Touring Gilbert, Arizona...
A Community of Excellence

Once known as the "Hay Capital of the World" in the early 1900s, Gilbert, Arizona has become a modern fast-growing town with a population of around 160,000 as of 2004. Gilbert is located in Maricopa County and is commonly referred to as "A Community of Excellence" by its residents and local officials. Gilbert has become an urban center and suburb of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, giving it tremendous business growth potential.

A Brief History of Gilbert

Gilbert is a young town that was incorporated in 1920. In 1902, a man named William Gilbert owned property where a rail siding was established for a rail line between Florence and Phoenix, which was owned by Arizona Eastern Railway. A small town began to form around the siding, and that town was eventually named Gilbert. Gilbert was primarily an agricultural town during its early years.

During the 1970s things began to change in Gilbert. A strip annexation approved by the Town Council covered 53 square miles of county land. The Town Council foresaw tremendous growth and wanted to be prepared. They were right. Gilbert has grown in population from around 5,000 in 1980 to an estimated 160,000 today! Although Gilbert has vastly grown, it is still known as a "town" instead of a city.

Tourism in Gilbert

Gilbert is a neighbor to the cities of Tempe, Mesa and Chandler, making it a great central place to visit for tourists. For nature lovers, the Riparian Institute offers fishing and interesting tours of its nature preserve where visitors can see rare birds and learn about plants. For a lesson in history, the Heritage District of Gilbert marks the original town of Gilbert and offers unique restaurants and shops. There's also the Gilbert Historical Society Museum, which captures Gilbert's history as well.

For a slightly busier scene, pedestrians can take a stroll through the Gilbert Town Square and see a movie at the theater or stop by one of the fine restaurants or retail shops. Families can enjoy Freestone Park on a warm day, where there are ball fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, a game room, and even a gymnasium to get in shape!

For bikers, the Central Trail System of Gilbert has 135 miles of outdoor adventure. There are marked and unmarked bike trails, equestrian trails, canal and non-canal trails.

Special Events in the Town of Gilbert

The Kid's Spring Fair and Expo is held the first Saturday each spring at Freestone Park. Also at Freestone Park on the last Saturday of September, there's the So Long to Summer Fest, featuring live bands, fireworks, food and beverages, and attractions for children. The Family Halloween Carnival occurs on the last Saturday of each October, where kids can get their face painted, decorate a pumpkin, participate in a costume parade, and more! The Concerts in the Park Series is in March at the gorgeous Freestone Park Amphitheater, offering a variety of music.

Gilbert Days is a "town holiday" when local residents celebrate the day when Gilbert Road was paved all the way through town and includes events such as a parade on Gilbert Road, a carnival, rodeo and a 5K run. It's held on the Friday before Thanksgiving each year. There are also Independence Day celebrations for summer tourists.

Considering a Move to Gilbert?

Gilbert is a great place to live. Its recent growth spurt hasn't eliminated Gilbert's "small town" atmosphere. Many of the communities are upscale, spacious and welcoming. Residents enjoy the benefits of living near Phoenix, which ranked as the fifth largest city in the United States. Gilbert also offers top-ranking school districts that have a great reputation.

Employment opportunities are growing rapidly in Gilbert as more companies become attracted to the area. Many of Gilbert's employed residents are in their professional years and well educated. Some of the top employment fields in the Phoenix area are transportation and utilities, professional and business services, government, education and finance. Amazingly, an estimated 1,000 new residents move to Gilbert each month.

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Touring Gilbert, Arizona - A community of Excellence