Welcome to Mesa, Arizona, located in Maricopa County.
As of May 2007, Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona and the nation´s 38th-largest city. Taking advantage of Mesa´s attractive lifestyle, more than 459,939 people call Mesa home. There are 200,843 housing units.
Located just 15 miles east of Phoenix , Mesa covers 132.66 square miles. Mesa is adjacent to nearby cities of Chandler , Gilbert, Scottsdale , Apache Junction, Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. Freeways conveniently link the cities together so that commuting from one end of town to the other can be done in less than one hour.
Reasons for Mesa´s growth include the low cost of doing business, reasonable tax structure (property taxes typically are .9%), skilled and well-educated workforce, low crime rate, superior schools, affordable housing (still) and an excellent quality of life.
According to Wikipedia, Mesa is the most populous suburban city in the United States , and second most populous suburban city in North America . With dynamic recreational, educational and business environments, Mesa enjoys the best in a variety of amenities including parks within easy walking distance from home, a variety of sports facilities that cater to athletes young and old, highly rated golf courses for every skill level, a diversity of special events and community festivals, and Mesa´s ever-popular Chicago Cubs Spring Training baseball.
Mesa 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, airports, golf courses and a community center.
Mesa has 325 sunny days a year - more days of sunshine than either San Diego or Miami Beach . Our average temperature in the winter is 74.4 degrees, perfect for outdoor fun. Nearby (within one hour) mountains and ski resorts provide skiing and snow sports. Our average rain: 8 inches a year. Typically Mesa gets a high percentage of its rainfall in the monsoon season June through September. Our typical monsoon season begins July 7 and goes through the middle of September.
Mesa's housing market has stabilized, and offers great housing values. Mesa 's home prices for new and resale continue to remain lower than the average for the Phoenix Metropolitan area. This is due, in large part, because of the travel distance to downtown Phoenix. Home prices in Mesa are typically more affordable than in Gilbert, Tempe , Chandler or Scottsdale; however more affordable than in Queen Creek, Apache Junction and Gold Canyon again due, in large part, to proximity to downtown Phoenix .
Culture is big business in Mesa . The largest arts facility in the state, the Mesa Arts Center, is located downtown. This 212,755-square-foot center offers performing arts, visual arts, and arts education. Mesa, Arizona city information can be obtained by linking to their website which will provide links to specific services, questions, etc. Just click on http://cityofmesa.org/ for the information you need.
City of Mesa , PO Box 1466 , Mesa . AZ 85211, 480-644-2011
Police Non-Emergency - 480-644-2211
For customer service, dial the following numbers or click on the link. 480-644-2221, 1-866-406-9659 or email at: custserv.info@cityofmesa.org
Hospitals/medical centers in Mesa :
DESERT SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER ( 1400 SOUTH DOBSON ROAD )
LUTHERAN HEART HOSPITAL ( 6750 EAST BAYWOOD AVENUE )
MESA GENERAL HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER ( 515 NORTH MESA DRIVE )
MESA LUTHERAN HOSPITAL ( 525 WEST BROWN ROAD )
SELECT SPECIALTY HOSPITAL ARIZONA INC ( 525 WEST BROWN ROAD )
VALLEY LUTHERAN HOSPITAL ( 6644 BAYWOOD AVE )
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Mesa :
WILLIAMS GATEWAY (about 11 miles; PHOENIX , AZ ; ID: IWA)
PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL (about 18 miles; PHOENIX , AZ ; ID: PHX)
LUKE AFB (about 44 miles; GLENDALE , AZ ; ID: LUF)
Other public-use airports nearest to Mesa :
FALCON FLD (about 4 miles; MESA , AZ )
CHANDLER MUNI (about 11 miles; CHANDLER )
STELLAR AIRPARK (about 14 miles; CHANDLER )
Traveling just a few short minutes from Mesa, you will access lakes, mountains and more.
Here, you are looking at the Superstition Mountains. Apache Junction and Gold Canyon sit at the base having spectacular views of the Mountain. As you are driving east on the 60 on the eastern edge of Mesa , this is your view.
This is one view of Saguaro Lake, you can see a boat in the distance.
Recently we decided to drive to Payson, a little town just 1 hour and 20 minutes from our home in East Mesa . On the way up, I was surprised that just 20 minutes from our home, we came upon Saguara Lake. There is a small marina there as well as covered picnic areas with tables and barbeques. The lake is connected to several other lakes nearby such as Canyon Lake and Roosevelt Lake. The views of the lake as well as the rugged mountains are breathtakingly beautiful. There's just something about water in the desert.
After leaving Saguaro Lake , we continued up Bush Highway to Beeline Highway to Payson. We were actually headed up to Strawberry and Pine where we stopped to eat and enjoy the pine trees and the cooler weather. We had decided to stay overnight in Payson which is only one hour and 20 minutes from home.
I wanted to stop and visit the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park located just north of Payson down in a deep canyon. I took a few pictures of this adventure. The Waterfall Trail caught my interest. It is about 300 feet long, ends at waterfall cove, 90 steps down some very steep! I've included just a couple of the photos. The water was pouring out of the side and, as you can see, everything was beautifully green and cool. Notice the steps. This is the end of the trail. It was MUCH easier going down then back up. The steps were hewn out of wood or block and sometimes 6 inches thick and sometimes up to 18 inches think.
It is amazing to think that we have such lush green in our state and so close! This could be in Hawaii !!! I would share more, but I think it might be easier to post it on one of the Real Estate Shows. That way I can share more.
http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=179296
Arizona has contrasting desert as well as the beautiful Saguaro Cactus - a protected plant in Arizona. I have included a link for information about the saguaro cactus and I've included a photo of it here taken by your's truly. Arizona's state flower is the saguaro cactus blossom.
Arizona State Flower
Saguaro Cactus Blossom
Carnegiea gigantea
In 1901 the saguaro´s blossom was adopted as the official territorial flower, and later, in 1931, it was confirmed as the state flower. The saguaro cactus typically blooms in May and June. It is one of the most unique state flowers, and is characterized by having a waxy feel, but fragrant aroma. There may be hundreds of flowers on a saguaro cactus that bloom just several at a time over a period of more than a month. The saguaro flowers have a short life; they open at night and close permanently during the next day. Many of the blossoms will become pollinated and, later in the summer, the flowers become red-fleshed fruits that are enjoyed by the local bird population.
The average lifespan for a Saguaro cactus is about 200 years. Saguaros are slow growing, taking up to 75 years to develop a side arm. The arms themselves are grown to store more water for the Saguaro. Some specimens may live for more than 200 years; the champion saguaro grows in Maricopa County , Arizona and is 13.8 m tall and has a girth of 3.1 m.
http://www.realestateshows.com/124727 - Tour of Arizona
Those of us who use the 60 East in Mesa through the stretch from, say, Gilbert Road on out to Signal Butte have been dodging all of the construction for what seems forever. There is, however, light at the end of the tunnel. ADOT has finally put the finishing touches on the 202 north from the 60 from Southern to University! YES!!! It is now open! By next summer, it should be completed to Power Road which will be fabulous!
