Editing Gila Bend, Arizona

{{Short description|Town in Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Gila Bend, Arizona
 | settlement_type          = [[Town]]
 | image_skyline            = Gilabendsign.jpg
 | image_caption            = A humorous, numerically outdated sign welcomes people to Gila Bend.
 | imagesize                = 250x250px
 | image_flag               = Flag of Gila Bend, Arizona.gif
 | image_seal               = Gila Bend-Town of Gila Bend.jpg
 | seal_size                = 92px
 | image_map                = File:Maricopa County Arizona Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Gila Bend Highlighted 0427050.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250px
 | map_caption              = Location in Maricopa County, Arizona
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | pushpin_map              = Arizona#USA
 | pushpin_label            = Gila Bend
 | pushpin_map_caption      = 
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Arizona|County]]
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Arizona]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa]]
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name              = Tommy Sikes
 | leader_title2            = [[Town Manager]]
 | leader_name2             = Katherine Valenzuela
 | established_title        = Founded
 | established_date         = 1872
 | established_title2       = Incorporated
 | established_date2        = 1962
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{Cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Arizona |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_04.txt |access-date=May 11, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 166.71
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 64.37
 | area_land_km2            = 166.71
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 64.37
 | area_water_km2           = 0.00
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
 | elevation_ft             = 696
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |title=Gila Bend town, Arizona: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US0427050&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
 | population_total         = 1892
 | population_metro         = 
 | population_density_km2   = 11.35
 | population_density_sq_mi = 29.39
 | population_est           = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | timezone                 = [[Mountain Standard Time Zone|MST]] (no [[Daylight savings time|DST]])
 | utc_offset               = -7
 | coordinates              = {{coord|32|56|52|N|112|43|01|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name=gnis/>
 | timezone_DST             = 
 | utc_offset_DST           = 
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 | postal_code              = 85337
 | area_code                = [[Area code 928|928]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 04-27050
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 2412681<ref name="gnis">{{GNIS|2412681}}</ref>
 | website                  = {{URL|www.gilabendaz.org}}
 | footnotes                = 
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
}}

'''Gila Bend''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|iː|l|ə|_|ˈ|b|ɛ|n|d}}; [[O'odham language|O'odham]]: '''Hila Wi:n'''), founded in 1872, is a town in [[Maricopa County, Arizona|Maricopa County]], [[Arizona]], United States. The town is named for an approximately 90-degree bend in the [[Gila River]], which is near the community's current location.<ref name="VW">{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Will |title=History and Information About Gila Bend, Arizona |url=http://jeff.scott.tripod.com/gilabend.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514171929/http://jeff.scott.tripod.com/gilabend.html |archive-date=May 14, 2006 |access-date=December 6, 2006 |website=reprinted from Arizona's names: X marks the place |publisher=Falconer Publishing / Treasure Chest Publications}}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population of the town was 1,892.<ref name="Census 2020" />

Just outside the town is the San Lucy district (O'odham: Weco Cekṣanĭ) of the [[Tohono O'odham Nation]], with a small settlement, [[San Lucy Village, Arizona|San Lucy]] (O'odham: Si:l Mek) bordering the town itself.

==History==
=== Oyadaibuc ===
The town of Gila Bend is situated near an ancient [[Hohokam]] village. Father [[Eusebio Francisco Kino]] was the first European to visit, arriving in 1699 on his first journey of exploration to the [[Colorado River]]. The Hohokam site along the fertile banks of the [[Gila River]] had been abandoned, and other tribes lived in the vicinity. 132 [[Pima people]] lived in a [[ranchería]] called ''Oyadaibuc'', or as Kino named it ''San Felipe y Santiago del Oyadaibuc'', near the modern town, and other Pima lived in three rancherias up river to the north mixed with the [[Maricopa people|Cocomaricopa or Opa]]. During one of his three visits to Gila Bend, Kino counted 960 Opas living in their own rancherias down river to the west of Oyadaibuc as far as a few miles beyond [[Agua Caliente, Arizona|Agua Caliente]].<ref name="Wilson">John P. Wilson, ''Peoples of the Middle Gila: A Documentary History of the Pimas and Maricopas, 1500s–1945'', Researched and Written for the Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, Arizona, 1999.</ref>{{rp|26–27}} The Opa and Pima used the flood waters of the river to irrigate their crops.

Oyadaibuc was also visited by [[Juan Bautista de Anza]], commander of the Presidio at [[Tubac]] and founder of the city of [[San Francisco]], and by Father [[Francisco Garcés|Francisco Tomas Garces]] in 1774.<ref name="town" /> As late as the 1820s Maricopa were living at Gila Bend. After the 1820s, the Maricopa, under relentless pressure from the [[Quechan|Yuma]] and other tribes, and population loss from epidemics, were compelled to leave the Gila Bend and join the Pima in the Middle Gila region. By the time of the [[California Gold Rush]], the Maricopa villages were all located east of the Sierra Estrella, on the Gila River, below the [[Pima Villages]].<ref name=Wilson/>{{rp|111–112}}

===Tezotal===
During the [[Mexican–American War]], the expeditions of [[Stephen W. Kearny|Kearny]] (1846), [[Philip St. George Cooke|Cooke]] (1847) and [[Lawrence P. Graham|Graham]] (1847) passed through the area but found no village. Only Graham found corn stubble on the riverside with which to graze his cattle.<ref>Paul H. Ezell (1963). "The Maricopas, An Identification From Documentary Sources", Number 6, ''Anthropological Papers of the University of Arizona''. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press. pp. 21–22. {{ISBN?}}</ref> From 1849, what became the [[Southern Emigrant Trail]] passed through the area, which by 1854 had acquired the name ''Tezotal'' or ''Tesotal'', from the scientific name of the [[Olneya|desert ironwood tree]] (''Olneya tesota''), given it in the botanical report of the Boundary Survey along the Gila River led by [[William H. Emory]].<ref>William H. Emory, [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/213/#/summary ''Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey: Made under the Direction of the Secretary of the Interior''], Volume 1, United States. Dept. of the Interior, A. O. P. Nicholson, Washington, 1857, pp. 117, 132</ref>

===Gila Ranch===
From 1857, the place at {{coord|33|00|01.87|N|112|41|55.83|W|display=inline}} was named "Gila Ranch" and was a [[stagecoach]] water and camping stop on the [[San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line]]. In 1858. as "Gila Ranch Station", it was a [[stage station]] on the more famous [[Butterfield Overland Mail in New Mexico Territory#3rd Division|Butterfield Overland Mail]] route to California. Gila Bend Station was located {{convert|17|mi}} east of [[Murderer's Grave Station]] and {{convert|40|mi}} west of Maricopa Wells Station across the waterless Forty Mile Desert. In 1859, [[Desert Station]] was established with its own well on [[West Prong Waterman Wash]], roughly midway across the Forty Mile Desert. Also two tanks were established, one midway between Desert Station and Gila Ranch and the other midway between Desert Station and Maricopa Wells stations, to water the horses. The two riverside stations carried the water to supply these tanks. In 1860 the Gila Ranch station was burned down, but soon rebuilt.<ref>Sanders, Kirby (2013). '' Butterfield Overland Mail Route Through New Mexico and Arizona'', Kirby Sanders and Amazon Createspace, pp. 128–132. {{ISBN?}}</ref> In 1861, the Butterfield line shut down, but during the [[American Civil War]] Gila Ranch remained a stop for freighters to and from the riverport of [[Arizona City (Yuma, Arizona)|Arizona City]] on the [[Colorado River]], passing travelers, the troops of the [[Confederate Army]] that briefly passed through and then the [[California Column]] of the [[Union Army]] that invaded [[Confederate Arizona]] and occupied [[New Mexico Territory]] in 1862.

===Gila Bend===
After the Civil War, from 1866 other stage routes were established in the [[Arizona Territory]], and the Gila Ranch Station again was an active stage station. A settlement, Gila Bend, grew up around it from 1865 and acquired a post office at the station on May 1, 1871.<ref>Theobald, John and Lillian (1961), ''Arizona Territorial Post Offices and Postmasters'', Arizona Historical Foundation, Phoenix, p. 102 {{ISBN?}}</ref> Stage and freight routes, especially from the mining camps and [[Boomtown|boom towns]] in central Arizona, converged here especially after the railroad arrived in 1879. In 1880, after wells had been drilled by the railroad near their Gila Bend station (that was located away from the river), the population began to move to settle at a new town {{convert|4|mi|0}} south-southwest of the old one near the station. Among the first to move was the postmaster at the old stage station, now postmaster of the new town.<ref>Will C. Barnes, ''Arizona Place Names''; University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1960.</ref>

The nickname the "Crossroads of the Southwest" stems from the area having been part of an important transportation route in the settling, development and growth of the [[American Southwest]]. Gila Bend was the "center of a wheel", with spokes leading in many directions.<ref name="town" />

A more recent event in the area was the [[1995 Palo Verde, Arizona derailment|October 1995 sabotage]] of the Amtrak ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' train.<ref name="train">{{Cite web |title=At least one dead, 100-plus injured in Amtrak derailment |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9510/amtrak/ |access-date=December 6, 2006 |website=CNN.com |publisher=Cable News Network, Inc}}</ref>

On December 14, 2006, Volkswagen of America, Inc., leased {{convert|11900|acre|km2}} of land at a cost of $55 million for 25 years, {{convert|10|mi|0}} west of Gila Bend, on which they plan to develop a new automobile proving ground.<ref name="history">{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2006 |title=State Land Department Announces Auction Success With Volkswagen Of America, Inc. |url=http://www.land.state.az.us/news/2006/1214_result.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223071019/http://www.land.state.az.us/news/2006/1214_result.htm |archive-date=February 23, 2007 |access-date=January 24, 2007 |website=State Land Department News & Information |publisher=Arizona State Land Department}}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Gila Bend Horse Sculpture.jpg|thumb|left| Roadside sculpture in Gila Bend, AZ]] -->
Gila Bend enjoys a minor notability among tourists and aficionados of [[roadside attraction]]s. Besides the quirky welcome sign, the town boasts several roadside sculptures<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gila Bend, Arizona |url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/roger/QueryTips.php3?tip_AttractionName=&tip_Town=gila+bend&tip_State=AZ&Submit=Find |access-date=December 6, 2006 |website=Roadside America}}</ref> and the Space Age Lodge motel and restaurant (opened in 1963), named for its "Space Age" themed architecture and decor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Western Space Age Lodge and Restaurant |url=http://www.bestwesternspaceagelodge.com/ |access-date=February 10, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gila Bend |url=http://doney.net/aroundaz/gilabend.htm |access-date=December 6, 2006 |website=Around AZ}}</ref>

In 2010 [[Abengoa Solar]] secured a US$1.45 Billion loan guarantee to build a large 280 [[megawatt]] [[concentrated solar power]] plant in Gila Bend. It was estimated that the project would employ a peak of 1,500 workers, with an operational permanent employment of approximately 85 workers.<ref name="Solar Plant">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Rebecca |date=December 30, 2010 |title=Solar Plant to Generate Power After Sundown |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204204004576049571490850918?mod=googlenews_wsj |access-date=January 5, 2011 |website=online.wsj.com |publisher=Wall Street Journal, Inc |format=Webpage}}</ref> The [[Solana Generating Station]] began providing power for [[Arizona Public Service]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Randazzo |first=Ryan |date=June 15, 2015 |title=Large solar plant fails to reach its energy capacity |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/2015/06/16/large-solar-fails-energy-capacity/28795197/ |access-date=January 23, 2016 |website=azcentral.com |publisher=Arizona Republic |format=Webpage}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{expand section|date=September 2011}}
The town is in southwestern Maricopa County, just off [[Interstate 8]] on [[State Route 85 (Arizona)|Arizona State Route 85]], which provides access between I-8 and [[Interstate 10 in Arizona|Interstate 10]] to the north of Gila Bend. In recognition of historical routes that pass through the area, the town's website refers to Gila Bend as "The Crossroads of the Southwest".<ref name="town">{{Cite web |title=Town of Gila Bend – The Crossroads of the Southwest |url=http://www.gilabendaz.org/ |access-date=December 6, 2006 |website=Town of Gila Bend web site |publisher=Town of Gila Bend}}</ref> It is {{convert|68|mi}} southwest of [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] via I-10 and AZ 85, {{convert|122|mi}} northwest of [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]] via I-10 and I-8, and {{convert|116|mi}} east of [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]] via I-8.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|64.4|sqmi}}, all of it land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021" /> Situated at {{convert|735|ft}} above sea level, Gila Bend has the lowest elevation of any city in Maricopa County and in Greater Phoenix overall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hedding |first=Judy |date=June 29, 2019 |title=Elevations of Cities in Maricopa County, Arizona |url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/elevations-of-cities-in-maricopa-county-2682394 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925030335/https://www.tripsavvy.com/elevations-of-cities-in-maricopa-county-2682394 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |access-date=August 11, 2020 |publisher=tripsavvy}}</ref>

===Climate===

Gila Bend has an [[arid]] desert climate, characterized by extremely hot [[summer]]s and warm [[winter]]s. The average annual rainfall is approximately {{convert|7|in|mm}}.

During the winter months, daytime highs average about {{convert|65|to|75|F|C}}. As typical with the [[desert]] in relatively undeveloped areas, there is nothing to keep the heat continuing after the sun sets, so temperatures rapidly drop after sunset. Sometimes this swing can be larger than 30 degrees. This means that average [[winter]]time night lows are about {{convert|40|to|50|F|C}}, with an occasional night lower than {{convert|40|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The all time lowest recorded temperature in Gila Bend was {{convert|10|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, which occurred on January 13, 1963.

Gila Bend has extremely hot summers with the highest temperatures recorded for the state of Arizona, and temperatures at or exceeding {{convert|110|°F|°C|abbr=on}} are the norm for the entirety of summer as well as the beginning of September. Even the month of May experiences some days above {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. With an average July high of {{convert|109|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, temperatures exceeding {{convert|115|°F|°C|abbr=on}} are common for the area, especially for that particular month. Lows during the summer are generally in the upper 70s and low 80s. The all-time highest recorded temperature in Gila Bend is {{convert|122|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, which occurred on June 26, 1990, and again on July 28, 1995.

{{Weather box
|location = Gila Bend, Arizona, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 90
|Feb record high F = 95
|Mar record high F = 101
|Apr record high F = 110
|May record high F = 121
|Jun record high F = 122
|Jul record high F = 122
|Aug record high F = 120
|Sep record high F = 120
|Oct record high F = 114
|Nov record high F = 99
|Dec record high F = 90

|Jan avg record high F = 79.5
|Feb avg record high F = 83.5
|Mar avg record high F = 92.3
|Apr avg record high F = 101.0
|May avg record high F = 107.8
|Jun avg record high F = 113.6
|Jul avg record high F = 116.1
|Aug avg record high F = 114.8
|Sep avg record high F = 111.1
|Oct avg record high F = 103.6
|Nov avg record high F = 90.3
|Dec avg record high F = 78.8
|year avg record high F = 116.8

|Jan high F = 71.1
|Feb high F = 74.8
|Mar high F = 81.8
|Apr high F = 89.5
|May high F = 97.8
|Jun high F = 107.3
|Jul high F = 109.2
|Aug high F = 108.6
|Sep high F = 103.7
|Oct high F = 92.9
|Nov high F = 79.7
|Dec high F = 69.5
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 56.2
|Feb mean F = 59.6
|Mar mean F = 65.6
|Apr mean F = 72.1
|May mean F = 80.3
|Jun mean F = 89.5
|Jul mean F = 95.0
|Aug mean F = 94.6
|Sep mean F = 88.7
|Oct mean F = 76.5
|Nov mean F = 63.8
|Dec mean F = 54.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 41.3
|Feb low F = 44.3
|Mar low F = 49.3
|Apr low F = 54.7
|May low F = 62.7
|Jun low F = 71.7
|Jul low F = 80.7
|Aug low F = 80.6
|Sep low F = 73.6
|Oct low F = 60.1
|Nov low F = 47.9
|Dec low F = 40.0
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 29.0
|Feb avg record low F = 34.0
|Mar avg record low F = 38.2
|Apr avg record low F = 44.2
|May avg record low F = 52.2
|Jun avg record low F = 62.0
|Jul avg record low F = 70.3
|Aug avg record low F = 70.8
|Sep avg record low F = 61.5
|Oct avg record low F = 45.5
|Nov avg record low F = 34.8
|Dec avg record low F = 27.8
|year avg record low F = 25.5

|Jan record low F = 10
|Feb record low F = 23
|Mar record low F = 25
|Apr record low F = 28
|May record low F = 39
|Jun record low F = 42
|Jul record low F = 47
|Aug record low F = 54
|Sep record low F = 37
|Oct record low F = 31
|Nov record low F = 22
|Dec record low F = 15

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.93
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.67
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.26
|May precipitation inch = 0.35
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.13
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.59
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.94
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.30
|Oct precipitation inch = 0.37
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.46
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.58
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 2.4
|Feb precipitation days = 3.1
|Mar precipitation days = 2.5
|Apr precipitation days = 0.9
|May precipitation days = 0.5
|Jun precipitation days = 0.1
|Jul precipitation days = 2.5
|Aug precipitation days = 3.9
|Sep precipitation days = 1.5
|Oct precipitation days = 1.2
|Nov precipitation days = 1.3
|Dec precipitation days = 2.6

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NOAA">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Gila Bend 2SE, AZ |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00023393&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |access-date=April 7, 2023 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name="NOWData">{{Cite web |title=NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Phoenix |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=psr |access-date=April 7, 2023 |publisher=National Weather Service}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 199
| 1920 = 745
| 1930 = 1275
| 1960 = 1813
| 1970 = 1795
| 1980 = 1585
| 1990 = 1747
| 2000 = 1980
| 2010 = 1922
| 2020 = 1892
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 1876
| estref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=April 14, 2024}}</ref>
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{Cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=June 4, 2016 |publisher=Census.gov}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 1,980 people, 659 households, and 492 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|86.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 766 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 51.3% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 1.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 10.3% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 32.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.3% from two or more races. 52.6% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 659 households, out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.51.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.9% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,895, and the median income for a family was $30,403. Males had a median income of $25,284 versus $20,588 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,793. About 22.2% of families and 24.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 23.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Historic properties==
{{Lists of historic properties}}
This is a list of some of the remaining historic structures in Gila Bend.
* The '''Stout Hotel''' was built in 1927 and is located at 113 East Pima Street. Known as "The Jewel of the Desert", the hotel ceased its operations in the 1980s. The hotel is listed as historical by the Henry C. Trost Historic Organization. The building was listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on September 24, 2018, ref. #100002980.
* '''Gatlin Site''' – address restricted. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places October 15, 1966, reference# 66000183.
* '''Gila Bend Overpass''' – The overpass was built in 1933–34. It is located on the Business Route 8 over the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]] railroad line. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, reference# 88001607.
* The '''Gila Bend Steam Locomotive Water Stop''' – was built in 1900 and is located near Murphy Street.
* '''[[Gillespie Dam Bridge|Gillespie Dam Highway Bridge]]''' – Northwest of Gila Bend. The bridge was built in 1927 over the Gila River and is located on Old Highway 80 north of Gila Bend and south of Arlington between the Buckeye Hills and the Gila Bend Mountains in Maricopa County. The bridge was at the time the longest highway bridge in the state of Arizona. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1981, reference #81000136.
* '''[[Gillespie Dam]]''' – ruins of the Gillespie Dam as viewed from Gila Bend.
* '''Painted Rock Petroglyph Site''' – Along Rocky Point Road Northwest of Gila Bend. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1977, reference# 77000238.
The following is not pictured:
* The '''Fortaleza''' – address restricted. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places June 23, 1969, reference# 69000035.

==Historic structures pictured==
The following are the images of the historic structures in Gila Bend and its surrounding areas.
{{Gallery
|title= Historic Gila Bend<br />[[File: Gila Bend-Stout Hotel sign-1927.jpg|100px|thumb|center|The Stout Hotel sign]]
|width=180px
|height=200px
|align=center
|File: Gila Bend-Stout Hotel-1927-5.jpg |The Stout Hotel<ref>[http://www.henrytrost.org/buildings/stouts-hotel/ Henry C. Trost Historical Organization]</ref>
|File: Gila Bend-Stout Hotel-1927-3.jpg |Different view of the Stout Hotel
|File: Gila Bend-Stout Hotel-1927-7.jpg|Stout Hotel main door
|File: Gila Bend-Stout Hotel-1927-6.jpg|Front view of the Stout Hotel
|File: Gatlin Site.jpg|Gatlin site
|File: Gila Bend-Gila Bend Overpass-1933-3.jpg|The Gila Bend Overpass
|File: Gila Bend-Gila Bend Overpass-1933-1.jpg|Different view of the Gila Bend Overpass
|File: Gila Bend-Water Stop-1920.jpg|The Gila Bend Steam Locomotive Water Stop was built in 1900 and is located near Murphy Street.
|File:Buckeye-Gillespie Dam Bridge Marker.JPG|The historic Gillespie Dam Bridge marker
|File:Buckeye-Gillespie Dam Bridge-1927-3.JPG |The historic Gillespie Dam Bridge
|File:Buckeye-Gila River Bridge-1927-2.JPG |Front view of the historic Gillespie Dam Bridge
|File:Buckeye-Gillespie Dam Bridge-1927-1.JPG |Different view of the historic Gillespie Dam Bridge
|File:Maricopa County-Gillespie Dam-1921-7.jpg|Ruins of the Gillespie Dam
|File:Gila Bend-Painted Rock Petroglyph Site -1.jpg|Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
|File:Gila Bend-Painted Rock Petroglyph Site -2.jpg|Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
|File:Gila Bend-Painted Rock Petroglyph Site -4.jpg|Painted Rock Petroglyph Site
|File: Gila Bend-Gila Bend Municipal Airport-2.jpg|Entrance of the Gila Bend Municipal Airport
|File: Gila Bend- Gila Bend municipal Airport-1.jpg|Retired Arizona National Guard Aircraft in the main entrance of the Gila Bend Municipal Airport
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gila Bend, Arizona}}
* {{official website|www.gilabendaz.org}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930083403/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907001,00.htm "Death at Gila Bend"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. March 26, 1973.

{{Maricopa County, Arizona}}
{{Phoenix Metropolitan Area}}
{{Butterfield3}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Gila River]]
[[Category:Towns in Maricopa County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Arizona placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1872]]
[[Category:Butterfield Overland Mail in New Mexico Territory]]
[[Category:San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line]]
[[Category:1872 establishments in Arizona Territory]]
[[Category:Phoenix metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Stagecoach stops in the United States]]