Gilbert

Gilbert, Arizona 

Gilbert is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and is a part of the metropolitan region of Phoenix. Gilbert, which became a city on July 6, 1920, was formerly referred to as the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World." It is the fourth-largest municipality in the Phoenix metropolitan region and the fifth-largest in Arizona. It is over 69 square miles in size (179 km2).

Gilbert, a municipality that was mostly centered on agricultural and is situated in the southeast valley of the Greater Phoenix area, has seen a rapid development. Its population has expanded dramatically over the past three decades, from 5,717 in 1980 to 267,918 as of the 2020 census. Over these 40 years, the town expanded at an average yearly pace of over 10%. The United States' largest incorporated town is there. 

History 

William "Bobby" Gilbert, who gave land to the Arizona Eastern Railway in 1902 to build a rail route between Phoenix and Florence, Arizona, is credited with founding Gilbert. The first shop in Gilbert, Ayer's Grocery Store, debuted in 1910 and housed Gilbert's first post office in 1912. Before settling on the east side of Gilbert Road in the center of town, where it is still located today, the location of the town post office changed a number of times. Many Mormons who had fled the Mormon colonies in Mexico because of the actions of Pancho Villa's soldiers landed in Gilbert in 1912. They started holding religious services at Gilbert Elementary School in 1915. They were arranged into the Gilbert Ward in 1918. 

Gilbert, which became a city in July 1920, was predominantly a farming settlement supported by the Roosevelt Dam, the Eastern and Consolidated Canals, the train line, and other infrastructure projects. It remained an agricultural community for many years and, from 1911 until the late 1920s, was referred to as the "Hay Capital of the World." 

The town was awarded the fourth-safest (of 182 localities), twelfth-most livable town, and seventh-best place to raise a family in the United States in 2019 according to three national polls on safety, livability, and family life. 

Geography 

Gilbert can be found in the Phoenix metropolitan area's southeast region. It is situated northwest of Queen Creek, northeast of Chandler, and south of Mesa. 

The town had an estimated area of 40 square miles in the 2000 Census, according to the United States Census Bureau (104 km2). 68.8 square miles (178 km2), or 0.30%, of the town's total area are water as of 2021. Of that, 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) are water. 

Climate 

Gilbert experiences dry and scorching summers, mild to warm winters, and little to no rainfall. This city has a subtropical, hot desert climate (Köppen climatic classification BWh). 

Government 

Gilbert was named one of the top places to live and learn in the country by GreatSchools.org in 2010 and ranked as the 36th best place to live in the country. Gilbert is ranked as the 25th safest city in the country by Washington, DC-based CQ Press. 

Gilbert lacks the extra authority that neighboring cities Mesa and Chandler, which are also incorporated as towns, have since it is still incorporated as a town. For instance, municipalities in Arizona do not have the same authority as cities do to control utilities and building inside their limits. Gilbert, in contrast to the majority of its nearby communities, is conceivably open to annexation. 

Located in Gilbert, Arizona, the community is a part of the 5th Congressional District, which is represented by Republican Andy Biggs. Brigette Peterson is Gilbert, Arizonamayor. ,'s 

Education 

While other areas of Gilbert are assigned to districts like the Chandler Unified School District, Mesa Public Schools, and the Higley Unified School District, the majority of Gilbert is zoned to schools in the Gilbert Public Schools. Charter schools including Eduprize, the first charter school in Arizona, American Leadership Academy, and Legacy Traditional School are also located in Gilbert. A network of private schools called Gilbert Christian Schools is also located in the town. 2018 saw the opening of the Gilbert Campus Center by Park University, which had previously leased 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2) in the University Building in the city's Heritage District. 

Architecture & the Arts 

9/11 Memorial 

The North Tower of the World Trade Center was supported by an eight-foot steel girder beam, and Gilbert is home to a 9/11 Memorial that is housed in Town Hall. Collin DeWitt, a former fire chief in Gilbert, worked tirelessly for three years to raise money to build the memorial and transport the beam from New York City to Arizona. Together with Jim Jobusch, his then-assistant fire chief, he drove to pick it up.

The memorial's design slants the beam so that anyone can reach it. The names of those killed in the attacks are inscribed on four stone walls. The memorial's foundation is made of concrete that has been poured into the shape of a pentagon. Bricks that surround it bear the names of some of the donors who made it possible to build the memorial. On September 11, 2011, which marked the tenth anniversary of the attack, the memorial was officially unveiled. 

Historical Site 

The Gilbert Historical Museum is housed in the former Gilbert Elementary School, which was constructed in 1913. The National Register of Historic Places has it on its list. 

Infrastracture 

Transportation 

One local motorway, the Santan Freeway section of Loop 202, largely serves Gilbert. At the Higley Road intersection, a brief segment of the US 60 Superstition Freeway also borders the northern edge of the community (Exit 186). The area is also served by a number of regional thoroughfares, such as Williams Field Road, Chandler Boulevard, and Gilbert Road. Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, which is in east Mesa, is very close to the town. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 25 minutes away.

In recent times, a park-and-ride facility for buses and potential commuter train service was built in Gilbert's downtown. Although the facility has capabilities for commuter train service and borders the Union Pacific (previously Southern Pacific) tracks, none is offered at the moment. There isn't much bus service in Gilbert, and some Mesa north-south routes halt at Baseline Road before entering Gilbert. Some routes run at a 30-minute regularity during the week on 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.

Routes 108, 112, 156, and 184 are the only routes that offer Sunday service. Most individuals use cars or bicycles to move around. The proportion of households without cars in Gilbert is rather low. Gilbert households without a car in 2015 were 1.9%, and the number was essentially steady in 2016. (1.7 percent). In 2016, the national average was 8.7%. In 2016, Gilbert had 2.08 automobiles per home on average, which was higher than the 1.8 national average. 

2018 saw the beginning of Waymo testing in a small area of Gilbert's northwest side. 

Top News Websites 

Gilbert Sun News 

The Gilbert Sun News consistently covers local news, events, resident features, and goings-on in and around our bustling town. 

Town of Gilbert, Arizona 

By offering the most recent news regarding sports, business, the performing arts, health/safety concerns, human interest, and other topics, the Town of Gilbert, Arizona is committed to keeping its inhabitants informed and up to date. 

Population 

In Maricopa County, Arizona, there is a city called Gilbert. It will have a population of 285,756 in 2023, making it the 78th largest city in the United States and the fifth largest in Arizona. Gilbert's population has expanded by 6.66% from the most recent census, which showed a population of 267,918 in 2020, and is now rising at a pace of 2.13% yearly. Gilbert has a population density of 4,173 persons per square mile and a total length of approximately 69 miles. 

Gilbert has a 6.73% poverty rate and a $113,964 average household income. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. Gilbert's population is 33.9 years old on average for men and 35.1 years old on average for women. 

Gilbert's distinction as the most populous incorporated town in the country is one of its distinctive features. It is the sixth-largest municipality in the state by population.