About the Gilbert, Arizona Area 

Gilbert began as a ranching and agricultural town, and was incorporated in 1920. Residents appreciate its quality housing, school system, recreational activities, and business opportunities. Gilbert provides a comfortable suburban lifestyle with the urban conveniences of the Phoenix /Scottsdale/Mesa metropolitan area. The city upholds the traditional roots of its development from a farming community to a congenial, friendly, family-oriented city. 

Location/Distances Between Towns/Cities
Gilbert is located 22 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, in the East Valley. Mesa is 5 miles northeast of Gilbert, and Chandler is less than 8 miles to the west. There are a number of other towns within 15 miles of Gilbert, including Tempe, 12 miles to the northwest, and Sun Lakes, 12 miles to the southwest.

Airports
There are two primary airports that serve the East Valley, and the entire Phoenix/Scottsdale/Mesa metropolitan area. Williams Gateway Airport is 9 miles from Gilbert, in Phoenix. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is 18 miles away, also in Phoenix. Luke Air Force Base is located 44 miles from Gilbert, in Glendale. 

Terrain
The total land area of Gilbert is 43 square miles, and the city is at an elevation of 1,236 feet. As is true in the entire Valley of the Sun, Gilbert residents enjoy the natural beauty of the desert, and a climate that allows year-round outdoor activities. Gilbert is located in Maricopa County.  

Population
The estimated population of Gilbert, in April 2005, was 165,685. In the 1990’s, the population grew 265%, more than any other city in the country! Almost 95% of the adult residents have completed high school, and just under 50% have earned a bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree.  

Jobs
Gilbert has grown from a community with a farming history, into a developed community with many retail and commercial businesses. Many companies have relocated to Gilbert because of its positive attitude toward business.  

The primary industries providing employment are educational, health and social services (16.9%), manufacturing (16.4%), retail trade (13.1%), and professional, scientific, management, and administrative services (10%). The average commute for Gilbert residents is 29 minutes. 

Colleges/Universities
There are many colleges and universities within 20 miles of Gilbert. Those with a full-time enrollment of over 2,000 students include: Chandler/Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College, Scottsdale Community College, Rio Salado Community College, Al Collins Graphic Design School, Arizona State University-Main Campus, in Tempe, and the University of Phoenix-Phoenix Campus. 

Housing
Gilbert has many residential developments to choose from. There are planned communities with the convenience of retail/commercial businesses, parks, golf courses, tennis courts, boating and fishing, and horse trails, all within walking distance from your home. There are gated communities and properties available with additional acreage.  

Prices for single-family homes begin in the $200,000’s, and there are many listings in the $500,000 range. Additionally, there are many luxury estates and custom built homes with added acreage for over $1,000,000. 

Historic Sites
The Gilbert Historical Museum has artifacts and collections on display that provide an opportunity to connect with agricultural heritage of the town, and its rich history. It is a wonderful place for families to explore, and to further understand the roots of the community development of Gilbert.

Recreation
There is endless opportunity for outdoor and recreational activity in Gilbert. There are parks to enjoy, areas to walk and hike, and places to boat and fish. The town also provides equestrian trails for horse lovers.  

Tonto National Forest is not far from Gilbert, with additional natural splendors. 

Golf is hugely popular in the Valley of the Sun, and there are courses to suit everyone. There are four 18-hole public courses in Gilbert: Greenfield Lakes Golf Course, Kokopelli Golf Course, Trilogy Golf Course, and Western Skies Golf Club.  

There are so many excellent public and private courses in the East Valley, and in the Phoenix/Scottsdale metropolitan area --- truly a golfer’s paradise. (Please see the Things To Do Page under the Local Info Tab for a listing of many golf courses in the area.) 

Special Attractions/Events
Gilbert hosts one of the largest rodeos in the southwest each year. It is called Gilbert days, and celebrates when Gilbert Road was finally paved all the way through the town!
The annual week-long event is held in November, and includes a parade, carnival, 5K run, and other activities that honor the town’s heritage, in addition to the rodeo. 

Of course, nearby Phoenix offers all the amenities and attractions that a large metropolitan area affords, including upscale shopping and dining, professional opera, symphony and ballet companies, and outstanding museums, with art collections of every genre, as well as venues that showcase the glories of Native American history in Arizona. 

Interesting Facts
Maricopa County does not observe Daylight Savings Time. 

The growth of Gilbert can be greatly attributed to the creation of Roosevelt Dam. 

One of its nicknames was “Hay Capital of the World”. 

Gilbert ranks highest among large cities in prevalence of married couples. 

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