When the railroad that connected Columbia to Georgia added a stop at Gilbert Hollow in 1869, the early settlement of Gilbert began. The town grew to 400 people by 1927, and growth slowed until around 1970 when the addition of interstates and later highly rated schools began drawing new residents to the neighborhood. Today, it’s a rural town of nearly 700 people who primarily commute to work in nearby Lexington and Columbia. The northern end of the area reaches Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre manufactured lake with a surrounding population of full-time residents and vacationers. “Lexington County has seen a lot of growth in recent years due to the addition of new subdivisions,” says J.R. Fennell, Director of the Lexington County Museum. “As of yet, Gilbert hasn’t seen as much as its surrounding towns have, but the whole area is growing, which means the whole area is changing.”
Country bungalows in Gilbert and luxury estates on Lake Murray
Gilbert is a relatively sparse town, and its listings vary greatly. Many are empty lots, but some are already developed, and the prices of these depend on several factors, including acreage and proximity to the lake. Some houses in Gilbert are mobile homes, and a three- to four-bedroom offering on about an acre of land will go for about $200,000. Most country bungalows and ranch-style homes on one to five acres will go for $300,000 to $400,000, and houses on larger lots list upwards of that. Lakefront real estate is the most valuable here. It ranges from $500,000 for a historic home needing renovation to $800,000 for a luxury two-bedroom new build to $1.2 million for a five-bedroom custom-built country estate. “A lot of people live on Lake Murray full-time, but, of course, some are summer houses,” says Fennell. “It’s a mix.” The average listing price in Gilbert between the lots and these developments is about $315,000.
Housing in Gilbert is mostly single-family homes.
Gilbert is home to many bungalows.
Gilbert's downtown homes are well-maintained.
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Fourth-best school district in South Carolina
Students in Gilbert attend schools in the sought-after Lexington County School District One, which was recently ranked the fourth-best school district in South Carolina on Niche’s 2024 Best Schools list. They start at Gilbert Elementary School before continuing to Gilbert Middle School and Gilbert High School, all of which scored Bs on Niche.
Gilbert Elementary School is a public school in Gilbert, SC.
Gilbert Middle School is a public school in Gilbert, SC.
Gilbert High School is a public school in Gilbert, SC.
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Take US Route 1 to Lexington and Interstate 20 to Columbia
Gilbert sits between US Route 1 and Interstate 20, which take residents to nearby communities like Lexington and Columbia. The closest airport to Gilbert is the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, which is 19 miles east, and the nearest hospital is the Lexington Medical Center, which is 20 miles east. There is no public transit in or around Gilbert, so residents rely on cars to get around.
Mexican pastries, country breakfast and buffet-style barbecue
Though shopping within Gilbert is minimal, residents have easy access to essentials at local shops like Price’s Country Store, which sells animal feed, The Auburn Mermaid Boutique, a gift shop and clothing store, and Dollar Tree. For any shopping beyond that, they head nine miles west to Batesburg-Leesville, which has a Walmart, or 11 miles east to Lexington, which has extensive big-box retail options, like Target, Kohl’s, Lowe’s and The Home Depot. Luckily, there’s an IGA in Gilbert, so locals don’t have to travel to grocery shop; plus, they can get Mexican groceries and pastries from the local shop Tienda Mexicana La Guadalupana, a family-owned business that also serves up fresh tacos. Breakfast is dined in or taken to-go from Tha’ Store at Gilbert, a classic small-town country store, and lunch gets served at the old-timey Joey’s Sub & Sandwich Shop or Price’s BBQ, which serves buffet-style barbecue from some of the friendliest faces in town. The cozy, authentic Mexican restaurant La Mesa is a popular choice for dinner, or Hwy 378 Bar and Grill, which was recently renovated and has live music and pool.
Weekends in town at Gilbert-Summit Sports Complex and on the water at Lake Murray
A family-friendly town, Gilbert has two main parks at its center: Gilbert Community Park and Gilbert-Summit Sports Complex. Gilbert Community Park is adjacent to the elementary school and is a peaceful, wooded neighborhood hangout with paved walking trails, a playground, and picnic shelters. On the weekends, families find themselves at Gilbert-Summit Sports Complex, a well-maintained facility where kids play football, soccer, baseball and softball. The neighboring town of Summit also has a centrally located park, Summit Park and Playground, with a playground, a thick rubber running trail and large oak trees that provide plenty of shade. Residents note how well-maintained this park is and often see friendly facility managers taking care of the land. The northern part of Gilbert borders Lake Murray, so residents with boats take advantage of its facilities like Siesta Cove Marina, a full-service marina with some of Lake Murray’s lowest fees for ramps, storage and supplies. The marina also has a campground so visitors can spend a weekend at the lake and amenities like a swimming pool and picnic areas. There are several barrier islands off the Gilbert shore, so residents will take their boats out and explore before settling on a spot to catch the best sunset views in town.
Gilbert Community Park is located in the center of the town.
Gilbert residents can take their dogs for a walk in the park.
Gilbert Community Park is the heart of the Gilbert community.
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Gilbert’s Lexington County Peach Festival brings community together
“The Lexington County Peach Festival draws a lot of visitors to the community,” says Fennell. “There will be politicians, parades, peach flavored ice cream. It really brings people together.” Every year on the Fourth of July, residents from all over Lexington County gather at Gilbert Community Park for the Lexington County Peach Festival, which begins with a parade, followed by a car show, pageants, live music and vendors, and, of course, farm-fresh peaches. At night, the festival’s fireworks light the sky over Lexington County. Each September and October, locals stop by Stutman Hollow, an immersive haunted forest trail that’s brought to life by live actors, music and décor. Gilbert also has a free Town Museum, which locals and visitors can check out to learn more about the town’s history. An extensive collection of historical memorabilia is on display, primarily focusing on the history of the railroad that runs through Gilbert and led to its initial prosperity at the time of its founding. For a broader understanding of the history of Lexington County, residents can head to the Lexington County Museum in nearby Lexington, which also puts on community events like holiday celebrations and history presentations.
Gilbert hosts the annual Lexington County Peach Festival.
Written By
Ellen Daly
Photography Contributed By
Lisa Dachsteiner
Video By
Jaried Frogosa
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Gilbert, SC sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Gilbert, SC over the last 12 months is $275,000, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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