The word "mesa" in Spanish means "table". The city of Mesa, Arizona gets its name as a plateau that overlooks the Valley of the Sun. The earliest settlers here were probably the Hohokam Indians, and later came Mormons trying to escape persecution. Today Mesa is simply thriving. Everywhere around the town, you will see construction crews creating or finishing new retail and residential buildings.

Located in Maricopa County, the city is currently home to over 440,000 residents as well as many Fortune 500 companies. It encompasses an impressive 125 square miles and its residents are an average of 32 years old. Median household income is approximately $45,000 and home values average $100,000. With this continual development, housing is plentiful and varied.

Mesa is considered a "rapid-growth" community, due largely to its local government's success in attracting and retaining businesses to the region. This creates a diverse economic base for residents. The major employment sectors here are aerospace, agri-business, business services, education, health services, manufacturing, retail and transportation services. The city has created seven major employment corridors, which it continually nurtures, to the benefit of both its employers and work force.

Mesa also provides excellent educational opportunities. Several colleges and universities are located here, including Arizona State University-East Campus, Mesa Community College, the Arizona Institute of Business and Technology, and Aztec College. Local parents are consistently happy with their children's progress and successes in the Mesa public schools.

With the Salt River at Mesa's proverbial back door, the city has plentiful recreational areas. Water skiing and hiking are popular throughout the Valley of the Sun. For a slightly more extreme adventure, you can take a desert jeep tour, go horseback riding, or get an aerial view of the region in a small plane. Of course, golf enthusiasts abound in this area, and there are no shortage of locations to accommodate them. These legendary courses featuring a breathtaking beauty that most only get to see on television. With sweeping vistas set against the rugged mountains and cornflower blue skies, you might find yourself spending every available free moment on the links.

Mesa and the surrounding area offer visitors and residents alike a variety of things to see and do. You can take a trip to Out of Africa to see big cats, or learn about the life of dinosaurs at Mesa Southwest Museum. See vintage aircraft at the Commemorative Air Force Museum, or take a cruise on the Dolly Steamboat at Canyon Lake. Trivia buffs may want to know that a couple of popular movies were filmed in Mesa. Rent a copy of either "Wayne's World" or "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", then take a tour of the town to spot locations from the film.

The region is also home to World Series Champions the Arizona Diamondbacks, NBA's Phoenix Suns, the NFL Arizona Cardinals, and NHL Phoenix Coyotes. The Chicago Cubs call Mesa home during the winter months. Here you will also find Cactus League Spring Training and the Fiesta Bowl Football Classic.

Mesa, Arizona is a city rapidly moving in one direction: Forward. It is in the process of implementing an ambitious, well-conceived plan for the city, and its residents are enjoying the ride. If you're thinking of moving to Mesa, Arizona,