Gilbert to bid farewell to last big piece of farmland

Gilbert's Morrison family this week announced the impending development of the town's last full square mile of farmland, which will soon be replaced by hundreds of homes in the new Elliot Groves subdivision near Elliot and Recker roads. Many Valley natives remember Gilbert as a sleepy farm town that produced crops such as alfalfa, cotton and corn and was likely home to more dairy cows than humans. Only 30 years ago, the town's population was less than 6,000. Now, more than 208,000 residents live in Gilbert, and development has reached at least part of every contiguous square mile of the town except for one. Five farm fields comprising 640 acres bordered by Elliot, Recker, Warner and Power roads have been untouched by developers. An aerial photo of the land taken about 50 years ago gives a strikingly similar view to the property today, said Howard Morrison. He is one of several family members involved in guiding the master plan for the 3,000-acre Morrison Ranch, which will include Elliot Groves.

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