Once known for being the “Hay Capital of the World,” the town had a simple start.

Gilbert, Arizona is located in Maricopa County.  Gilbert is the seventh largest city in Arizona. Gilbert location: eight miles southeast of Phoenix and directly south of Mesa. Although it is large and growing rapidly, Gilbert is still incorporated as a town rather than as a city; it has the highest population of any area incorporated as a town in the United States.

Today, Gilbert is a special town. It is a town that is working hard to preserve it small town charm, while promoting the many high tech companies that have come to the area. The town’s motto, “Community of Excellence,” reveals the Gilbert of today. It is a town planning for its progressive future.

The town of Gilbert is using a great concept for residential developments. These new developments include planned communities with parks, equestrian trails, fishing, boating, and the convenience of retail/commercial businesses, all within walking distances. Properties range from gated communities with equestrian privileges to single family homes. Many homes in the area sit on mini ranch sections. Prospective residents will be able to locate the perfect home in Gilbert.

The town is named for William Gilbert who offered his own land to the railroad and soon had a rail siding on his property. A rail siding was an extra section of rail that allowed the loading and unloading without blocking the tracks. Gilbert essentially had customers coming right to his property and buying his crops. Pretty soon a town was established and named after him.

Gilbert annually hosts a large rodeo. This happens in November and is referred to as Gilbert Days. There are parades and other activities to celebrate the town’s rich heritage. The Gilbert Historical Museum is another great place to get a taste of Gilbert’s agricultural beginning. With many artifacts for display, one can really experience the great past and appreciate the forward thinking of the Gilbert council. Because of the Town Council’s determination to leave room for future growth, Gilbert approved a 53 square-mile annexation strip. This was a good decision as Gilbert’s population quintupled from the 1980s to the 1990s.

Gilbert is a beautiful town with the great combination of small-town friendliness, a slower pace of life with plenty of trails for hiking and lots of fishing, and big-city business sense that will long preserve the Gilbert way of life.

With a nod to its rich agricultural history and an eye toward its future as a haven from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, Gilbert is a perfect mix of past and present and this ensures Gilbert and its residents a successful future.

Today, you will find a family oriented town. Gilbert encourages new businesses and has the land for development.

Housing Cost

Single family housing; 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms range $220,000 - $2,875,000. Condo; patio home;town homes; lofts, 3 bedrooms; 2 bath; range $235,000 0 $575,000

Demographics

Estimated population in July 2005: 173,989. Gilbert covers about 76 square miles and has an elevation of 1,233 feet above sea level.

Zip codes: 85233, 85233, 85296

Climate

Gilbert, AZ climate is hot during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 99.90 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 37.60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Gilbert is 16.89 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is March with an average rainfall of 2.35 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com