Gilbert, Arizona

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Gilbert is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Located southeast of Phoenix, Gilbert is home to 288,128 residents.<ref name="ESRI 2023">ESRI 2023</ref> It is the fifth-most populous municipality in Arizona and the 76th-most populous in the United States. It is considered a suburb of Phoenix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Incorporated on July 6, 1920, Gilbert was once known as the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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, Gilbert's first store, opened in 1910 and became the location of the first post office in 1912. The post office moved several times before settling on the east side of Gilbert Road in downtown, where it stands today. In 1912, many Mormons who had fled the Mormon colonies in Mexico due to the actions of Pancho Villa's forces settled in Gilbert. By 1915, they began holding church meetings at the Gilbert Elementary School. In 1918, they were organized into the Gilbert Ward.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> from 1911 until the late 1920s.

Geography

Gilbert is in the southeastern Phoenix metropolitan area. It is south of Mesa, northeast of Chandler, and northwest of Queen Creek.<ref>Chandler, AZ, 7.5 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS, 1952 (1982 rev.)</ref>

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023" />

Climate

Gilbert has a subtropical, hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with dry and hot summers, and mild to warm winters, with little rainfall.

Template:Weather box

Climate data for Gilbert
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily daylight hours	10.0	11.0	12.0	13.0	14.0	14.5	14.0	13.5	12.5	11.5	10.5	10.0	12.2
Source: Weather Atlas<ref name="Weather Atlas">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

Template:Prose Template:US Census population

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 267,918 people, 88,896 households, and 69,603 families residing in the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There were 93,230 housing units.

**Gilbert town, Arizona – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name="2020CensusP2">Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	87,597	151,930	178,671	79.85%	72.88%	66.69%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,515	6,606	9,601	2.29%	3.17%	3.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	559	1,394	1,998	0.51%	0.67%	0.75%
Asian alone (NH)	3,863	11,877	17,690	3.52%	5.70%	6.60%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	120	406	574	0.11%	0.19%	0.21%
Some other race alone (NH)	111	264	1,211	0.10%	0.13%	0.45%
Mixed race or multi-racial (NH)	1,906	4,902	13,041	1.74%	2.35%	4.87%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	13,026	31,074	45,132	11.87%	14.91%	16.85%
Total	109,697	208,453	267,918	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

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%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fastest growing municipality in the United States from 1990 to 2003 (U.S. Census Bureau)
4th fastest growing municipality in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau – 2009)
One of the top 25 safest cities in the United States<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
34.5% of Gilbert residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref name="Nielsen Claritas">Nielsen Claritas Template:Webarchive</ref>
Highest household median income in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area with population 50,000+ (U.S. Census Bureau – 2005)

According to Nielsen's Claritas demographics,<ref name="Nielsen Claritas" /> in 2009 the estimated racial makeup of the town was:

81.5% White
15.4% Hispanics or Latinos
3.1% Black or African American
0.8% Native American
4.7% Asian
0.2% Pacific Islander
6.0% from other races
3.7% from two or more races

2009 estimated population data by gender/age:<ref name="Nielsen Claritas" />

31.37 average age male/female. By 2019, the average age was reported as 33.6.<ref name="Steinbach2019">Template:Cite news</ref>
50.2% male
- 30.0 est. average age
49.8% female
- 31.8 est. average age
37.1% population under 21
33.3% population under 18
70.0% population over 16
66.8% population over 18
62.9% population over 21
5.3% population over 65

2009 estimated population age 15+ by marital status:<ref name="Nielsen Claritas" />

20.9% never married
66.7% married, spouse present
2.2% married, spouse absent
2.1% widowed
8.1% divorced

2009 estimated population age 25+ educational attainment:<ref name="Nielsen Claritas" />

92.3% high school/GED or higher
37.5% bachelor's degree or higher. A 2019 report put the rate at close to 50% for residents over the age of 25.<ref name="Steinbach2019" />
10.5% master's degree or higher

2009 estimated household by household income:<ref name="Nielsen Claritas" />

$109,213 average household income
$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.<ref name="Steinbach2019" />
$35,559 per capita Income
2.3% of families were below the poverty level

Religion

Various religious denominations are represented in Gilbert. The town has been known for its high population of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a fact evidenced by the building of the Gilbert Arizona Temple, which was dedicated on March 2, 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Gilbert Arizona Temple, ldschurchtemples.com. Retrieved April 27, 2008.</ref>

Economy

File:Gilbert Civic Center.jpg

Town Hall building at the Civic Center

File:Gilbert SW01.jpg

Gilbert Historical Museum

File:Picture of lake front in Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert, Arizona, USA.jpg

A waterfront in the Val Vista Lakes community in Gilbert

File:Downtown Gilbert - SWC Gilbert & Page - 2009-03-23.JPG

The Liberty Market with the Gilbert water tower (in background), pictured in March 2009

File:SanTan Village - North - 2009-09-20.JPG

SanTan Village in September 2009

Largest employers

According to its 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gilbert's top employers are:

#	Employer	# of employees
1	Gilbert Public Schools	2,918
2	Banner Health	2,539
3	Town of Gilbert	1,815
4	Fry's Food and Drug	1,484
5	Higley Unified School District	1,296
6	Northrop Grumman	1,152
7	Walmart	1,111
8	Dignity Health	1,052
9	Deloitte	835
10	Silent Aire USA	778

Arts and culture

The town's official tourism site, Discover Gilbert,<ref>Discover Gilbert</ref> 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 Town Hall is home to a 9/11 Memorial<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> that features an eight-foot steel girder beam<ref>Template:Citation</ref> that held up the North Tower of the World Trade Center.Template:Citation needed Former Gilbert Fire Chief Collin DeWitt raised money for three years to create the memorial and bring the beam from New York City to Arizona. He drove to collect it himself along with then Assistant Fire Chief Jim Jobusch.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The memorial's design angles the beam, putting it in reach of everyone. Four granite walls bear the names of those killed in the attacks. Concrete was poured in the shape of a pentagon for the memorial's foundation,<ref>Template:Citation Template:Cbignore</ref> and is surrounded by bricks that bear the names of some of those who donated to the memorial's creation. The memorial was unveiled in a ceremony on the attacks' 10th anniversary, on September 11, 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Historic place

Gilbert Elementary School was built in 1913, and now houses the Gilbert Historical Museum. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com">National Register of Historic Places Maricopa County, Arizona</ref>

Parks and recreation

The Gilbert Parks and Recreation department provides 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. It is also recognized as a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

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 do.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Unlike most of its neighboring communities, Gilbert is theoretically vulnerable to annexation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The town is part of Template:Ushr, which is represented by Republican and Gilbert resident Andy Biggs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The mayor is Brigette Peterson.<ref name="mayor_source">Template:Cite web</ref>

Mayors of Gilbert

Mayors of Gilbert, Arizona

Image	Mayor	Years	Notes
	Everett R. Wilbur	July 16, 1920 – August 2, 1921	<ref name="mayors">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="GHM">Template:Cite web</ref>
	E.R. Stoner	August 6, 1921 – November 1, 1921	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	R.W. Merrell	November 7, 1921 – June 4, 1923	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Claude J. Cullumber	June 22, 1923 – June 1, 1925	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	R.R. Creed	June 18, 1925 – June 7, 1927	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Walter W. Page	June 7, 1927 – June 7, 1937	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Ward C. Burk	June 10, 1937 – June 5, 1939	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Wayne McFrederick	July 10, 1939 – July 10, 1943	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Ward C. Burk	July 5, 1943 – July 4, 1945	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	M.S. Vaughn	June 12, 1945 – June 9, 1947	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	R.D. Hearne	June 25, 1947 – January 3, 1949	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Roy Fuller	February 7, 1949 – June 6, 1949	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Tom Clement	July 11, 1949 – June 13, 1955	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	George Russell	June 16, 1955 – January 9, 1956	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Kenyon Udall	January 17, 1956 – June 8, 1959	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Morris Cooper	July 1, 1959 – June 12, 1967	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	John Moore	July 5, 1967 – September 11, 1967	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Jack Smith	October 9, 1967 – June 9, 1969	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Vernon Gist	July 1, 1969 – June 14, 1971	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Dale Hallock	July 1, 1971 – June 14, 1976	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	David Thompson	July 21, 1976 – August 11, 1978	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Ed Lane	August 22, 1978 – May 29, 1981	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	L.J. Reed	June 2, 1981 – June 2, 1987	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	James Farley	June 9, 1987 – June 6, 1989	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Steven Berman	June 13, 1989 – June 4, 1991	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Jo Albright	June 4, 1991 – April 28, 1992	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Wilburn Brown	May 26, 1992 – December 4, 1992	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Wilburn Brown	March 16, 1993 – June 10, 1997	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Cynthia Dunham	June 10, 1997 – June 12, 2001	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Steven Berman	June 12, 2001 – June 15, 2009	<ref name=mayors/>
	John W. Lewis	June 16, 2009 – July 19, 2016	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
File:Jenn Daniels 53531678394.jpg	Jenn Daniels	July 19, 2016 – August 18, 2020	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>
	Scott Anderson	August 18, 2020 – January 12, 2021	Appointed by a 7–0 vote of the city council after the resignation of Jenn Daniels<ref name=mayors/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=GHM/>
	Brigette Peterson	January 12, 2021 – incumbent	<ref name=mayors/><ref name=GHM/>

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Education

Most of Gilbert is zoned to schools in the Gilbert Public Schools, while other parts are zoned to districts including the Chandler Unified School District, Mesa Public Schools, and the Higley Unified School District. Also in Gilbert are charter schools such as Eduprize (the first charter school in Arizona), American Leadership Academy, and Legacy Traditional School. The town is also home to Gilbert Christian Schools, a chain of private schools. In 2018, Park University opened the Gilbert Campus Center after leasing Template:Convert at the University Building in the city's Heritage District.<ref name="ParkGilbert2019">Template:Cite news</ref>

Infrastructure

Transportation

Template:Main 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 Gilbert's northern boundary 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 is relatively close to Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, in east Mesa, and is a 25-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

A park-and-ride facility is 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 car or bike. Gilbert has a low proportion of households without cars. In 2015, 1.9% of Gilbert households lacked a car, and the figure was 1.7% in 2016. The national average in 2016 was 8.7%. Gilbert averaged 2.08 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 2018 Waymo started testing in a small portion of Gilbert's northwest.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>