The information below can be found at http://www.ci.gilbert.az.us/busdev/profile/history.cfm also.
Happy Birthday: Celebrating 90 Years
There may be no cake, no surprise party – but there is definitely a festive atmosphere in the air as we celebrate our 90th anniversary of the incorporation of our Town.
Nine decades ago, we were an agriculturally-based square mile Town originally developed as a train station in the late 1890s. Today, we are more than 220,000 residents strong in 73 square miles that will someday be the center of the Southeast Valley.
Throughout this year, we are planning to incorporate our birthday into every event, and we encourage residents to also pay tribute to our Town’s progress and celebrate our anniversary throughout the year. Send us your plans and we can post them on our community calendar and invite your neighbors.
We have a lot to be proud of, as we have grown into the safest community in the state with amenities that have continue to attract new residents and growth. Send us your ideas and your plans to celebrate, to publicinformation@gilbertaz.gov or call (480) 503-6766.
History of Gilbert
Gilbert is a young, affluent community in central Arizona. Incorporated on July 6, 1920, Gilbert is a relatively new community that has seen tremendous growth during the past two decades. The 2009 Gilbert Community Profile provides a broad overview of this growing town and metropolitan area, including demo-graphics, business resources, and community resources. It is an excellent reference for businesses and residents alike.
The Hay Capital of the World
In 1902, the Arizona Eastern Railway asked for donations of right of way in order to establish a rail line between Phoenix and Florence. A rail siding was established on property owned by William "Bobby" Gilbert. The siding, and the town that sprung up around it, eventually became known as Gilbert. Gilbert was a prime farming community, fueled by the construction of the Roosevelt Dam and the Eastern and Consolidated Canals in 1911. It remained an agriculture town for many years, and was known as the "Hay Capital of the World" until the late 1920s. Gilbert began to take its current shape during the 1970s when the Town Council approved a strip annexation that encompassed 53 square miles of county land. Although the population was only 1,971 in 1970 the Council realized that Gilbert would eventually grow and develop much like the neighboring communities of Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler. This proved to be a farsighted decision as Gilbert positioned itself for growth in the 1980s and beyond.
Gilbert Today
Gilbert has experienced a rapid transition from a historically agriculture-based community to an urban center and suburb in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. In the last two decades, Gilbert has grown at a pace unparalleled by most communities in the United States, increasing in population from 5,717 in 1980 to over 215,000 in April 2009. As Gilbert has grown, the community has recognized the need to develop a strong, diverse economy while preserving its highly desirable quality of life. To proactively direct the growth and development of the community, the Town Council adopted the General Plan 2001 on July 10, 2001, which revised existing elements, added those required under Arizona "Growing Smarter" legislation, and incorporated new land use and economic growth considerations.
Gilbert Tomorrow
Gilbert is continuously planning for the future in order to meet the needs of tomorrow. As Gilbert continues to grow so does its commitment to providing residents, businesses and employees with the best possible services, programs and accommodations. Several new projects, recently completed or currently under construction, demonstrate this commitment. These include the Polar Ice skating facility, Big League Dreams baseball facility, and Gilbert's continued investment in the Heritage District.
Gateway Area Plan - The Town Council adopted the Gateway Area Plan on July 25, 2000. The plan is part of the General Plan 2001, ratified by Gilbert voters in November 2001. The Gateway Character Area is adjacent to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus. These two facilities are in Mesa, but their entrances are adjacent to Gilbert. The Gateway Character Area covers approximately 4,320 acres, generally located between Warner Road and Pecos Road; from Power Road to Greenfield Road. Gilbert has been a partner in the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority since the Air Force announced the closure of Williams Air Force Base in 1992. The Authority and several other regional institutions have converted the base to a mix of employment and educational facilities.
The Gateway Area will establish a neighborhood village feel in the area that serves Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, ASU Polytechnic, and the thousands of new residents that will be living near both of these facilities. The Gateway Area will not only provide shopping and services, but also a vibrant entertainment element. The combination will create a new traditional village center for the region that will grow with the area as it matures.
Gilbert Strategic Plan - Faced with limited resources and unprecedented growth, the Town of Gilbert has turned to strategic management to transform the entire organization, and the services we provide. In conjunction with the Town of Gilbert Corporate Strategic Plan, the Gilbert Business Development Division and the Gilbert Business Development Advisory Board developed the first Gilbert Business Development Department Five Year Strategic Plan in 1999. Each year the plan is revisited to ensure current economic issues and trends are addressed appropriately by staff. The current plan, now in the process of being updated, addresses advertising, database management, marketing, targeted business clusters, prospect management, department structure and more. Strategic planning is planning for results. Successfully carrying out the plan will ensure positive results now and in the future.
Gilbert Sister Cities - Making the world a better place by bringing people together one friendship at a time was the dream of President Dwight D. Eisenhower 53 years ago when he introduced the Sister Cities concept. Today, Gilbert Town leaders are working to create lasting bonds with others across the world, through the Gilbert Sister Cities program. The local effort started in June 1995 with the intent of forging cultural and economic relationships with cities in Europe and Asia. The program coordinates cultural, trade, educational, and sports programs that promote international and intercultural knowledge and understanding.
Gilbert established its first sister city November 17, 1998 with Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. The Borough of Newtownabbey is situated immediately north of Belfast in County Antrim and covers an area of 54 square miles. Newtownabbey is a new town formed in 1958 by an Act of Parliament and has grown steadily over the last twenty years to a population of 85,000. The Borough of Newtownabbey is comprised of two towns and nine villages. Based on Gilbert's successful partnership with Newtownabbey, the Board of Directors of Gilbert Sister Cities decided to pursue a second sister city in China. On December 12th, 2000, the Town Council unanimously endorsed the recommendation of the Board of Directors to pursue Leshan, Sichuan, China as its second sister city. An official signing ceremony took place June 4, 2002. Leshan (the name meaning "Pleased with the Place" ) is located in southwest China in the Sichuan Province. Leshan Municipality has a territory of 4,920 square miles and a population of 3.68 million. The city has a history of 3,000 years and is a mix of the very old and very new. As Leshan continues to evolve their market driven economy, community leaders are utilizing their Sister City relationships to acquire information on best practices in other parts of the world for challenges like government operations and protection of resources.
On November 16, 2002, a new partnership was created with the village of Guabuliga, Ghana Africa. This new relationship has been designated a Friendship City which will allow the two communities to work on developing a relationship while building local support and program ideas. Guabuliga is located in the northeast corner of Ghana with a population of 2,000 people. The area is twenty square-miles in size and the economy is based on agriculture.
Each sister city offers Gilbert tremendous cultural and business opportunities.
For more information on Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, Leshan, Sichuan, China, Guabuliga, Africa or Gilbert Sister Cities please visit our web site.
Historic photos from the Gilbert Historical Society
