The history of Mesa begins about 2,000 years ago with the Hohokam Indian
tribe, who developed a complicated irrigation system in order to farm
the region of modern-day Mesa. Even though the Hohokam people are no
longer a distinct tribe in the area, the people of Mesa are dedicated to
preserving the rich native culture which existed long before Mesa was
born.
Ever since these early people settled in the Mesa region, the area has
bustled with new settlers and residents. While certain areas of the
Southwestern United States were wiped out by a major flood in the late
1800s, the residents of Mesa managed to take advantage of the flooding,
and the city began to flourish. By the 1940s, Mesa had become the third
biggest city in Arizona; today, the metropolitan area is filled with
roughly 3.5 million residents -- and it’s still growing.
Modern residents of Mesa are not just proud of the diverse culture
embedded in the region, but they actively celebrate and encourage many
different ethnic and religious groups to share their heritage with their
neighbors. The native communities were joined by early Mormons and
Hispanics during the 1800s, and there groups were followed by African
American, Chinese, and Japanese communities in the early 1900s. Even
more impressive than the number of diverse groups who have called Mesa
home is the safety and sense of community in the area. The city has an
easily accessible resident services portal online, helping residents
navigate everything from green living to city maintenance schedules.