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Gilbert, Arizona

"Clean and Green"

From a tiny farming community called the 'Hay Shipping Capital of the World' to the largest town in Arizona, Gilbert's explosive growth embodies the modern Sunbelt boom.

Founded 1902 | Population 298,470 | Peak 298,470 (2024) | County Maricopa County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Gilbert, Arizona

1

1990 Explosive Suburban Growth: Gilbert grew from 29,000 to over 208,000 in 20 years, becoming one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the country as Phoenix's suburbs expanded southeast.

2

2010 Named Safest City in America: FBI data ranked Gilbert as the safest municipality in the U.S. with a population over 200,000, a reputation it maintained for several years.

3

1902 Railroad Town Established: Bobby Gilbert established a farming community along the Arizona Eastern Railroad, growing hay, cotton, and alfalfa in the irrigated Salt River Valley.

4

2015 Heritage District Redevelopment: The old downtown was revitalized as the Heritage District, with restaurants, breweries, and shops transforming former agricultural buildings.

5

1920 Town Incorporated: Gilbert incorporated with a few hundred residents, operating as a small agricultural community for most of the 20th century.

6

2000 Tech Employment Corridor: Major employers including Intel, GoDaddy, and Deloitte established operations near Gilbert, providing jobs for the fast-growing population.

7

2005 SanTan Village Opens: The regional shopping center became a retail anchor for the southeast Valley, reflecting Gilbert's maturation into a self-sufficient suburb.

8

2019 Gilbert Reaches Full Build-Out: With most available land developed, Gilbert shifted from explosive growth to infill development and redevelopment.

9

1940 Japanese Internment Camp at Gila River: The nearby Gila River internment camp housed over 13,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, a dark chapter in the region's history.

10

2023 Population Approaches 300,000: Gilbert's continued growth made it larger than cities like St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, despite still technically being a 'town.'.

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Complete Historical Timeline

1902 Government

Bobby Gilbert establishes farming community

1920 Government

Gilbert incorporated as a town

1940 Business

Remains small agricultural community

1970 Government

Population still under 2,000

1980 Architecture

Suburban development begins

1990 Government

Population explodes from 29,000

2000 Business

Tech employers establish nearby offices

2005 Business

SanTan Village shopping center opens

2010 Government

Named safest city in America (200K+)

2015 Architecture

Heritage District redevelopment begins

2020 Government

Population surpasses 267,000

2024 Government

Population approaches 300,000

Did You Know?

1

Gilbert was the fastest-growing municipality in the United States from 1990 to 2003, growing from 29,000 to over 170,000 residents.

2

Despite having nearly 300,000 residents, Gilbert is still technically a 'town' rather than a city — making it the largest town in Arizona.

3

Gilbert's population in 1970 was just 1,971 — meaning it has grown by over 15,000% in just over 50 years.

Famous People from Gilbert, Arizona

RF

Ryan Fitzpatrick

American Football Player · Born Nov 24, 1982 · Age 43

MS

MyKayla Skinner

Artistic Gymnast · Born Dec 9, 1996 · Age 29

NJ

Nick Johnson

Basketball Player · Born Dec 22, 1992 · Age 33

GE

Gavin Edwards

Basketball Player · Born Jan 15, 1988 · Age 38

AN

Alexander Naddour

Artistic Gymnast · Born Apr 3, 1991 · Age 34

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