About Mesa ...
Welcome to Mesa, Arizona – a city with a progressive vision for the future.  Mesa is a rapidly growing city of over 440,000 (Mesa’s population is expected to reach 567,000 by 2020), and is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Mesa offers a quality urban experience supported by a diversified economic base, educational institutions of excellence, professional local government, sophisticated infrastructure, and a superior workforce. Mesa takes pride in its progressive growth and pro-business attitude, and is still pursuing an aggressive economic strategy.

The City provides a full range of municipal services including police and fire protection, parks and recreation, libraries, transportation, neighborhood outreach and general administration. In addition, the City owns and operates several enterprises including the operation of electricity, gas, water, wastewater, solid waste, aquatics, museums, airports, golf courses, and a community center.

City Government - 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         

More than 430,000 people have a Mesa, Arizona address.  It's not just because there are quality neighborhoods with a wide range of housing choices.  It's because living in those neighborhoods are friendly people, looking to create a sense of place and be part of a great community.

Population Diversity - White: 84%, Persons of Hispanic Origin: 19.7%, American Indian: 1.7%, Black: 2.6 %, Asian: 1.5%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: .2%  Median age in Mesa: 32

Wage Rates - Administrative Assistant\$28,804, Automotive Mechanic\  $30,242, Civil Engineer\$46,777, Legal Secretary\37,920, Licensed Practical Nurse\$35,544

Taxes - The retail tax rate in Mesa is currently 7.8%.  This consists of:

• City of Mesa  1.5%
• State of Arizona  5.6%
• Maricopa County 0.7%

                                                                                                                 Principal Economic Activities- Mesa’s economic base consists of aerospace/aviation, agri-business, automotive, business services, education services, electronics, health services, manufacturing, retail, and transportation services. Mesa boasts seven regional employment centers and/or corridors including Downtown Mesa, Falcon Airpark, Fiesta Quadrant, Superstition Springs, Williams Gateway Airport, Superstition Freeway Corridor, and Union Pacific Business Corridor.

Total Labor Force- Population 25 years and over 245,104

Key Employers- Mesa Public Schools/ 10,000, Banner Health System/ 6,100 Boeing/ 4,300, City of Mesa/ 3,700, AT&T/ 2,800, Wal-Mart/ 1,775, TRW/ 1,450, The Kroger Company/ 1,080, Empire Southwest Machinery/ 1,000, Bashas’/ 860, Home Depot/ 750, Special Devices, Inc./ 750, Target/ 700, Albertson’s/ 680, United States Postal Service/ 670 , AMPAM Riggs Plumbing/ 575, Tribune Newspapers/  550, Mesa Community College/ 500, NCS Pearson/ 500                                                                                                                  Airports - Mesa Falcon Field, Williams Gateway (See Links)

Hospitals                                                                                         Mesa General Hospital Medical                                                           Lutheran Physician Hospital                                            Mesa Lutheran Hospital                                                                               Select Specialty Hospital                                                                                                          Banner Urgent Care                                                                                     Phoenix Children's Hospital                                                                 Banner Desert                                                                                          Cardiac Diagnostic Institute Corporation                                                Generations Senior Mental Health                                                            Samaritan Behavioral Health                                                                     Arizona Spine & Joint Hospital                                    Valley Lutheran Valley Lutheran Hospital                                                                                                            Valley Lutheran Surgicenter                                                                                     Nextcare                                                                                                   Banner Gardens Hospice House

Education People are Mesa’s Greatest Resource.                                     Mesa Unified Public School District- Mesa Public Schools is home to Longfellow Elementary School which was named a 2004 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

Mesa students are well-prepared to compete with their peers in a national
arena. Results of the 2004 college entrance tests show that Mesa students
score above both state and national averages and the district had 19
National Merit semifinalists. The Class of 2004 earned $45 million in
scholarships.

The district serves nearly 75,000 students in preschool through high
school. There are 76 traditional schools and many alternative programs to
accommodate parent choice, including Montessori, enrichment classes for
home-schooled students and distance learning classes. The district has
almost 11,000 employees, making it the 16th largest employer in the state.

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           120 North Center | Mesa, AZ  85201 | Phone: 480-969-1307 | Contact