Mesa is the third largest city in the state of Arizona and offers a limitless array of activities for residents as well as the business and leisure traveler. Mesa is a thriving metropolis in the southwest, surrounded by the Sonoran Desert. Mesa is a playground for outdoor recreation, with convenient access to three lakes, two rivers and endless hiking trails. The city’s downtown is a vibrant epicenter with boutiques, antique shops, museums, studios and cafes – all anchored by Mesa Arts Center. Mesa is home to a stunning collection of golf courses, superb dining and upscale shopping. The city is home to 514,144 people as of 2020 according to the Census Bureau, which makes it more populous than Minneapolis, St. Louis, or Miami. Mesa is home to numerous higher education facilities including the Polytechnic campus of Arizona State University. It is also home to the largest relief airport in the Phoenix area, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, which is in the southeastern corner of the city