Gainesville
Gainesville, as county seat, serves as the commercial hub for north central Florida and is one of the state’s centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics.
Gainesville bears the distinction of being the best place to live and work in America, according to Frommer’s “Cities Ranked and Rated.” Gainesville is home to the National Champion Florida Gators and has been recognized by Forbes, National Geographic and a host of others as a unique and exciting place to live.
It is easy to see why Gainesville is recognized this way. In the heart of beautiful north central Florida, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the area basks in the beautiful sunshine all year round.
The University of Florida and Shands Hospital at UF are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide a large number of jobs for many residents. Gainesville is known for its preservation of historic buildings and beauty of its natural surroundings, and it’s city parks, museums and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors every year.
The University of Florida is the state’s flagship university and is one of the leading research and instructional institutions in the nation. Current enrollment exceeds 46,000, making UF one of the top five largest universities in the country. With a 2,000-acre campus and more than 4,000 distinguished faculty, UF is recognized internationally as a premier research facility. Gainesville is also home to Santa Fe College, a former community college that has recently transitioned to a 4-year institution and serves 28,000 area residents.
Gainesville is also home to 42 schools (24 elementary, 8 middle, 7 high, 2 special education centers, and one alternative middle/high school center) that serve nearly 30,000 students.
As one of the medical centers of the entire state, Gainesville is home one of the most premier and distinguished medical facilities in the country: Shands Hospital. Shands is committed to delivering the highest quality essential care to residents living in the local communities. This cutting edge facility offers advanced diagnostic and medical services, and it is pioneering in the provision of sophisticated treatments that draw patients nationally for highly specialized care.
Other leading employers in Gainesville include: Veterans Affairs, Nationwide Insurance, Cox Communications and Florida Farm Bureau.
The population of the city of Gainesville is approximately 115,000. The median age is 26 and the median income for a family is $44, 263.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium New Shands Cancer Hospital
Alachua
Alachua County, located in North Central Florida, encompasses 969 square miles and has an estimated year round population of 240,000 including roughly 50,000 University of Florida students. It is currently home to 12 incorporated cities, notably Gainesville, Alachua and Ocala.
Of the 969 square miles, approximately 65% is covered by scenic lakes, wetlands, hiking trails and central Florida wilderness, making it a popular destination with in-state and out-of-state visitors. The County houses over 50 hotels, offering over 4200 rooms, to accommodate their traveling guests.
Alachua County is linked to the interstate system and is accessible from I-75, US 301 and US 441. It is 115 miles from Orlando, 335 miles from Miami, 78 miles from Jacksonville, 127 miles from Tampa and 342 miles from Atlanta, Georgia. The 2000-acre Gainesville Regional airport serves the majority of Alachua County and services approximately 40 flights daily.
The county’s geographic location offers a comfortable year-round climate. Temperatures are moderated by winds from the Gulf of Mexico, producing mild winters and relatively cool summer nights. The average year-round temperature is 70.1 degrees.
