The kibbutz was founded in 1962 as a
Nahal settlement, on the land of
depopulated Palestinian village of
Khirbat al-Jawfa and on land that formerly had belonged to
Faqqu'a. In 1967 it was settled by members of the
Religious Kibbutz Movement. Ma'ale Gilboa is located just north of another religious kibbutz,
Meirav. As they are both religious kibbutzim, it was decided that, although they are located in the Gilboa mountains (and would naturally fall under the jurisdiction of
Gilboa Regional Council) it would be better to include them in Beit She'an Valley Regional Council, where there is a group of religious kibbutzim, including
Ein HaNatziv,
Sde Eliyahu,
Shluhot and
Tirat Zvi. In 1997, after economic and social hardships, the kibbutz faced a crisis and was almost dissolved. Today the economy of the kibbutz is thriving; the kibbutz has managed to repay its debts and has recorded a profit. As with most kibbutzim in Israel today, Ma'ale Gilboa is in the process of
privatization. Some aspects of the socialist kibbutz structure are disappearing, and individual services for members of the kibbutz are translated into their economic value. As a result, the kibbutz is not only enjoying economic prosperity but is growing demographically as well. In 2007-2008 the kibbutz began building additional housing units for families interested in joining the community. The main sources of livelihood are agricultural; growing carrots, dairy farming, and raising turkeys for meat. Most of the members and residents of the community work off the kibbutz. ==Education==