Mesa Arizona is a family friendly town that has grown rapidly due to it's history, easy access to three freeways and many planned communities, featuring Mesa Arizona new homes and Mesa Arizona real estate investments. Mesa Arizona is the third largest city in Arizona so all the opportunities one would expect to find in a metropolitan area are to be found in abundance in Mesa Arizona. Mesa has a large population of retirees seeking affordable housing and a great climate. Mesa Arizona is very popular with young families. All Mesa Arizona new homes and Mesa Arizona real estate investments in new subdivisions being built testify to the strong demand for Mesa Arizona Homes. Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson. Mesa is one of the United States fastest-growing cities, and currently ranks as the 41st-largest. In 2005 the mid-decade Census survey estimated the city's population to be 442,780. Though a suburban city, Mesa actually has a larger population than better-known cities such as St. Louis, Missouri, Miami, Florida and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite its large population, Mesa has a decidedly bedroom-community, sprawl-like character. Its downtown is minimal, and there are very few buildings in Mesa with more than two stories. Nevertheless, the recently completed Mesa Arts Center may help invigorate downtown Mesa. The city is also home to many gated retirement communities, which may explain the large percentage of senior citizens in the population. Mesa was founded in January 1878 by Mormon (Latter-day Saint) pioneers and its population is still roughly one-tenth Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates one of its oldest temples in Mesa, and the city is a hub of sorts for Latter-day Saints residing in the Phoenix Metro area.