Gilbert nearly doubles in size in past decade, census shows

Gilbert nearly doubled in size over the past decade, becoming Arizona's seventh-largest municipality, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Arizona figures from the 2010 census, released Thursday, show: Gilbert added 98,756 people over the past 10 years, the second-largest numerical increase in the state. Only Phoenix, which grew by 124,587 people, added more. Gilbert's population increase, to 208,453 in 2010, from 109,697 in 2000 represents a growth rate of 90 percent. In 2000, Gilbert was ranked as Arizona's eighth-largest municipality. It has now moved into seventh place, well past Tempe, which recorded only a 2 percent population increase over the past decade. Queen Creek ballooned from a population of 4,316 in 2000 to 26,361 in 2010, representing a growth rate of nearly 511 percent. Nearly a third of Gilbert's population (32.11 percent) is younger than 18. Five of the 22 municipalities in the Valley have a higher percentage, with Queen Creek leading the way at 37.41 percent.

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