The Islands is a master-planned community within the town of Gilbert, Arizona. Located approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) southeast of Phoenix, the community contains 2,633 residential homes, 272 apartments and 26 commercial properties. In recent decades, Gilbert has made a rapid transformation from a small, agriculture-based community to a suburban center, seeing its population grow from 5,717 in 1980 to upwards of 208,000 in 2010.33.343010°, -111.815760°