The land on which the town now stands was located first in May 1878, by T.C. Sirrine who deeded it to three Trustees: C.I. Robson, G.W. Sirrine, and F.M. Pomeroy who named and platted it. All streets were 130 feet wide. Incorporated July 15, 1883. A.F. McDonald first mayor. First called Hayden, because for a time mail went to Hayden Ferry. Postal authorities first refused to allow the name Mesa for a postoffice because of a Mesaville in that region. That town died however and Mesa came into its own. Census of January 4, 1894 gave it 648 persons."

Barnes, Will C. Arizona Place Names University of Arizona Press. 1997
p. 272

"The first Mormon settlers in this area stayed for some time in Lehi, which was on the bluff above the Salt River, an area they called "the mesa". In May 1878, T.C. Sirrine located and deeded a section of land for an unnamed Mormon community under trustees C.R. Robison, G.W. Sirrine, and F. M. Pomeroy. Mail came via Hayden's Ferry until the new community had its own post office. The Post Office Department refused to acept the name Mesa for it because there was a Mesavill in Pinal County. Therefore, to honor Charles Trumbull Hayden, the settlers named their community Hayden. Although Hayden's Ferry had meanwhile changed its name to Tempe, then, as now, it was easy to confuse the post office. Mail service between the new Hayden and the Old Hayden's Ferry was so snarled that in 1886 Hayden became Zenos (a prophet in the Book of Mormon). WHen Mesaville ceased to exist as a post office in 1888, the name Zenos was rapidly changed Mesa. The location was also known as Mesa City, and, according to an 1880 newspaper article, Bottom City. PO Est Hayden June 27, 1881, Fanny V. McDonald pm; named changed to Zenos, May 15, 1886; name changed to Mesa June 19, 1889. Incorporated July 15, 1883."

Barnes, Will C.; Granger, Byrd (ed.) Arizona's names : X marks the place Falconer Pub. Co. : distributed by Treasure Chest Publications, c1983. P. 400

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Websites

Arizona Department of Commerce Community Profiles- Mesa, Arizona
http://www.commerce.state.az.us/pdf/commasst/comm/mesa.pdf

Mesa, Arizona Local Government Website
http://www.ci.mesa.az.us/

Mesa History

The Arizonan.com Mesa, Arizona
http://www.arizonan.com/Mesa/

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Colleges

Arizona State University East

Mesa Community College

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Newspapers

Arizona Republic-Mesa Editon
http://www.azcentral.com/community/comstories/commesa.html

East Valley Tribune
http://www.aztrib.com/
 

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Sites to See

Mesa Public Library
http://www.mesalibrary.org/

Mesa Historical Museum
2345 N. Horne St. Mesa 85203-1823
Open September-May, Tue-Sat 10-4
(480) 835-7358/Free
http://www.mesaaz.org/

Mesa Southwest Museum
53 N. MacDonald  Mesa 85201-7325
Open Tues-Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5
(480) 644-2169/Admission charge
http://www.ci.mesa.az.us/parksrec/msm/msmdefault.htm

Sirrine House
160 N. Center Mesa 85201-6627
Open October-March Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5;
(480) 644-2760/Free

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Books/Manuscripts found in the ASU Library Catalog

Founding of Mesa
F819 .M4 R87x

Mesa : beneath the shadows of the Superstitions/ by Tray C. Mead and Robert C. Price ; produced in cooperation with the Mesa Southwest Museum.
XUME 9.2:M 37

Mesa historical survey : a project of the City of Mesa, Arizona/ authors: Linda Laird and Jones ; edited by Tracy Mead and Che du Puich.
XUME 9.2:H 47

Our town.
F819 .M4 O8 1965

Our town : the story of Mesa, Arizona, 1878-1991.
F819.M4 O95 1991
 

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Last Updated: July 19, 2002
If you would like to know more about the author of this site, Jeffrey Scott, feel free to visit his homepage.
In addition, if you have any questions about this site or Arizona History, feel free to e-mail Jeffrey