In the 1980s, the cityâs population grew by a phenomenal 89 percent to 288,000 residents, making it the third-largest city in Arizona, behind Phoenix and Tucson. Now its population has climbed to 450,000. By the year 2020, an estimated 550,000 people will call Mesa home.

Other factors that are fueling Mesaâs growth are the three Aâs: affordability, amenities and the annual migration of "snowbirds", winter-weary retireeâs from the Midwest who flock to Mesaâs sun-drenched RV and mobile-home parks.

First, affordability. Mesaâs median home price is about $100,000 and there is no city property tax. The average Mesan makes $43,000 annually, while one in four earns more than $50,000. Housing options include modern apartment complexes, traditional and Spanish-influenced single-family homes and expansive retirement communities for those who truly want to "get away from it all".

Mesa's shopping, recreational, educational and cultural amenities are some of the most ambitious in the valley.

In addition to two regional-sized shopping malls – Fiesta Mall and the newer Superstition Springs Center – dozens of additional shopping areas dot Mesaâs neighborhoods. Studies indicate that Mesa retailing draws in excess of 700,000 people.

More than twenty golf courses and forty-seven city parks are within MesaÕs expansive 123-square mile city limits. Just an hourÕs drive east of the city are four popular lakes for fishing, camping, boating and other types of recreation.

The Mesa Public School District educates more than 69,000 students each year. An excellent school system contributes to a strong work ethic and the resulting high levels of productivity and customer service help make Mesa an attractive place for business and industry.

Although today only one in ten Mesans is a member of the Mormon church, the Arizona Temple VisitorÕs Center is one of the cityÕs most impressive cultural facilities. Built by the church in 1928, the temple offers free tours daily and one of the most elaborate Christmas displays in the valley. Mesa has a symphony orchestra, several cultural and historical museums and theater troupes for children and adults. The recently added Mesa Arts Center has helped invigorate the downtown cultural life.

Another factor that sets Mesa apart from other Valley cities is its allure to the senior set. The majority of the estimated 135,000 winter visitors who nest in Valley area mobile-home and travel-trailer parks do so in Mesa and neighboring Apache Junction.

Retiree's aren't the only groups flocking to Mesa. With no inventory, franchise or off-shore unitary taxes, businesses have found Mesa's economic climate equally hospitable. Among the city's largest employers is Boeing Companyâs Helicopter Division, which, like a number of other manufactures, shifted production jobs to Mesa from California as a streamlining measure during the 1980s.

Other Fortune 500 companies with a presence here include Motorola, AT&T, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems and General Motors, which operates a proving ground in southern Mesa. Thompson Newspapers, health care and government are also among the major employers in a city where unemployment is typically less than 3.5%.

The many nearby cultural opportunities are among the appeals of East Valley living.

In March of 1877, 84 Mormon settlers arrived on the Mesa plateau. The land that made up the Valley of the Sun was desert with only thin strips of vegetation along the Salt River. In an effort to make the desert green, the families began rebuilding the old Hohokam irrigation canals. Because the land reminded them of a tabletop, they named it Mesa, which means tabletop in Spanish.

Mesa was founded in 1878, incorporated in 1883, and has since grown into ArizonaÕs third largest city, with more than 122 square miles and 450,000 residents. Each winter the population swells by an additional 145,000 with sun seekers, mostly from the eastern states. Mesa is among the fastest growing communities in the nation and has been recognized as one of the top 100 cities in America. Even though its population is greater than that of more well-known cities, such as St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Mesa maintains a small-town appeal by sticking to its roots. Downtown Mesa has very few buildings that are over 2 stories tall.

Eight of Fortune Magazineâs top 500 manufactures are located in Mesa, including a diverse group of electronics, food processing, automotive testing and safety, propulsion equipment, aerospace and heavy machinery firms. Some of the largest include McDonnell Douglas Helicopter, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems and AT&T. More than 100 small manufacturing firms also call Mesa home.

The city is considered the retail and medical center for Eastern Maricopa County with its two regional malls, many large shopping centers and a central city area. Williams Gateway Airport (formerly Williams Air Force Base) is a designated reuse location for aerospace, education and industrial development.

For sports fans, Mesa is the winter home of the Chicago Cubs. It is also the site of winter instructional leagues for the Cubs, San Diego Padres and California Angels. Other major teams have spring training camps in the immediate area.