About Gilbert, AZ

Gilbert is a town in Maricopa County,  located southeast of Phoenix within the city's metropolitan area. Incorporated on July 6, 1920, Gilbert was once known as the "Hay Shipping Capital of the World", it is the fifth-largest municipality in Arizona and the fourth-largest in the Phoenix metro area. It covers an area of nearly 69 square miles with a populatiion of approximately 268,000. The ZIP codes are 85233, 85234, 85295, 85296, 85297, and 85298. The area code is 480.

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. 

Ayer's Grocery Store, the first store in Gilbert, opened in 1910 and became the location of the first post office in 1912. The location of the town post office moved several times before settling on the east side of Gilbert Road in downtown, where it still stands today. 

In 1912, many Mormons who had fled the Mormon colonies in Mexico due to the actions of the forces of Pancho Villa settled in Gilbert. 

By 1915, they began holding church meetings at the Gilbert Elementary School. In 1918, they were organized into the Gilbert Ward. 

Incorporated in July 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" from 1911 until the late 1920s.  

In 2019, the town ranked highly on three national surveys, related to safety, livability and family life; it was named the fourth-safest (of 182 communities), twelfth-most livable town, and seventh-best place to raise a family in the United States.  

Gilbert Days

Everyone loves a parade but if you havent experienced the rest of the towns signature Western heritage celebration, then its time to pony up to Gilbert Days. The November week-long celebration of all things cowboy begins with a Pony Express ride. Riders leave from a local post office and stop in neighboring towns to invite people to a celebration that includes barrel racing, a rodeo, a dance and a parade with a royal court. A Saturday festival includestwo stages of music and family entertainment and food vendors.

Heritage District

Here history meets entertainment with modern restaurant and breweries a stones throw from any corner. The historic area is in the midst of a surge of economic development with new restauarants opening or expanding including Liberty Market, which started as a grocery storein 1935. Postino East, Joyride Taco Company, Joe's Real BBQ and the Farmhouse Restaurant. The cultural attractions include Hale Centre Theatre and Art Intersection, which offers art and photography classes and exhibitions.

Gilbert Historical Museum

Once the Gilbert Elementary School (Built in 1913), is now the Gilbert Historical Museum. The museum has been operating for over 30 years is now on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a look at the towns rich history. Nine exhibit rooms guide visitors through 100-plus years of life in an old schoolroom, the Old West and the citys occcupations.

9/11 Memorial

Gilbert is home to a 9/11 Memorial, located at Town Hall that features an eight-foot steel girder beam which held up the North Tower of the World Trade Center. 

Former Gilbert Fire Chief Collin DeWitt fund-raised extensively for three years to create the memorial, and to bring the beam from New York City to Arizona. He drove to collect it himself along with his then Assistant Fire Chief Jim Jobusch. 

The design of the memorial angles the beam, which puts it in reach of everyone. Four granite walls bear the names of those lost to the attacks. Concrete was poured in the shape of a pentagon for the foundation of the memorial, and is surrounded by bricks which carry names of some of those who helped to donate to bring the memorial to life. There was an unveiling ceremony of the memorial on the 10th anniversary of the attack on September 11, 2011.

Gilbert Regional Park

•  Basketball Courts 

Post-tension concrete courts with sports surfacing and striping as well as reinforced rims and backboard. Lighting is high performance, low-energy use LED. The courts also feature designated seating areas  

• Pickleball Courts 

There are 16 competition-ready pickleball courts; 15 standard dimension courts and one all-accessible, showcase court. Lighting is designed to Class II standards for tournament play and have push button controls allowing for two courts to be lit at one time. The courts also feature dedicated shae and seating.  

• Sand Volleyball Courts 

Six competition ready, lit sand volleyball courts with a push button activated spray for sand cooling. The court also feature bike parking and three ramadas.  

• Tennis Courts 

Six competition-ready tennis courts. Lighting is designed to Class II standards for tournament play and have push button controls allowing for two courts to be lit at one time. The courts also feature dedicated shae and seating.  

• Amphitheater 

The amphitheater is an event space and performance plaza anchored by a 360-degree architectural icon and features views of the Gilbert Regional Park lake and San Tan Mountains  

• Event Lawn 

The 10-acre event lawn, which can hold up to 5,000 people, includes 5-acres of natural amphitheater-like sloped area surround the performance plaza. Ramps with ADA access is available on the southeast side of the event lawn.  

• Food Truck Alley  

At the northeast edge of the event lawn is food truck alley, providing a unique catering experience for events.  

• Group Ramada

The large group ramada can hold up to 160 people and includes a food prep/grilling area with lighting, roof fans, and power outlets.

• Lake

The 7-acre lake includes an urban fishing pier and is stocked with a variety of fish for recreational fishing opportunities.

• Walking Path

A 1-mile walking path will follow the circumference of the lake and the event area.

• The Mountain

A 17-foot tall iconic playground equipped with three levels of climbing features, multiple entrances, seven different slides, swings and a zip-line.

• The Falls

A 4,000-square-foot splash pad with 57 interactive water features served by a recirculating water treatment system. The water features range from large splash buckets to smaller jets and sprays for the tiniest park goers. The splash pad is also equipped with lights for evening play and is open year-round.

• The Creek

The tot playground which "runs" between The Mountain and The Falls and is designed for the tiniest park visitors.

Freestone Park

The city's popular Freestone Park offers 65 breezy acres with a lake, baseball fields, basketball courts, playgrounds and a miniature train. The  park offers enough attractions that you can turn an hour into an all-day affair. Theres also a skate park, picnic ramadas, a carasoul, a mini Ferris wheel, waterless wave runners, concessessions, and so many picturesque, secluded spots.

Cosmo Dog Park 

This pooch paradise is worth visiting even if you dont have a dog. One of the most popular parks in Gilbert, these 17 acres offer a lake for dogs to launch themselves in, and four fenced acres along with doggie drinking fountains, wash stations, an obstacle course, tables, benches and walkways.

Big League Dreams Park

The eight-diamond baseball facility features scaled down renditions of both Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field. Athletes and spectators alike can take in outdoor youth baseball and softball games. The complex is open year-round and features a 20,000 sq foot indoor soccer pavilion, flag football fields, batting cages and the stadium club restaurant.

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

The preserve is composed of man-made lakes pumped full of recycled water that attracts more than 200 species of birds with new ones appearing all the time. Birders and wildlife watchers can navigate the trails amid the desert foliage feeling a world away from the traffic,. Ramada and campsites can be reserved for free. Tours are offered, often by naturalists or Audubon chapter volunteers.

Most of Gilbert is zoned to schools in the Gilbert Public Schools, while other portions 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, the Park University opened the Gilbert Campus Center after leasing 18,000-square-foot at the University Building in the city's Heritage District.