Gilbert is a city in
Maricopa County, Arizona. Located southeast of
Phoenix, Gilbert is home to 288,128 residents.[6] It is the fifth-largest municipality in Arizona. Nearly a third of Gilbert residents are under the age of 18.[7] As Gilbert approaches buildout, the estimated population is expected to reach 330,000 people.[8]
Incorporated on July 6, 1920, Gilbert was once known as the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World".[9] It’s since transformed into an economically diverse suburban community, characterized by a strong economy, competitive schools, and safe neighborhoods. Gilbert is home to many companies with focuses on advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, biotechnology, clean technology, and renewable energy. In 2023, Gilbert was declared one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States.[10]
History
Gilbert was established by William "Bobby" Gilbert, who provided land to the
Arizona Eastern Railway in 1902 to construct a rail line between Phoenix and
Florence, Arizona. Ayer's Grocery Store, the first store in Gilbert, opened in 1910 and became the location of the first post office in 1912. The location of the town post office moved several times before settling on the east side of Gilbert Road in downtown, where it still stands today. In 1912, many Mormons who had fled the
Mormon colonies in Mexico due to the actions of the forces of
Pancho Villa settled in Gilbert. By 1915, they began holding church meetings at the Gilbert Elementary School. In 1918, they were organized into the Gilbert Ward.[11]
Incorporated on July 6, 1920, Gilbert was primarily a farming community fueled by the rail line and construction of the
Roosevelt Dam and the Eastern and Consolidated Canals. It remained an agricultural town for many years and was known as the "Hay Capital of the World"[12] from 1911 until the late 1920s.
In 2019, the town ranked highly on three national surveys, related to safety, livability and family life; it was named the fourth-safest (of 182 communities), twelfth-most livable town, and seventh-best place to raise a family in the United States.[13]
Geography
Gilbert is located in the southeast portion of the
Phoenix metropolitan area. It is south of
Mesa, northeast of
Chandler, and northwest of
Queen Creek.[14]
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.86 square miles (178.35 km2), of which, 68.65 square miles (177.80 km2) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2) is water.[1]
Climate
Gilbert has a subtropical, hot desert type of climate (
Köppen climate classification BWh) with dry and hot summers, and mild to warm winters, with little rainfall.
As of the
2020 census, there were 267,918 people and 88,896 households, and 69,603 families residing in the town.[18] There were 93,230 housing units.
Gilbert town, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the
2010 census, there were 208,453 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household.
Between 2000 and 2010, the town of Gilbert was the fastest-growing incorporated place among populations of 100,000 or more in the United States, with an increase of 90%.[22]
Fastest growing municipality in the United States from 1990 to 2003 (
U.S. Census Bureau)
$89,077 median household income. Median income noted as >$87,000 in a report of 2013–2017 US Census data, as compared to a state-wide median of $53,000.[13]
Gilbert offers something for everybody when it comes to arts and culture. The town’s official tourism site,
Discover Gilbert, highlights attractions for new and returning visitors. Sightseeing opportunities include the mural-clad brick walls, the color-changing water tower, waterways art, a solo gopher, and glowing benches. Gilbert also features an established theater, historical museum, and gallery.
9/11 Memorial
Gilbert is home to a 9/11 Memorial, located at Town Hall[28] that features an eight-foot steel girder beam[29] which held up the North Tower of the World Trade Center.[citation needed] Former Gilbert Fire Chief Collin DeWitt fund-raised extensively for three years to create the memorial, and to bring the beam from New York City to Arizona. He drove to collect it himself along with his then Assistant Fire Chief Jim Jobusch.[30]
The design of the memorial angles the beam, which puts it in reach of everyone. Four granite walls bear the names of those lost to the attacks. Concrete was poured in the shape of a pentagon for the foundation of the memorial,[31] and is surrounded by bricks which carry names of some of those who helped to donate to bring the memorial to life. There was an unveiling ceremony of the memorial on the 10th anniversary of the attack on September 11, 2011.[32]
The Gilbert Parks and Recreation department provides superior parks, recreation and cultural programs for residents and visitors. Gilbert has over 600 acres of open space, 37 park ramadas, four public pools, a riparian area, and over 40 sports fields. Gilbert Parks and Recreation is accredited by the
Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). It is also recognized as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).[34]
Government
Gilbert was named by FinanceBuzz as the “2nd Fasting-Rising City in the United States” in 2023.[35] The prior year, Gilbert earned the “#1 Place to Live in Arizona”[36] recognition by Ranking Arizona and the 2nd Safest Big City in America, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s 2022 report.
Since Gilbert remains incorporated as a town, it lacks the additional powers possessed by nearby
Mesa and
Chandler, which are incorporated as cities. For instance, Arizona towns do not have as much power to regulate utilities and construction within their borders as cities possess.[37] Unlike most of its neighboring communities, Gilbert is theoretically vulnerable to annexation.[38]
Gilbert is primarily served by one
area freeway—the Santan Freeway portion of
Loop 202. A small section of the
US 60 Superstition Freeway also skirts the northern boundary of the town at the Higley Road interchange (Exit 186). Several regional arterials also serve the area, including Williams Field Road,
Chandler Boulevard, and Gilbert Road. The town enjoys relative closeness to
Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, which is located in east
Mesa, and is a 25-minute drive from
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
A
park-and-ride facility is located in downtown Gilbert for bus service. Although the facility borders the
Union Pacific (formerly Southern Pacific) tracks and has provisions for commuter rail service, there is currently no such service. Bus service is limited in Gilbert, with some north–south routes in Mesa dead-ending at Baseline Road before entering Gilbert. Routes that serve portions of Gilbert include the 108-Elliot Road, 112-Country Club/Arizona Avenue, 136-Gilbert Road, 140-Ray Road, 156-Chandler Boulevard/Williams Field Road, 184-Power Road, and 531-Mesa/Gilbert Express, with most of these routes operating at 30-minute frequency on weekdays. Sunday service is only available on Routes 108, 112, 156, and 184. Most people get around by cars or bikes. The city of Gilbert has a low percentage of households without a car. In 2015, 1.9 percent of Gilbert households lacked a car, and the figure was virtually unchanged in 2016 (1.7 percent). The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Gilbert averaged 2.08 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.[45]
In 2018
Waymo started testing in a small portion of the northwest portion of the town of Gilbert.[46]
Notable people
Jim Bechtel, professional
poker player; World Champion of Poker in 1993; lives in Gilbert[47]