Mesa, Arizona

1878Mormon Pioneers Found Mesa: LDS settlers established Mesa on a flat desert mesa, restoring ancient Hohokam irrigation canals to bring water from the Salt River. The settlement grew into one of Arizona's largest cities.

1947Spring Training Begins: The Chicago Cubs began holding spring training in Mesa, beginning a tradition that would make the city a Cactus League hub. Multiple MLB teams now train in Mesa each spring.

1941Williams Air Force Base Opens: Williams Field was established as a pilot training facility during WWII, eventually training over 26,000 pilots. The base's closure in 1993 led to redevelopment as an airport and tech corridor.

1927Mesa Arizona Temple Dedicated: The LDS Mesa Arizona Temple was dedicated, becoming one of the first temples built outside of Utah and a landmark that defines Mesa's skyline and cultural identity.

1911Roosevelt Dam Completed: The completion of Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River brought reliable water to Mesa and the entire Salt River Valley, enabling the agricultural and population boom that created modern Phoenix metro.

2000Mesa Becomes Major U.S. City: Mesa's population surpassed 400,000, making it larger than Miami, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. The explosive growth reflected the broader Phoenix metropolitan expansion.

1960Suburban Growth Boom: The advent of affordable air conditioning transformed Mesa from a small agricultural town into a rapidly growing suburb of Phoenix, with population doubling in a single decade.

1883Mesa Incorporated: Mesa was incorporated as a city with a population of about 300, centered around the Mormon farming community and its restored Hohokam irrigation systems.

2008Light Rail Connects Mesa to Phoenix: The Valley Metro Rail light rail system connected Mesa to Phoenix and Tempe, providing mass transit options and spurring development along the corridor.

1987Fiesta District Revitalization: Mesa began revitalizing its downtown Fiesta District, transforming the area around Main Street into a dining and entertainment destination.