In 1982, the Gapan massacre occurred after the Marcos-controlled military killed a family, including children, in the town.

9022 and its ratification in a plebiscite subsequently held on August 25, 2001, Gapan was converted into a component city of Nueva Ecija.

Poverty incidence of Gapan Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Current major sources of income include farming, slipper making, fishponds, poultry and piggery, and commercial establishments.

Commercial and trade activities in the city are further accelerated by the influx of financing lending institution and new businesses.

Like its sister city, Cabanatuan, Gapan also houses major shopping hubs in the province.

Jeepney operators serve routes within the province with some reaching as far to nearby towns in Nueva Ecija.

It links Gapan to its nearby city of Cabanatuan and town of San Miguel in the province of Bulacan.

On the other hand, Jose Abad Santos Avenue is the highway that links Gapan to the towns of San Isidro and Cabiao, where the road continues straightforward, again turning westward then eastward, entering Pampanga, and passes through Pampanga River.