the first three
district council members were elected in Districts 1,2,
and 3. In 2002, Districts 4,5, and 6 elected their first
district council members.
Mesa’s
council members serve terms of four years, with three members being elected
every two years. The mayor is
elected at-large every four years. The
mayor and council are elected on a non-partisan basis. The vice mayor is selected by the City Council.
The Mesa City Council believes
that its people, not leaders, are what makes a City great and actively works to
encourage citizen participation in the decision making process. Whether it through neighborhood meetings, advisory boards and
committees, telephone calls, and letters, or electronic mail through the World
Wide Web, the Mesa City Council sets policies based on the input and needs of
its citizens.
MESA BY THE NUMBERS
Founded 1878
Incorporated
July 1883
Elevation 1,241 feet
Land Area 170.7 square miles
PRINCIPLE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES -
Mesa is a dynamic location where companies can easily attract highly
skilled workers and expand their operations.
Population in the Mesa area grew significantly during the past decade, with an
increase in population of 58% percent from 1990 to 2006. Maricopa County is the
4th largest county in the Nation.
The Mesa area is a magnet for a young, diverse, and highly educated workforce.
According to the U.S. Census, Arizona had the 2nd-highest migration rate in the
U.S. between 1995 and 2000, and the Mesa area population has increased by nearly
15% since 2000
MESA AREA PROFILE
Population 2006 455,984
Square Miles 131.2
Labor Force 247,227
Employment 240,321
Median Income $49,214
Median Age 32.6
Households 199,170
Employed 239,156
Unemployed 8,787
MEDIAN AGE, 2006 32.62
Under 18 Years 28.1%
18-24 years 10.0%
25-44 years 29.1%
45-64 years 19.8%
65+ years 13.0%
POPULATION BY RACE & ETHNICITY
White 77.3%
Black or African American 3.0%
American Indian and Alaskan 2.1%
Asian 1.8%
Native Hawaiian and other 0.3%
Some other race 12.2%
Two or more races 3.4% Hispanic (any race) 24.5%
EDUCATION - 2006 (Age 25+)
270,768
High School Graduate 85.2%
Some College 59.7%
Bachelor’s Degree 22.1%
Graduate or Prof Degree 6.8%
Median Household Income, 2006 $49,214 Real Estate, 4Q 2005
Median Home Price, new $305,790 Median Home Price, resale $242,000
Total Housing Units 199,170
TAXES -
Sales Tax Rate 8.05%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Mesa-2.9%
P-M-S-3.2%
Arizona-3.7%
Source: U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics June, 2007
Companies can access a highly
educated workforce in Mesa
and excellent higher education and training resources.
AIRPORTS & FREEWAYS
Mesa
has two airports, three freeways, and quick access to interstate highways & Phoenix Airport.
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Falcon
Field
Airport
in Access to Markets
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Phoenix/Mesa Gateway
Airport in southeast
Mesa Phoenix
-
Sky Harbor International Airport-northeast from
Mesa
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US 60 Superstition Freeway
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Red Mountain/San Tan Freeway
202
Price Freeway 101
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I-10 and I-17 quickly
accessible
BUSINESS CENTERS
Mesa has
8 Business Centers/Corridors within the City’s Planning area of approximately
170 square miles. These economic activity areas host about 70 percent of the
City’s total jobs, 66 percent of the City’s firms, and 69 percent of Citywide
sales.
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
(500+) Employees
Mesa Public Schools -10,000
Banner Health System-6,600
The Boeing Company-4,700
City of Mesa-3,700
Empire Southwest
Machinery-1,000
TRW-800
Mesa Community College-700
AMPAM Riggs Plumbing-650
Mesa
Fully Formed-600
United States
Postal Service-520
Tribune Newspapers-500
ACCESS TO MARKETS - Most office, industrial,
and retail locations in mesa sit on key transportation corridors including three
major highways (US 60, Loop 101, Loop 202).
Mesa is also home to two award-winning airports, Williams Gateway Airport and
Falcon Field Airport. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is within a
thirty-minute drive from most Mesa locations. Rail is serviced by Union Pacific
Railroad. Under 30 minutes to Williams Gateway Airport or Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport from most of Mesa U.S. Customs Office and Foreign Trade
Zone at Williams Gateway Airport Future light rail access for West Mesa
INDUSTRIAL, OFFICE, & RETAIL MARKETS - With
more than 47 million square feet of total building space, Mesa is the perfect
city to locate your business. Mesa offers over 20 million square feet of retail
space. Over the next few years, new projects will add over 6 million square feet
to Mesa’s market.
TOURISM - Mesa is unique among cities in the
Phoenix Metropolitan area. Mesa is thriving and dynamic, and has all the
comforts of a big city. But because it is located next to the Tonto National
Forest, Mesa is close to outdoor adventures and offers residents the feel of a
small community. Mesa’s near perfect weather makes it possible to enjoy the
outdoors year-round, and be a part of adventures that will last a lifetime. Mesa
has some of the most renowned and diverse golf courses in the West, and more
than 40 courses are located within minutes from downtown.
The Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau (Mesa CVB) offers complimentary services
and assistance to help streamline the planning process for groups that schedule
events and large meetings for visitors. The bureau represents first-class
properties with substantial on-site meeting facilities, and arranges site
inspections as part of the planning process. Staff will make arrangements for
tours of those properties and facilities in which planners have an interest.
Planning group activities and off-site functions to enhance the group’s Mesa
experience are a major part of Mesa CVB’s responsibilities. Activities include
golf tournaments, themed outdoor adventures and desert tours, team-building
events, river rafting, lake cruises, hot air balloon rides and helicopter tours.
There are 60 hotel/motel properties with nearly 5,000 rooms in Mesa, and the
hospitality industry in the city provides more than 12,000 jobs.
Visit the web site at www.visitmesa,com, or call 480-827-4700 for
additional detail.
ARTS AND CULTURE
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Arizona Museum of Natural History, Arizona Museum for Youth, Mesa Arts Center (New $90 million
facility), Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa Symphony, Ballet Etudes,
Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Mesa Historical Museum, Xicanindio Artes, Sonoran
Desert Chorale, Southwest Shakespeare Company, Mesa Youth Theatre, Mesa
Contemporary Arts, and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.
SPORTS AND RECREATION
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HoHoKam
Stadium and Fitch Park (Chicago Cubs spring training facilities), Mesa Indoor
Aquatic Center ($20 million facility), 13 public pools, two municipal golf
courses, four recreation centers, Red Mountain Multigenerational Center, two
tennis facilities and the recently completed Reed Park Skate Court. City of Mesa
Parks and Recreation Division provides addition recreational activities.
The
Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area is one of only 11 cities in the nation to host
teams in all four major professional sports – Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix
Suns, Phoenix Coyotes and Arizona Cardinals.
AREA SPORTS
Phoenix Suns NBA Basketball
Phoenix Firebirds Baseball
LPGA Classic
Chicago Cubs Spring Training
Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball
Auto Racing
& Cactus League Games
Fiesta Bowl
Horse/Dog Racing
Phoenix Cardinals NFL Football
Phoenix Open PGA Golf
and Much More!
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY/FACILITIES
47
City Parks
71 Softball/Baseball Fields
Horseback Riding
20 Golf Courses
11 Soccer Fields
Hiking
10 Public Swimming Pools
70 miles of Bike Routes
Hot Air Ballooning
120 Tennis Courts
Boating
Steamboat Cruises
56 Racquetball Courts
Fishing
Tubing & Rafting
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Mesa-2.9%
P-M-S-3.2%
Arizona-3.7%
Source: U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics June, 2007
Companies can access a highly
educated workforce in Mesa
and excellent higher education and training resources.
AIRPORTS & FREEWAYS
Mesa
has two airports, three freeways, and quick access to interstate highways & Phoenix Airport.
-
Falcon
Field
Airport
in Access to Markets
-
Phoenix/Mesa Gateway
Airport in southeast
Mesa Phoenix
-
Sky Harbor International Airport-northeast from
Mesa
-
US 60 Superstition Freeway
-
Red Mountain/San Tan Freeway
202
Price Freeway 101
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I-10 and I-17 quickly
accessible
EDUCATION & SCHOOLS
Mesa is
home to an impressive array of top-rated educational institutions and
collaborative partnerships that focus on producing a workforce that is not only
technologically prepared, but also possesses a strong work ethic. Included are
the following: Arizona State University Polytechnic; Arizona School of Health
Sciences; Chandler-Gilbert Community College; DeVry Institute of Technology;
East Valley Institute of Technology; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University;
Keller Graduate School of Management; Mesa Community College; Ottawa University;
the University of Phoenix; and A.T.
Still University of Health
Sciences, a new medical school that opened their
doors in July 2007 to a class of 106 students.
Award-winning K-12 education in
Mesa, the focus of K-12 education is “choice.” Both
public and private schools offer an array of educational options for primary and
secondary students.
The K-12 education system in
Mesa
includes public, as well as a number of private and parochial school systems.
Charter schools, magnet schools, international baccalaureate programs, numerous
parochial, Montessori, and other options typify Mesa’s commitment to education.
Mesa children attend
one of Arizona’s
highest rated and largest public school systems.
Expansion Management magazine
ranks Mesa Public Schools as a Gold Medal School District - a great place for
businesses to relocate or branch out.
Mesa
Public Schools
and Gilbert Public Schools
have recently received a “Gold Medal” designation in the Education Quotient (EQ)
Ratings, which is published annually in Expansion Management magazine. The Gold
Medal is the highest award given, a distinction that only 16 percent of the
school districts evaluated receive.
Mesa is
also home to approximately 35 charter schools and 14 private schools.
SHOPPING
Fiesta Mall - Your home in the
living desert. With 135 stores, Fiesta Mall is the East
Valley
shopping destination.
Superstition
Springs Center
- With more than 150 of your favorite stores,
Superstition
Springs Center
has become a one-stop destination for families in the rapidly growing East
Valley.
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