Gilbert, Arizona real estate is the absolute fastest-growing community in the U.S. Located southeast of the state capital of Phoenix, the super-fast-growing ?town? of Gilbert has the numbers to prove it. A constant flow of new residents continues to move into Gilbert, Arizona homes for sale every day. Searching Gilbert new home listings is almost effortless on NewHomes.com because we have volumes of comprehensive listings of Gilbert new homes for sale, from mansions to investment properties to condominiums to townhouses.

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Gilbert, Arizona real estate is located in the south-central part of the Grand Canyon State in Maricopa County, which has a population of 3,635,528 (2005 U.S. census estimate), is the fourth-largest county in the U.S. and has grown 18 percent since the year 2000. More than 61 percent of all Arizona residents live in Maricopa County.

Gilbert, the seventh-largest city in Arizona, is the fastest-growing incorporated place that has more than 100,000 residents in all of the U.S. since 1990. As of the 2000 U.S. census, the town had a total population of 109,697, but as of April 2005, a census estimate put the fast-growing suburb?s population at 165,685, an increase of more than 51 percent in less than five years. 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 community incorporated as a town in the U.S. and as of the 2000 census was the only town in America with more than 100,000 people. Gilbert was also the fastest-growing place among all cities and towns in Arizona of any size from 1990 and 2000.

Phoenix, Arizona (population: 1,388,416) is the largest city in the state as well as the state capital and the county seat of Maricopa County. Phoenix is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area is known locally as the Valley of the Sun and is home to about 3.9 million people, making it the sixth-largest metro area in the U.S. Other large cities in Maricopa County include: Mesa, the third-largest city in Arizona, with an estimated population of 451,860; Scottsdale, the fifth-largest city in the state, with a population of 221,792; Glendale (population: 232,838), which recently exceeded Scottsdale to become the fourth-largest city in the state; and Chandler (population: 220,705), the sixth-largest city in the state. In addition to Gilbert, the other cities in Maricopa County with more than 100,000 residents are Tempe (population: 160,676), which is home to Arizona State University, and Peoria (population: 127,580). Seven other cities and communities in Maricopa County have populations of more than 20,000 and there are about 75 total cities, towns and unincorporated communities in the county.

Phoenix, about 25 miles northwest of Gilbert, is ranked as the hottest (temperature) city in the U.S. and the second-driest city in the U.S. by the Weather Channel. Phoenix is called ?Hoozdo? in the Navajo language, which translates as ?the place is hot.? The Phoenix area?s arid climate produces some of the hottest seasonal temperatures anywhere. Out of the world?s large urban areas, only some cities around the Persian Gulf, such as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Baghdad, Iraq have higher average summer temperatures. The Phoenix metropolitan area temperature reaches or exceeds 100 degrees an average of 89 days during the year, more than anywhere in the U.S., including most days from early June through early September. On June 26, 1990, the temperature reached an all-time high of 122 degrees. The dry Arizona air makes the hot temperatures more tolerable (?It?s a dry heat,? the locals say) and mild, sunny weather in the winter months makes the area extremely popular for golfers and others seeking to escape the cold typical of the northern U.S. Phoenix has about 300 sunny days per year and little precipitation: the average annual total rainfall at Phoenix?s Sky Harbor International Airport is 8.4 inches. Freezes occur ? although not every year ? usually between mid-December and early February, but temperatures fluctuate widely depending on terrain and elevation. The all-time lowest temperature in Phoenix was 16 degrees in 1913. Measurable snowfall has been recorded just seven times over the past 110 years, the last time in December 1990.

Gilbert, Arizona real estate has undergone dramatic changes, especially since the county was formed in 1871. Gilbert was incorporated in 1920, eight years after Arizona became the 48th state, and was named for William ?Bobby? Gilbert, who gave the land for a railroad station on the Arizona-Eastern Railroad that ran through the then-fledgling community south of Mesa that now bears his name. Gilbert remained an agriculture town for many years, and was once known as the ?Hay Capital of the World.?

Gilbert has experienced a rapid transition from a historically agriculture-based community to an urban center. Several recent and ongoing projects include a new public safety complex, community development building, Freestone Recreation Center and the town?s continued investment in its Heritage District. In 1998, Gilbert established zoning for its first regional mall. The Gateway Area Plan, a regional development covering more than 4,000 acres that encompasses the Williams Gateway area, is creating a new traditional village center for the region that will grow with the area as it matures.

The earliest settlers in the Valley of the Sun were the Hohokam Indian people, who lived there as early as 300 B.C. They were the first to farm there, building an extensive network of irrigation ditches that brought water from the Salt River. They are also believed to have lived at the Pueblo Grande cliff dwellings between 700-1400 A.D. Their disappearance around 1450 remains a mystery, but historians speculate that drought may have destroyed or displaced them or they may be the ancestors of the modern Pima Indians who now live on the Salt River and Gila River reservations, and the Tohono O?odham, who live in southern Arizona along the Mexican border.

Marcos de Niza, a Franciscan, explored the area in 1539 and Coronado?s expedition entered the area in 1540-42 during its search for Cíbola, one of the legendary seven cities of gold. Father Kino, a Jesuit priest, developed a chain of missions and taught the Indians Christianity in Pimería Alta beginning in the 1690s. Spain founded fortified towns (presidios) at Tubac in 1752 and Tucson in 1775. All of what is now Arizona became part of Mexico?s northwest frontier when Mexico asserted its independence from Spain in 1810. The U.S. took possession of most of Arizona at the end of the Mexican War in 1848, after paying the Mexican government. In 1853 the land below the Gila River was acquired from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase.

In 1867, Jack Swilling of Wickenburg, Arizona came to the area, dug a canal from the Salt River and began farming about four miles east of what is now Phoenix and a few miles northwest of a similar farming community at Hayden?s Ferry, which would become Tempe. The area was named Swilling?s Mill in his honor. The town of Phoenix was officially recognized in 1868 and incorporated with a population of approximately 2,500 in 1881.

The arrival of the railroad in the 1880s and an expansion in 1926 were the first of several important events that revolutionized the Phoenix-area economy. Merchandise now flowed into the city by rail instead of wagon. Phoenix quickly became a trade center and by 1910 the state population swelled to almost 300,000. In 1911, the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, then the largest masonry dam in the world, began operation east of Phoenix. It created Roosevelt Lake, expanded irrigation of land in the Valley of the Sun for farming and increased the water supply for the growing population. Arizona was the last of the contiguous 48 states to gain statehood, in 1912.

The 1940s marked another turning point, as World War II changed the Phoenix area from a farming center to a distribution center. Phoenix rapidly turned into an industrial city, with mass production of military supplies. By 1950, Phoenix had 105,000 residents within the city limits and thousands more lived in adjacent communities. The state population rose to 1.75 million at the 1970 census.

The development of air conditioning and a more reliable water supply led to an explosion in population in Phoenix and its surrounding communities in the past three decades and the Phoenix metro area is now one of the nation?s leading urban places in land area, population and amenities. Copper mining as well as cotton, cattle and citrus farming remain significant industries, but tourism has grown to rival them all. High-tech and manufacturing are also growing industries.

Politically, Maricopa County has consistently voted Republican in Presidential elections since 1952.

GIlbert, Arizona real estate offers a full range of housing options as well as a myriad of attractions and activities one would expect in a major, sophisticated American metro area.

High-rise office buildings mesh with ranch-style homes that recall the area?s Western roots. A dedication to arts and culture is evident in the museums, theaters and other public buildings. The civic plaza in downtown Phoenix houses a modern convention center and symphony hall.

Locally, Gilbert Days is an annual celebration in November commemorating when Gilbert Road was finally paved all the way through town. Events include a parade down Gilbert Road, a rodeo, carnival and 5-kilometer run.

Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area is the collective name of a number of mountain parks located in and around Phoenix. Also known as the ?Phoenix Mountains? or ?Phoenix Mountains Preserve,? they include: Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area, Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, Lookout Mountain Preserve, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, North Mountain Preserve, Papago Park, Piestewa Mountain Park (formerly known as Squaw Peak Park), Shadow Mountain Preserve, Shaw Butte Recreation Area and South Mountain Park.

President Calvin Coolidge sold 13,000 acres of South Mountain, just west of Gilbert, to the city of Phoenix for $17,000 in 1924. At its present size of 16,500 acres, South Mountain Park is the largest metropolitan park in the world, and it entertains 3 million visitors each year. These parks largely consist of small mountains and adjacent foothills that reach about 3,000 feet above sea level. They also interrupt the checkerboard pattern of the Phoenix area?s man-made environment and are quite prominent, especially since most of the city is flat. All feature extensive hiking trails and many have public access areas with parking, ramadas (picnic tables) and restrooms. Some, such as South Mountain, offer horseback rental into the parks.

Although Gilbert is far from the ocean, many nearby lakes and rivers promote water-based activities. Lake Pleasant, north of Phoenix, is a magnet for water lovers and features fishing, camping, a boat ramp and marina. Scenic Saguaro Lake is another haven for fishing, boating and camping, as are Canyon Lake and Horse Mesa Dam, all east of Phoenix. Bartlett Lake, an irrigation reservoir along the Verde River, is known for prize bass, bluegill and catfish. The famous fountain at Fountain Hills, northeast of Phoenix, shoots a 560-foot jet of water into the air every hour.

Nineteen Indian reservations dot the entire Arizona landscape and account for about one-quarter of the state?s lands, including Gila River Indian Community (population: 14,000) and Salt River-Pima Indian Community (population: 8,500) in Maricopa County, which combined account for about 5 percent of the county?s land.

Gilbert and the Phoenix area love team sports. The Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB) won the 2001 World Series in just their fourth year of existence. The Phoenix Suns (NBA basketball), Phoenix Coyotes (NHL hockey) and Arizona Cardinals (NFL football), also represent the area. In addition, MLB has 12 teams that conduct spring training in Arizona and are collectively known as the Cactus League. They include the Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs (Mesa), Chicago White Sox (Tucson), Colorado Rockies (Tucson), Kansas City Royals (Surprise), Los Angeles Angels (Tempe), Milwaukee Brewers (Phoenix), Oakland A?s (Phoenix), San Diego Padres (Peoria), San Francisco Giants (Scottsdale), Seattle Mariners (Peoria) and Texas Rangers (Surprise).

Arizona State University has its main campus at Tempe, Arizona, immediately west of Gilbert, and is the largest university in the U.S., with more than 51,000 undergraduates and more than 60,000 students overall. It is one of 15 institutions of higher learning in Maricopa County.

Whether you seek a luxury home, a starter home, a condominium, a townhouse or an investment property, NewHomes.com can help you find the Gilbert, Arizona real estate you desire.