The first settlers in Mesa were probably the Hohokam Tribe, who constructed canal systems to make living on the dry land possible. Their probable ancestors, possibly including the Tohono O'odham, remain in the area.
In the late 1800s, Spanish missionaries and soldiers traveled through the area, and several groups of Latter Day Saints pioneers settled nearby. Eventually, residents from other areas of the Phoenix valley moved into Mesa and the population grew on its own.
Mesa was founded in January 1878 by Mormon 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 still a hub for Latter-day Saints residing in the Phoenix Metro area.
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