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Our Community
Gainesville is proud to be the first designated "Gold Level Well City"
in the nation! Announced at a Chamber event in April 2003 by the
Wellness Council of America, this highest level achievement was
realized after a three-year campaign to challenge the trend of obesity.
Twenty-one area businesses and organizations (more than 50 percent
of the total area workforce) assembled employee wellness teams
responsible for planning, developing, and evaluating worksite wellness
activities and programs.
The Gainesville Area
It is easy to see why Gainesville, Florida, is recognized as one of
Florida s most livable cities as it flourishes in the heart of beautiful
North Central Florida. Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Gulf of Mexico, the area basks in beautiful sunshine during the
daytime while the cool breezes make summer nights comfortable.
The city of Gainesville is located in Alachua County, a county of 12
incorporated cities and a total population of more than 220,000.
(The Gainesville population tops 111,000.) As county seat, Gainesville
serves as the commercial hub for the North Central Florida area. It is
home to the University of Florida, the largest public land grant institution
in the state and a key player in education, medicine, cultural arts and
sports for the area.
With almost 65 percent of the county s 965 square miles biding as
wilderness dotted with scenic lakes, wetlands and trails, it is a delight for
nature lovers of all ages. The area contains approximately 100 square
miles of wetlands and scenic lakes plus nearly 520 miles of forests.
Community Events
Visit the city's Cultural Affairs Department for information about
area festivals and events.
Location
Gainesville is situated on the I-75 corridor, 85 miles south of the
Georgia border, 50 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles
west of the Atlantic Ocean. Marking the northern border is the Santa
Fe River, part of the freshwater system located in the area.
Climate
With average highs between 76 and 82º F in the spring and fall,
between 89 and 91º F in the summer, and as high as 69º F in the winter,
Alachua County s temperate climate indulges a growing season that
lasts through much of the year. The rainfall for 2002 measured 49.5 inches,
averaging between 3 and 4 inches per month.
Early History
Alachua County was explored by the Spanish as early as the 1500 s
and was deeded in 1817 to Don Fernando de la Mata Arredondo and
Sons by the King of Spain. The county gets it name from the Seminole
word alachua (uh-LAH -chew-uh), meaning sinkhole, probably a reference
to the large sinkhole located in nearby Paynes Prairie. When Florida became
a territory of the United States by treaty with Spain, the Arredondo Grant
was voided and Alachua became the territory s ninth county in 1824.
The Seminole Indians considered the region their own and resisted
resettlement, and by the time the community of Gainesville was established
in 1854, Alachua County was witnessing the beginning of the second
Seminole War. The new city was named for General Edmund Gaines,
captor of Aaron Burr and a victorious commander in the Second Seminole War.
Making History
In 1853, the East Florida Seminary acquired the Kingsbury Academy in
Ocala and the seminary moved to Gainesville in the 1860 s. It later merged
with the Florida Agricultural College, then located in Lake City. By legislative
action in 1905, the consolidated college became the University of Florida
and was moved permanently to Gainesville. Classes first met with 102
students on the present site on September 26, 1906, later opening its doors
to women in 1947. Today with more than 47,000 students, it is one of the five
largest universities in the nation.
Preserving History
Today, Gainesville s Northeast Historic District is listed in the National
Register of Historic Places due to its preservation of many buildings built
between 1880 and 1930. Florida s second-oldest town, Micanopy
(mih-can-OH -pea), lies 13 miles south of Gainesville and features
antique, art and curio shops.
Transportation
Alachua County contains four major highways, I-75, U.S. 301, S.R. 26
and U.S. 441. The cities of Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville can be
reached within a two-hour drive, while St. Augustine, Ocala, and Lake City
are within a one-hour drive. CSX Transportation provides Gainesville with
daily freight service, while Amtrak offers passenger service from nearby
Waldo. Greyhound bus lines offer service to all major U.S. cities from
Gainesville, while the Regional Transit system delivers scheduled
bus service throughout the city.
Gainesville Regional Airport is easily accessible, only five miles from
downtown Gainesville. The airport provides daily round-trip services
from two commercial carriers. ASA Delta Connection offers seven flights
per day between Gainesville and Atlanta, and US Airways offers four
flights per day between Gainesville and Charlotte. The 2,000-acre airport
includes general aviation facilities (University Air Center) for private and
corporate aircraft.
Housing
The diversity and affordability of housing options found in the Gainesville
area are unmatched as the options make it easy to find a home to match
any lifestyle. From single family homes in the Gainesville area s
contemporary, established or historic neighborhoods to multi-family
apartments, condominiums, and retirement communities, new residents
can find spacious, well-maintained and affordable homes. The sale price
for a single family home in the Gainesville area averaged $150,000, as
of July 2003 and the median sale price was $139,700 in 2002. The average
monthly rent for apartment living in the area in 2002 was $607.00.
Tax Facts
The state of Florida has no state personal income tax, no state inheritance
tax, no franchise tax and no inventory tax. Sales tax is mandated at 6%,
however, food and medicine are non-taxable items.
Homeowners enjoy a $25,000 homestead exemption from property taxes
for the home they occupy. Visit the Alachua County web site for details.
An intangible tax exists for the state of Florida. For more information, call
the Florida Department of Revenue at 1-800-352-3671.
Utility Services
Gainesville Regional Utilities furnishes essential utilities - natural gas,
electricity and water - for most Gainesville area residents. Rural Alachua
County is serviced by Clay Electric Cooperative, Central Florida Electric
Coop. and Progress Energy. Local telephone service is
provided by BellSouth.
Media
The four local television stations service Alachua County: WCJB-TV (ABC),
Channel 20; WGFL-TV (CBS), Channel 53; WUFT-TV (PBS), Channel 5;
and WOGX-TV (FOX), Channel 51. (The regional NBC affiliate, WESH-TV,
Channel 2, operates out of Orlando.) Cox Communications provides cable
services for the area.
The Gainesville Sun newspaper is locally published seven mornings
each week. The Independent Florida Alligator, is a student-run newspaper
published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters.
Other area papers, such as The High Springs Herald and The Record, are
published weekly.
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