Final answer:
The 3rd largest city in Arizona is Mesa, which is part of the rapidly growing Phoenix metropolitan area, reflecting the state's urbanization and population trends.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 3rd largest city in Arizona is Mesa. While the most populous city in the state is Phoenix, and the second largest is Tucson, Mesa comes in third in terms of population.
Rapid population growth has been seen in the Phoenix metropolitan area, which includes Mesa, with more than 4 million people now residing there.
This growth is attributed to the migration trends within the Sun Belt, where people have moved to the Southwest for the warm climate and tertiary-sector jobs. The urbanization of Arizona reflects these trends, with three-fourths of the state's population living in either the Phoenix or Tucson metropolitan areas.