Why do gas ranges have the controls on the bottom and electric ones have controls on the top?

Answer 1

Gas ranges have the control at the bottom because they light instantly and the last thing you want is your arm stretched over a gas range as it lights on!

Answer 2

Electric stoves have wiring from the control to the burner and can be run from various places on the stove since the wire is flexible. Gas stove controls must to adjust the amount of gas to the burner and physically open and close the injection port. This dictates that the control be in a straight line with the burner. Putting a gas control on top would necessitate too many turns and valve opening/closing would be difficult.