HOME

MENU

LINKS

Gainesville: A Place for Living and Learning

Situated in the rolling countryside of north central Florida, Gainesville is much more than a stereotypical college town. Home of the University of Florida, seat of Alachua County's government and the region's commercial hub, it is progressive, environmentally conscious and culturally diverse. The presence of many students and faculty from abroad among its 99,000-plus population adds a strong cross-cultural flavor to its historic small-town Southern roots. Its natural environment, temperate climate and civic amenities make Gainesville a beautiful, pleasant and interesting place in which to learn and to live.

Time and time again, Gainesville has been tapped as one of Florida's most liveable cities and ranked among the leaders in the United States — a reputation created by an exceptional combination of local features. Agreeable weather and lovely landscapes, attractive educational and economic opportunities, varied cultural and recreational resources, and a youthful, energetic ambiance all contribute to the standard of living enjoyed by area residents.

Education and agriculture are the driving forces behind the Gainesville area's economy and its workforce of over 200,000. UF is the largest local employer and sets the local tone in education, culture and sports. In the surrounding countryside, farming is an important enterprise, producing cattle, corn, dairy products, horses, poultry, timber, tobacco and vegetables.

Both city and farm life are enhanced by the Gainesville area's seasonable weather, with its 255-day growing season, average annual temperatures from a high of 82 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of 56 degrees Fahrenheit, and yearly average rainfall of 35 inches. Summers are long and warm, with regular rains; winters are dry, marked by short but invigorating cold spells. Gainesville's inland location, midway between Florida's two coasts, minimizes its exposure to tropical storms and hurricanes, in contrast to elsewhere in the state.

Educational opportunities abound for Gainesville residents at every age. In addition to UF, there is the 16,000-strong Santa Fe Community College; the UF College of Education's P.K.Yonge Developmental Research School (kindergarten through 12th grade); a public school system boasting 23 elementary, eight middle and seven high schools; and more than a dozen private schools. In addition, many evening, noncredit, leisure and extension courses are available through county, university and community college programs.

Numerous facilities provide care for Gainesville residents' physical and spiritual wellbeing. Four hospitals (UF Shands, Alachua General, Columbia North Florida Regional and the Veterans Administration Medical Center) make the town a major state center for medical research and treatment. There are also many clinics, nursing homes and private practices operated by more than 450 physicians and 100 dentists. More than 100 churches, synagogues, mosques and temples serve the spiritual needs of residents from a variety of faith traditions, along with 15 student chapels and religious centers near campus.

Local mass media has a number of outlets that keep Gainesville informed and entertained. Listeners can tune into more than 15 radio stations, including WUFT-FM Classic 89 (UF's National Public Radio station). There are two commercial television stations in addition to WUFT-TV Channel 5 (UF's Public Broadcasting System station); cable television provides access to more than 50 other channels. The local press produces the daily Gainesville Sun and the weekday Independent Florida Alligator, along with many other student and grassroots publications.

The Gainesville area is a delight for nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts. Two thirds of Alachua County's 969 square miles are forest dotted with scenic lakes and wetlands. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico beaches are one hour away by car. Within the city limits there are several natural preserves: the 280-acre Morningside Nature Center (with its programs on naturalism, farm life, folk culture and crafts), 57-acre Bivens Arm Nature Park, Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site and Kanapaha Gardens, among others. Numerous natural springs, lakes and rivers — such as the Suwannee, the Ichetucknee or Silver Springs — offer ample opportunities for swimming, diving, fishing, canoeing, tubing and other water sports. Hiking, picnicking or camping are options at the Paynes Prairie State Preserve, San Felasco Hammock State Preserve, Ocala National Forest, among other woodlands and greenspaces. The Santa Fe Community College teaching zoo is a favorite of animal lovers and children alike.

Athletics figure prominently in Gainesville. Along with the football powerhouse of the Florida Gators, UF offers spectators and competitors the chance to enjoy many different sports at the collegiate, intramural and amateur levels. Public golf courses, playing fields, tennis and racquetball courts, exercise facilities and similar amenities on campus and in the community foster physical fitness and healthy play. Special events, such as drag racing's annual Gatornationals, draw large crowds of fans from around the South and the country.

Gainesville also has a lively cultural and entertainment scene, with much to offer in the way of theater, music and the arts. Theatergoers enjoy dramatic productions at the UF Constans Theater (home of the Florida Players), the Hippodrome (one of Florida's three state theaters), Acrosstown Repertory Theater and Gainesville Community Playhouse, among others. Local music covers a broad spectrum of genres — from classical and jazz to alternative rock and country/western — for audiences and performers alike, in settings ranging from formal concert halls to local nightlife venues. Art lovers frequent the UF Harn Museum of Art, University Gallery, Santa Fe Community College Gallery and other exhibition spaces hosting past landmarks and contemporary currents in artistic expression. Those who like to flex their own creative bent also will find much to do, through such arts-and-crafts ventures as the nonprofit Artisans' Guild cooperative and the downtown Spring Arts Festival (one of the best in the Southeast).

Other important hubs of enlightenment, entertainment and cultural endeavor in Gainesville include downtown's city-run Thomas Center, Florida Museum of Natural History, Matheson Historical Center and the 1,880-seat UF Center for the Performing Arts, which showcases exceptional local and touring talent. A wide variety of area restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs, supermarkets, specialty shops and a major mall round out opportunities for social life and gracious living.

(To learn more about UF's contributions to Gainesville's cultural and entertainment opportunities through the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Harn Museum of Art and the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, click on this link: UF Cultural Plaza.)

Gainesville also features many social service organizations and agencies that meet the needs of young people, single parents, pregnant mothers, victims of crime, poverty, addiction or personal crisis, and people with AIDS/HIV. The local United Way generates support for many local charities and humanitarian organizations that help residents in difficulty and need.

Gainesville's location is advantageous for exploring other Florida points of interest, such as St. Augustine (oldest city in the United States), Kennedy Space Center, Disney World and Cross Creek (home of author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings). Major urban centers are also within convenient reach: Jacksonville (one hour by car); Tampa and Orlando (two hours); Miami and Atlanta (six hours). Interstate 75, and US Highways 441 and 301, facilitate automobile travel. Gainesville Regional Airport is served by a number of airlines. The Amtrak railway depot in nearby Waldo provides access by train.

Gainesville also features convenient public transportation within town. Regional Transit System runs public buses (free to UF students, one-dollar fare for residents) on 11 routes every half-hour on weekdays, hourly on Saturdays. Several bus routes run through the UF campus during school hours as well.

To learn more about Gainesville and Alachua County, visit their official websites by clicking on these links:

City of Gainesville
Alachua County