Gilbert is one of the fastest-rising communities in the United States. Located in Maricopa County, Arizona just southeast of Phoenix, Gilbert is home to 288,128 residents. It is the fifth-largest municipality in Arizona. Nearly a third of Gilbert residents are under the age of 18. As Gilbert approaches buildout, the estimated population is expected to reach 330,000 people.

The metropolitan area of Phoenix in the U.S. state of Arizona contains one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing freeway systems, with over 1,405 lane miles (2,261 km) as of 2005.