Gilbert, Iowa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gilbert is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 987 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area', which is a part of the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area'.
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[edit] Geography
Gilbert is located at (42.105858, -93.645185)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²), all land.
Location: Gilbert is nestled in the midst of gently undulating agricultural land. The landscape surrounding the town is dotted with conventional farm buildings and livestock as well as newer agricultural facilities and row crop farming systems. The area also includes farmsteads or acreages where non-farming residents have their homes. And a few miles to the southeast or southwest, on land bordering the Skunk River and Squaw Creek, there are substantial residential sub-divisions.
Gilbert’s southern boundary is only two miles north of the Ames boundary that was extended when Ames developed the Ada Hayden Heritage Park. It is not difficult to look south from Gilbert and see the Ames’ water towers or the power plant and Design Center building at Iowa State.
Transportation: The main east-west road through Gilbert is county highway E23. It has only ten stop signs within the city limits. A Union Pacific rail line goes north and south through the town. A long time ago, passengers could easily ride the train to Ames and other places, but today the railroad is mainly for hauling grain and other commercial uses. The train doesn't stop in Gilbert, but its whistle loudly announces its passage through the town and triggers a nostalgic feeling. The Heartland Senior Services of Story County provides van transportation to older people and other persons who wish to use the service.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 987 people, 337 households, and 268 families residing in the city. The population density was 459.1/km² (1,195.6/mi²). There were 347 housing units at an average density of 161.4/km² (420.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.06% White, 0.71% African American, 1.52% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 337 households out of which 48.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.7% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a single female head of household, and 20.2% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,406, and the median income for a family was $61,184. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $25,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,741. About 1.1% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] School System
The Gilbert, Iowa area is served by Gilbert Unified Community Schools (District). The Gilbert Community Schools consists of Gilbert Elementary, the new Gilbert Middle School, and Gilbert High School. The grade structure is a common K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 system.
Generally speaking, people in the area are proud of the quality of education that the Gilbert schools provide. The district covers 48 square miles. The enrollment has increased by more than 55% since 1990 with the number of students climbing to over 1,061 as of July 2006. Many students live in the northern part of Ames. In April 2004, the district held an election on a proposed $8,275,000 bond issue for a new middle school, vocational education facility, and air-conditioning at the current high school building. The voters overwhelmingly supported the project with 85 percent of 600 voters casting a "yes" ballot. The total cost was projected to be $11,870,000. The middle school is ready for use in the fall of 2006.
Enrollment in the district increased by eight percent during the 2005-2006 school year. The school board, anticipating that it will build another elementary school within a few years if the district continues to grow at its current pace, has obtained an option to buy 20 acres just west of Gilbert's residential area and on the north side of the main highway through town. If the current growth continues, the Gilbert schools will have more than 1,500 students in the fall of 2016.
Gilbert's mascot is the Tiger.
Gilbert's football team was the 2004 Class 2A State Runner-Up. Previously, the Tigers had encountered 15 consecutive losing seasons.
[edit] Mainstreet
Local Businesses: There are two restaurants in downtown Gilbert. The Open Flame Steakhouse is on Main Street and serves Iowa cuisine and has a full service bar. People can even grill their own steaks and other meat. There is also Daisychains and Laughs, a coffeebar and gift shop that opened on Main Street in the fall of 2003. During that same time, the Left Bank Studio opened in the historic brick bank building at the corner of Main and First Streets.
The Consignment Gallery for gently-used furniture is the third new business in town. It opened on Main Street on July 1, 2004. Two more businesses joined Main Street in November of 2005. Signature Style, a full-service hair salon is owned and operated by Julie Spear. JB Knacker moved from "the barn", previously located a mile southeast of town, to the store front just south of The Left Bank Studio. Their specialties include antiques, vintage pieces and funky finds. Other local businesses include the well-known Companion Animal Clinic, where people from miles around bring their pets for veterinary attention (now located at the corner of 2nd and Dunn Streets), the Heart of Iowa Coop, Dairyland Seed Research, Gilbert Mini-Storage, Mike’s Custom Cabinets, The Gilbert Car Wash and Mullenbach Construction and Self-Storage.
Gilbert has neither a grocery store nor a gas station, but there is a Casey's convenience store one mile east of town on Highway 69. The other businesses at the corner of Highway 69 and E23 include: All-American Turf Beauty, Jerry's Country Store, Redling Repair (for vehicles), Risco Self-Storage, the Suburban Café, and the Suburban office complex. Many local farmers gather for morning coffee and conversation either at the coop or the Suburban.
The DeMoss Pumpkin Farm is a half mile west of town. They sell seasonal garden produce and baked goods at farmer's markets and on the farm.
Communications Services: Gilbert has its own post office that provides prompt, personalized service. There is hardly ever a waiting line. The town also has high speed Internet service provided by the Complete Communications Systems (a cable company) and Prairie iNet (a wireless Internet company). The Gilbert Gazette, an unofficial web site, also serves the community.
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
