About
History of Gilberts
From a railroad stop on the prairie to a growing Kane County community.
The Village of Gilberts traces its roots to the mid-1800s when the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad pushed west across Kane County. Today Gilberts is one of the fastest-growing communities in the region while still working hard to preserve its small-town character.
Railroad origins
In 1853, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad established a stop on land owned by the Gilbert family. The settlement that grew around the depot took the family's name, and a small farming community took root along the tracks that today carry Metra's Milwaukee District West line.
Incorporation
The Village of Gilberts was officially incorporated in 1890. For the next century it remained a quiet rural community of fewer than 1,000 residents, surrounded by Kane County farmland.
Modern growth
Beginning in the late 1990s, Gilberts experienced rapid residential growth as new subdivisions were built west of Route 72 and along Big Timber Road. The Village's population grew from about 1,000 in 1990 to over 8,000 today.
This growth has been guided by the Village's Comprehensive Plan, which calls for balanced residential, commercial, and open-space development.
Gilberts today
Today Gilberts is a full-service municipality with its own police department, public works operation, and parks system. The Village continues to invest in roads, utilities, parks, and downtown improvements while planning for the next generation of residents and businesses.