Gilbert, Arizona
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of GovernmentsMaricopa Association of Governments
The Maricopa Association of Governments is an association of governments that represents the bulk of the metropolitan area of Phoenix, Arizona. It was formed as a result of the guidelines of the 1973 Federal Transportation Act...
, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household.
- Fastest growing municipality in the United States from 1990-2003. U.S. Census Bureau
- Currently the 4th fastest growing municipality in the United States. U.S. Census Bureau - 2009
- Ranked by CNN's Money magazine in 2008 as one of the best places to live in the United States.
- One of the top 25 safest cities in the United States.
- 34.5% of Gilbert residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Highest household median income in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area with Population 50,000+ U.S. Census Bureau 2005
2009 According to Nielsens Claritas Demographics, in 2009 the racial makeup of the town was:
- 81.51%WhiteWhite AmericanWhite Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
- 15.39%Hispanics or LatinosHispanic and Latino AmericansHispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
- 3.08% Black or African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
- 0.79% Native AmericanNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
- 4.70% AsianAsian AmericanAsian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
- 0.23% Pacific IslanderPacific Islander AmericanPacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
- 5.97% from other races
- 3.73% from two or more races
2009 Estimated Population Data by Gender/Age:
- 31.37 Average Age Male/Female
- 50.22% Male
- 30.03 Est. Average Age
- 49.78% Female
- 31.82 Est. Average Age
- 37.14% Population Under 21
- 33.25% Population Under 18
- 70.01% Population Over 16
- 66.76% Population Over 18
- 62.86% Population Over 21
- 5.30% Population Over 65
2009 Estimated Population Age 15+ by Marital Status:
- 20.87% Never Married
- 66.71% Married, Spouse Present
- 2.23% Married, Spouse absent
- 2.11% Widowed
- 8.07% Divorced
2009 Estimated Population Age 25+ Educational Attainment:
- 92.33% High School/GED or Higher
- 35.5% Bachelor's Degree or Higher
- 10.46% Master's Degree or Higher
2009 Estimated Households by Household Income:
- $98,213 Average Household Income
- $86,077 Median Household Income
- $30,559 Per Capita Income
- 3.28% of Families are Below the Poverty Level
Various religious denominations are represented in Gilbert, including 17.26% claiming to be Roman Catholic, 11.12% Protestant and 12.6% Mormon. The town has been known for its high Mormon population, a fact evidenced by the LDS church's recent announcement to construct a temple
Gilbert Arizona Temple
The Gilbert Arizona Temple is a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being constructed in the town of Gilbert, Arizona. The announcement of the temple on April 26, 2008 came concurrently with the Gila Valley Arizona Temple, and together were the first new temples announced...
in Gilbert. Gilbert is also rated as a town of relatively low crime. According to FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
records, Gilbert was the largest city in the United States with zero murders in 2005.
Politics
The town is part of the sixth congressional district of Arizona, which is represented by Republican Jeff FlakeJeff Flake
Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Flake is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was featured in the documentary series How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories....
. The mayor of Gilbert is John Lewis.
Education
Most of Gilbert is zoned to schools in the Gilbert Public SchoolsGilbert Public Schools
Gilbert Public Schools , previously known as Gilbert Unified School District , is a school district based in Gilbert, Arizona, United States...
, while other portions are zoned to districts including the Chandler Unified School District
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler Unified School District is a school district in Chandler, Arizona, USA, that serves most of the city of Chandler, plus portions of Gilbert, and Queen Creek. The district serves over 31,000 students....
, Mesa Public Schools
Mesa Public Schools
Mesa Public Schools is the unified school district for the city of Mesa, Arizona, United States...
, the Queen Creek Unified School District, and the Higley Unified School District
Higley Unified School District
The Higley Unified School District #60 is a school district in Arizona, with its headquarters in unincorporated Maricopa County, near Gilbert. The school district operates schools in Gilbert and Queen Creek, Arizona...
. Also in Gilbert are charter schools such as Edu-Prize (the first charter school in Arizona).
Transportation
Gilbert is served by one area freeway -- the Santan Freeway portion of Loop 202Arizona State Route 202
State Route 202, or Loop 202, is the beltway encompassing the eastern Phoenix, Arizona, United States Metropolitan area. It navigates and surrounds the cities of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert, making it very vital to the area freeway system...
around the East Valley. Several major arterials also serve the area, including Williams Field Road, Chandler
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
Boulevard, and Gilbert Road. The town enjoys relative closeness to Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport, which is located in east Mesa
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
; and is a twenty-five minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located southeast of the central business district of the city of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States...
.
Recently, a park-and-ride facility was constructed in downtown Gilbert for bus service and future commuter rail service. Although the facility borders the Union Pacific (formerly Southern Pacific) tracks and has provisions for commuter rail service, there is currently no such service. However, buses operate to downtown Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
from here, and future commuter rail service to Gilbert will require little modification since most of the facilities are already built.
Sister cities
NewtownabbeyNewtownabbey
Newtownabbey is a large town north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Leshan
Leshan
-Administrative divisions:-Transport:There is a passenger rail line that serves the Mianyang–Chengdu–Leshan inter-city area.The Chengdu-Leshan Highway with a total length of 160 kilometers, was finished on January 14th, 2000...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Notable natives and residents
- Jim BechtelJim BechtelJames Gary "Jim" Bechtel is an American cotton farmer and poker player, based in Gilbert, Arizona. He is best known for winning the 1993 Main Event at the World Series of Poker .- Poker career :...
, professional pokerPokerPoker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player, World Champion of Poker in 1993, lives in Gilbert, Arizona. - Chester BenningtonChester BenningtonChester Charles Bennington is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Linkin Park....
, lead singer of popular band Linkin ParkLinkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
, has lived in the growing community Power Ranch, located in Gilbert, since 2008. Along with him are his wife and children. - Dave BurbaDave BurbaDavid Allen Burba is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Milwaukee Brewers from 1990 to 2004. In his 15-year major league career, Burba's record was 115-87, with 1,398 strikeouts,...
currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona. He was a former star pitcher of the late 1990s Indians teams. - Shad Chadwick, team ropingTeam ropingTeam roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer and two mounted riders. The first roper is referred to as the "header," the person who ropes the front of the steer, usually around the horns, but it is also legal for the rope to go around the neck, or go around...
(Heeler) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys AssociationProfessional Rodeo Cowboys AssociationThe Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is an organization whose members compete in rodeos throughout North America, primarily in the United States. The PRCA sanctions rodeo venues and events through the PRCA Circuit System. Its championship event is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo...
Resistol team roping Rookie of the Year for 1995, attended Gilbert High School. - Marquis CooperMarquis CooperMarquis Victor Cooper was an American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, former linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
played for Highland High SchoolHighland High School (Gilbert, Arizona)Highland High School is a public high school located in Gilbert, Arizona, serving as part of the Gilbert Unified School District. The school has served the area since 1993.-Robotics:...
and was drafted in the third round (79th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. On March 1, 2009, Cooper and three other men went missing after their boat capsized in rough seas near Clearwater, Florida. Cooper and two of the men are now presumed to be dead. - Ken DeloKen DeloKen Delo is an American singer best known as a member of television's The Lawrence Welk Show.Born and reared in River Rouge, Michigan, Delo started performing first as a magician, then a ventriloquist, and later a hypnotist before taking up singing by miming to records...
, American singer best known for The Lawrence Welk ShowThe Lawrence Welk ShowThe Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
, lives in Gilbert. - Roy Wayne FarrisThe Honky Tonk ManRoy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
, an American Pro Wrestler (better known by his ring name, "The Honky Tonk Man"), lives in Gilbert - Ryan FitzpatrickRyan FitzpatrickRyan Joseph Fitzpatrick is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Harvard....
, quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
played for Highland High SchoolHighland High School (Gilbert, Arizona)Highland High School is a public high school located in Gilbert, Arizona, serving as part of the Gilbert Unified School District. The school has served the area since 1993.-Robotics:...
and made his NFL debut on November 27, 2005. - Jineane FordJineane FordJineane Ford is an American beauty queen and television personality from Arizona who held the title Miss USA 1980.- Career :Ford, who hails from Gilbert, Arizona won the Miss Arizona USA contest in 1979...
, Miss USA 1980, former television actress and news anchor KTVK-TV, KPNX-TV - Alan GordonAlan Gordon (soccer)Alan Gordon is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College:...
plays strikerStrikerForwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for the Los Angeles GalaxyLos Angeles GalaxyThe Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in the Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and was born in Gilbert on October 16, 1981. - Shea HillenbrandShea HillenbrandShea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
, All-Star MLB player for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, raises horses and other animals on a ranch in Gilbert with his family. - Darrin JacksonDarrin JacksonDarrin "D. J." Jay Jackson is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played 12 years for the Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , Toronto Blue Jays , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers...
, MLB outfielderOutfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
from 1985–1999; has been a TV broadcaster for the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
since 2001. Currently lives in Gilbert even though he's a native of Los Angeles. - Kimberly JoinerKimberly JoinerKimberly Ann Joiner is a beauty queen from Gilbert, Arizona who competed in the Miss USA pageant in 2008.Joiner won the Miss Arizona USA 2008 title in a state pageant held in Phoenix, Arizona on October 20, 2007. This was Joiner's first attempt at the title, and her second pageant competition...
, Miss Arizona USAMiss Arizona USAThe Miss Arizona USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Arizona in the Miss USA pageant.In 2005 the rights to produce the Miss Arizona USA pageant were given to Casting Crown productions...
2008, raised in and still lives in Gilbert. - Naomi LangNaomi LangNaomi Lang is an American ice dancer. With partner Peter Tchernyshev, she is the 1999-2003 U.S. national champion.-Biography:...
, 5 time US ice dance champion and 2002 US Olympic Figure Skating team member; also the first Native American (Karuk tribe) woman to compete in the Winter Olympics currently resides in Gilbert. - Justin LassenJustin LassenJustin Lassen, born August 27, 1981 in Denver, Colorado, is a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and remixer who has worked in the film and game industries.- Omnicron :...
, artist, currently lives in Gilbert; graduated from Gilbert High School in 2000. - Ryan LeslieRyan LeslieAnthony Ryan Leslie, known professionally as Ryan Leslie, is a Grammy nominated American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, entrepreneur, and singer. Founder of the media company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie has produced singles for a number of artists in a variety of genres...
, star of MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's The Real World: New Orleans (2010) - Carlos I. NoriegaCarlos I. NoriegaCarlos Ismael Noriega is a Peruvian born NASA employee, a former NASA astronaut and a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel.-Personal:...
, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronautAstronautAn astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
and retired United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
lieutenant colonelLieutenant Colonel (United States)In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
lives in Gilbert. - Phil OrtegaPhil OrtegaFilomeno Coronada Ortega , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1960-1969 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, and Washington Senators. Ortega was of Yaqui Indian descent...
, MLB pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
from 1960–1969, was born in Gilbert on October 7, 1939. - Eric SwannEric SwannEric Jerrod Swann is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1st round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A 6'5", 317 lbs. defensive tackle, Swann never attended college and was actually drafted from a semi-pro football team called the Bay State...
, Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the early 90's lives in Gilbert currently with his family - Spencer LarsenSpencer LarsenSpencer Larsen is an American football fullback and linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, NFL Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, fullbackFullback (American football)A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
/linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
from 2008-present. Larsen was raising in Gilbert and began his football career at Highland High School.
Groups
- Jimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, band - LydiaLydia (band)Lydia is an indie rock band from Gilbert, Arizona, formed in 2003.-Biography:Leighton Antelman and Steve McGraw started writing music and booking shows when they were both in 7th grade. The band really got their start as Rolo 15 while attending Greenfield Jr. High. They then went on to change the...
, band - The Maine, band
- Scary Kids Scaring KidsScary Kids Scaring KidsScary Kids Scaring Kids was an American post-hardcore band formed in Gilbert, Arizona in 2002. The band's name comes from the Cap'n Jazz song of the same name...
, band