We are a desert area. Not much green, but lots of cactus and lizards. Mesa officially became the 46th largest city in the country according to the 1998 US Census figures. Between 1990 and 1998, Mesa's population grew 24.5% (an increase of almost 71,000 people) and moved Arizona's third largest city up seven spots in the Census Bureau's national ranking of cities and towns. In 1990, Mesa was the 53rd largest city and during those eight years, it was the nation's 20th fastest growing community. Today about 390,000 people make Mesa their home.