Gilberts, Illinois, United States

🇺🇸 Gilberts is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States.

History The beginnings of recorded human settlement in the area of Gilberts was recorded in the War of 1812, when General Scott began waging war against the native American tribes that inhabited the area, including the Blackhawks, Alconquin, and Potawatomi. Beginning in the 1820s, European settlement in the region began. In 1840, the Potawatomi sold their land and moved westwards, making the entire area now inhabited by European settlers. In 1852, Gilberts Station opened, named after the Gilberts, the largest landowners in the area. Specifically, Amasa Gilbert, a pioneer who was a part of the Gilberts family. In 1855, the Gilberts sold their land to Elijah Wilcox.

Opening in 1907, the Elgin and Belvidere Electric Company opened the "Elgin and Belvidere Electric Railway", connecting Elgin, Illinois to Belvidere, Illinois, with a stop at Gilberts. During the Great Depression, many businesses in the area went bankrupt, including the Elgin and Belvidere Electric Company in 1930. In 1930, Route 72 also opened up, connecting Gilberts to the outside world.

Geography Gilberts is located in northern Kane County. Most of the village is in Rutland Township, with a small portion crossing to the east into Dundee Township. The village limits extend north to the McHenry County line. Gilberts is bordered to the east by the village of West Dundee and the city of Elgin.

According to the 2010 census, Gilberts has a total area of 5.558 square miles (14.40 km²), of which 5.55 square miles (14.37 km²) (or 99.86%) is land and 0.008 square miles (0.02 km²) (or 0.14%) is water.

Municipal broadband Gilberts is planning to issue general obligation bonds to create a village-owned internet access provider upon the ashes of an earlier failed attempt from a private sector project.

Education Gilberts is located in Community Unit School District 300. Children who reside in Gilberts attend Hampshire High School.

Gilberts Elementary School Is an elementary school for grades K-5. The school used to have a pre-k or preschool program. Hampshire Middle School and Dundee Middle School are the Middle schools that feed into Hampshire High School. Cambridge Lakes Charter School is also an option for residents in district.

Town Center Park This is the new, large park that is now open. A parking lot is being installed which will accommodate over 80 vehicles.

The park is a 20-acre (81,000 m²) space and will be home to many sports teams such as the YMCA's baseball and soccer teams.

Town Square Park This centrally located park is near Lake Gilberts and features a new gazebo.

Memorial Park Memorial Park offers the following amenities: baseball diamond, soccer field, playground, fishing pond, picnic pavilion, a small skate park and a basketball court.

Skate Park This Governor's Home Town Award-winning skate park is located in Memorial Park.

Waitcus Park Waitcus Park features a baseball diamond, basketball court (1/2 court), playground, fishing pond and a picnic pavilion.

Sport Gilberts is the home to the GPH Grizzlies Football Team that plays in the TCYFL. It has two Super Bowl runner-ups and two championships. The team was founded in 2008 and has 3 separate sides, Bantams, Feather, and Middleweights.