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Alachua, FL


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Alachua, Florida

Introduction to Alachua, Florida

Alachua, Florida, in Alachua county, is 9 miles NW of Gainesville, Florida (center to center) and 61 miles SW of Jacksonville, Florida. The city, which is located in the Gainesville area, has 6,098 residents.

Alachua History

The area on which the Alachua county settlement was established was originally home to the Indian civilization Timucuan. DeSoto and other Spanish explorers visited during the 16th century and following their explorations, numerous missions were initiated by Franciscan priests. The community of Alachua was established along a railroad line in 1884. The name "Alachua" was derived from an Indian term meaning "sink". A post office was built in 1887, and Alachua was incorporated as a city in April of 1905.

Alachua and Nearby Attractions

  • Dudley Farm Historic State Park
  • Florida Museum of Natural History
  • Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Site
  • Jacksonville Zoo
  • San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park

Things To Do In Alachua

The David Browning Railroad Museum, and Florida Museum of Natural History showcase exhibits of historical importance. The Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art features collections of West African art, Asian art, contemporary art, and photography. Dudley Farm Historical State Park, which is located near Alachua, is a restored living history farm encompassing 325 acres. Author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' retreat, now known as the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Site, is also close by. The 6,900-acre San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, and the 21,000-acre Paynes Prairie State Preserve include nature trails and horse trails, and also offer facilities for biking, boating, fishing, picnicking, and camping. Another popular place to visit is the O'Leno State Park.

Alachua Transportation

Gainesville Regional Airport is the closest major airport.

Alachua Higher Education

Colleges close to Alachua include the University of Florida, Santa Fe Community College, and Central Florida Community College.

High Points

Alachua strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Florida):

CategoryTrophy
Racial Diversity
(vs. Peers)		Top 14%Alachua Racial Diversity
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 18%Alachua Affordability of Rents

Comparative Profile of Alachua, FL

Comparing Alachua to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Florida (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Racial Diversity97
Female Share of the Population98
Children Under 5 Years Old78
Age of the Population64
Well-Paid Single Women56
Senior Citizens42
Well-Paid Single Men35
Male Share of the Population33

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size78
Portion of People Married57

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults78
Median Family Income67
People in Middle Class or Better45
People Above Poverty34

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Working at Home88
Short Commute Times45
Walking and Biking to Work43
Public Transportation Use23

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Housing Recently Built109
Affordability of Rents99
Seasonal and Vacation Housing62
Affordability of Property Taxes65
People Living Alone43
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals23

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Property Crime34
Low Violent Crime25

Detailed pages on related topics: Alachua travel.

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Additional Details

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Alachua hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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