The Community
Location
The area of North Florida now known as Alachua County was
explored by the Spanish as early as the 1500s and was formerly
deeded in 1817 by the king of Spain to Don Fernando de la Mata
Arredondo and Sons, merchants of Havana, Cuba. The Arrredondo
Grant took as its center point a Seminole village called
“Alachua,” meaning “jug” - probably a reference to the huge
sinkhole located in nearby Paynes Prairie. Two years later, it
became a territory of the United States by treaty with Spain,
and the Arredondo Grant was voided. By the time Gainesville was
established in the 1850's, Alachua County had witnessed the
beginning of the second Seminole War, when the Seminole Indians,
who considered the region to be their own, resisted settlement.
Gainesville, named in honor of General Edmund Gaines, a Seminole
War hero, began as a community of just 250 men and women. A
series of freezes in the late 1800s ended Gainesville's brief
tenure as a citrus capital, but in 1853 the city saw the first
manifestation of its future path with the establishment of the
University of Florida. The University has since become a strong
influence guiding the city's development into a thriving
educational, cultural and retail center. Gainesville has always
ranked highly as an ideal place to live by “Money Magazine.”
Cost-of-living compares very favorably to most university
cities. Gainesville, the seat of Alachua County, is located on
the north central plain of Florida, 50 miles east of the Gulf of
Mexico, 60 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean and 70 miles south
of the Georgia border.
Area and Altitude
Alachua County - 965 Square miles. Gainesville, - 35 square
miles. Average elevation - 75 feet above sea level. Population
est. 223,578
Climate
Mean annual temperature - 71° F, average rainfall - 54.65
inches; growing season 255 days.
Other weather facts according to CNN.com
Annual days < 32° F = 2
Average high temp in July ° F = 91.3°
Average low temp in January ° F = 43.9°
Annual days with mostly sun = 242
Annual snowfall (inches) = 0
Cost of living
Because Gainesville is a college town and Florida does not have
a state income tax, the cost of living in Gainesville is
exceptional. In fact almost 3/4 of all medicine residents own
their own homes.
Some more facts according to Money Magazine
Median home price = $150,000
Home appreciation % (2004-2005) = 17.6%
Average state taxes paid as % of income = 5.9%
Not having to shovel snow = priceless
Education
In addition to the University of Florida, the oldest and the
largest university in the State, Gainesville is also the home of
the Santa Fe Community College which serves over 22,000 students
in its college-level and extensive community education programs.
The students in Alachua County's public school system, which
includes eighteen elementary schools, seven middle schools and
six high schools, rank in the top 25 percent of the nation in
comprehensive test scores. There are also nine private schools
and four special schools in Alachua County. High school students
can take vocational courses through Santa Fe Community College.
Health and Medical
The Gainesville area is served by four major hospitals - the
Veterans Affair Medical Center, Shands at Alachua General
Hospital, North Florida Regional Medical Center, and Shands
Hospital at the University of Florida - whose continuing
emphasis on high-quality care and research provides a level of
medical attention unsurpassed in the State. Four nursing homes
and more than 1,000 physicians, surgeons and dentists enhance
Gainesville's health-care environment.
Transportation
Three major highways serve Gainesville: Interstate 75, U.S. 301
and U.S. 441. Multiple air carriers have regularly scheduled
service to and from Gainesville Regional Airport, which is the
principal commercial airport for a nine-county area.
Interviewees also traveling to other training programs within
Florida frequently find flying into Tampa, Orlando, or
Jacksonville and travel to Gainesville via rental car more
economical than direct flight in and out of Gainesville.
Religious Facilities
Given the diversity of Alachua county residents and University
of Florida students and staff, there are over 120 religious
facilities representing every major religion. The University of
Florida campus also has seven student chapels and religious
centers.
University of Florida Athletics
The University of Florida is home to several top Division I
athletic teams. We have had recent national championships in
both men’s basketball and football as well as women’s soccer.
The University of Florida fields top collegiate athletic teams
year round, and their games are a constant source of excitement
and entertainment for the Gainesville community
Tourist Attractions
Gainesville lies in the center of Florida's world famous tourist attractions
with many in a 100 mile radius: Silver Springs, Florida Wild Waters, Stephen
Foster Memorial, St. Augustine, Disney World/EPCOT/MGM Studios, Sea World,
Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences,
Daytona Speedway, Ocala National Forest, and Juniper Springs. Additionally,
there are a number of small towns well known for antique, arts & crafts, fruit
and vegetable festivals, and curio shops within a 30-mile radius of Gainesville.
One of these towns, Micanopy, is the second oldest town in the United States and
the site of ancient Indian ceremonial rituals. It is also the site where the
film "Doc Hollywood," starring Michael J. Fox, was filmed in 1990.
Parks
Twenty-seven parks and recreation areas in Gainesville are available for
recreation. Within 50 miles of Gainesville there are more than 40 nature parks
offering camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, tubing, and hiking.
There are five 18-hole golf courses within 20 minutes of downtown Gainesville.
