Mesa's history dates back almost 2,000 years ago beginning with the Hohokam Indians. The Hohokam built the original canal system spreading 125 miles and is still in use today. Theodore Sirrine went to Florence in 1878 and registered Section 22, now called the Town Center which runs from Mesa Drive to Country Club and University to Broadway. The orginal name for Mesa was Mesa City and the first post office was named Hayden's Ferry which was changed in 1886 to Zenos Post Office. In 1917 Dr. Chandler, who founded Chandler, Arizona built the first office complex and started the first electrical power plant. The City of Mesa then purchased this power plant and became one of the few cities in Arizona to own a utility company. These utility earnings gave Mesa the ability to implement service projects such as paving the streets, sidewalks, and adding curbs to the Town Center. It also allowed Mesa to build a Hospital, recreation facility, parks, and a modern city hall/library. Falcon Field Airport and Williams Air Force Base were in built in 1941 and were used for training World War II pilots. Since the beginning Mesa has grown into the 3rd largest city in Arizona and the 46th largest city in the United States.
Map of Mesa, Arizona
Historical Sites in Mesa
There are many historical buildings still standing in Mesa today. The Sirrine House was built in 1895 and was restored by the Mesa Historical Society and the City of Mesa. Now the Mesa Historical Museum, the Lehi School was built in 1913 and is the oldest school built in Mesa still standing. The Southside Hospital, now the Tri-City Community Center still stands on the corner of Hibbert and Main Street. The Vance Auditorium (the largest auditorium in the Southwest), was built in 1904 and was known to have the best dance floor in the region. In 1926 the Mormons puchased the auditorium and renamed it Mezona.
Mesa Entertainment
Here is a list of the many educational and social activites that Mesa has to offer.
