Overview

Introduction to Gainesville, Florida

The Florida city of Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County, and also the county's largest city. It is situated 37 miles north of Ocala, 71 miles southwest of Jacksonville and 114 miles northwest of Orlando. The city is served by an extensive road system, including Interstate 75, US Route 301, US Route 441 and Florida State Highways 20, 24 and 26. Gainesville is noteworthy for being the home of the University of Florida, Florida's principal state university and the fourth-largest university in the nation. Gainesville is also home to Santa Fe Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the U.S.

Incorporated in 1869, Gainesville was named in honor of General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, a noted commander in the Second Seminole War. During the latter part of the 19th century, the city and its county prospered, riding the success of the citrus and phosphate industries. The city's advantageous central location also made it a prime target of the burgeoning railroad industry. Although the early part of the 20th century brought the boll weevil and its devastating effect on cotton crops, the new century also brought construction of the University of Florida (1906), giving Gainesville a staple that would later prove vital in helping the city's economy weather the depression era. The university has also been a key factor in the continued prosperity of Gainesville during the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Gainesville boasts world class medical facilities, historic districts, new or newly-restored city buildings and numerous cultural venues.

Arts and Culture in Gainesville

Considered Gainesville's cultural hub, the Thomas Center is the site of a variety of art exhibits and musical programs. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Center contains art galleries, local history exhibits, performance space and meeting rooms, as well as the surrounding Thomas Center Gardens and the adjacent Grace and Sidney Knight Children's Theatre. Other cultural facilities in Gainesville include the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Hippodrome State Theatre, the Harn Museum of Art, the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Olustee Battlefield State Historic Site, the Civic Media Center, the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre and the Gainesville Community Playhouse.

Gainesville has undertaken a large historic preservation initiative over the past several decades, resulting in a number of buildings which have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the structures in and around the downtown area include:

  • Matheson Center Home (1867).
  • Masonic Temple (1913).
  • Bailey Plantation House (1854).
  • Baird Hardware Company Warehouse (1910).
  • Thomas Hotel (1928).
  • Seagle Building (1937).
  • Cox Furniture Store (1887).
  • Star Garage (1903).

A two-hour drive provides access to a number of hugely popular Central Florida attractions, including the Kennedy Space Center (located on Merritt Island) and the Orlando tourist destinations of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World.

Sports in Gainesville and Alachua County center on the University of Florida Gators, a perennial national college football powerhouse. The other prime focal point for area sports fans is the sport of auto racing. Gainesville Raceway, a local drag racing landmark which opened in 1969, has long been recognized as one of the fastest tracks on the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) circuit. The facility is annual host to one of NHRA's largest national events, the "Gatornationals," held every March since 1970.

Within a two-hour drive you can cheer your favorite major league professional sports teams with the NBA's Orlando Magic, the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and Arena Football's Orlando Predators. Minor League baseball action can be found in Jacksonville, where the Suns, a AAA-affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, reside. During Spring Training in March, baseball's Atlanta Braves play their games at the Walt Disney World complex in Orlando.

Demographics

People

Total Population130,790
Male Share of the Population47.6%
Female Share of the Population52.4%
Senior Citizens10.2%
Employed Population 16+60,239
Age of the Population26

Families

% of people married24.5%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher39.9%
Median Earnings25+$32,404
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$16,085
Median Earnings With High School Degree$24,007

Wealth

Median Family Income$62,964
% Above Poverty Level68.6%
% Below Poverty Level31.4%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time19 minutes
% Working from Home3.8%
% Walking and Biking to Work9.2%
% Using Public Transportation6.9%

Housing

People Living Alone43.3%
Median Gross Rent$930
Median House Value$154,400

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)38.7%
German10.5%
Irish9.7%
English7.7%
Italian5.9%
French Except Basque2.8%
Polish2.7%
Scottish2.2%
West Indian1.7%
Russian1.2%
Dutch1.1%
Jamaican0.9%
African0.8%
Arab0.8%
Swedish0.8%
Welsh0.7%
Norwegian0.7%
Canadian0.6%
Haitian0.5%
Brazilian0.5%
Hungarian0.4%
Austrian0.4%
Greek0.4%
Portuguese0.3%
Swiss0.3%
Romanian0.3%
Czech0.3%
Danishn0.3%
Ukrainian0.3%
Iranian0.2%
Albanian0.2%
Egyptian0.2%
Lithuanian0.2%
Lebanese0.2%
Palestinian0.1%
Bahamian0.1%
Trinidad Tobago0.1%
US/American0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Syrian0.1%
Slovak0.1%
Finnish0.1%
Croatian0.1%
Ethiopian0.1%
South African0.1%
Nigerian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
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Gainesville Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyAlachua County
Standard Zip Codes32601, 32641, 32653, 32605, 32606, 32609, 32603, 32607, 32608
P.O. Box Zip Codes32602, 32604, 32614, 32627, 32635
Company Zip Codes32611, 32610, 32612
Phone Area Codes352
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude29.65
Approximate Longitude-82.32

Gainesville Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationGAINESVILLE 3 WSW
Distance2.8 miles
Jan Temp44 to 67 F
Apr Temp56 to 80 F
Jul Temp72 to 91 F
Oct Temp61 to 82 F
Annual Precip49.4 inches
StationGAINESVILLE 11 WNW
Distance10.7 miles
Jan Temp42 to 67 F
Apr Temp54 to 81 F
Jul Temp70 to 92 F
Oct Temp57 to 83 F
Annual Precip49.5 inches
StationHIGH SPRINGS
Distance20.8 miles
Jan Temp41 to 68 F
Apr Temp54 to 82 F
Jul Temp71 to 91 F
Oct Temp58 to 82 F
Annual Precip54.1 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Alachua9,794$67,434
Archer1,336$52,386
Hawthorne1,670$35,972
La Crosse435$66,750
Micanopy553$43,333
Waldo840$47,321

Gainesville Hospitals

Shands Rehab Hospital
(Non-profit)
4101 Nw 89th Blvd
(352) 265-5499
North Florida Regional Medical Center
(Proprietary)
6500 Newberry Rd
(352) 333-4000
Select Specialty Hospital Gainesville
(Proprietary)
2708 Sw Archer Rd
(352) 337-3240
Shands Hospital
(Non-profit)
1600 Sw Archer Rd
(352) 265-0002
Shands Vista Behavioral Health
4101 Nw 89th Blvd
(352) 265-5497
Malcom Randall Va Medical Center
(Government - Federal)
1601 Sw Archer Rd
(800) 324-8387

Gainesville Public Schools

A.quinn Jones/excep.student Center
1108 Nw 7th Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-6840
Other
Total Enrollment 96
Adult Education Program
620 E University Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-7035
Other
Alachua Eschool (virtual Franchise)
620 E University Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-7700
Other
Total Enrollment 62
Alachua Virtual Instruction Program
620 E University Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-7444
Other
Alachua Virtual Instruction Program (district Provided)
620 E University Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-7589
Primary
Total Enrollment 21
Alachua Virtual Instruction(course Offerings) Secondary
620 E University Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-7589
Character Counts Center
1108 Nw 7th Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-6840
P. K. Yonge Virtual Franchise
1080 Sw 11th St
ZIP: 32601
(352) 392-1554
Other
P.k. Yonge Developmental Research School
1080 Sw 11th St
ZIP: 32601
(352) 392-1554
Other
Total Enrollment 1153
Pace
1010 Se 4th Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 374-8799
Other
Total Enrollment 37
Sidney Lanier Center
312 Nw 16th Ave
ZIP: 32601
(352) 955-6841
Other
Total Enrollment 160
Sweetwater Branch Academy
1000 Ne 16th Ave Bldg C
ZIP: 32601
(352) 375-8838
Sweetwater Branch Academy Elementary School
1000 Ne 16th Ave Bldg D, Bldg D
ZIP: 32601
(352) 375-8838
J. J. Finley Elementary School
1912 Nw 5th Ave
ZIP: 32603
(352) 955-6705
Primary
Total Enrollment 602
C. W. Norton Elementary School
2200 Nw 45th Ave
ZIP: 32605
(352) 955-6765
Primary
Total Enrollment 672
Glen Springs Elementary School
2826 Nw 31st Ave
ZIP: 32605
(352) 955-6708
Primary
Total Enrollment 474
Healthy Learning Academy Charter School
2101 Nw 39th Ave
ZIP: 32605
(352) 372-2279
Primary
Total Enrollment 98
Littlewood Elementary School
812 Nw 34th St
ZIP: 32605
(352) 955-6712
Primary
Total Enrollment 641
Westwood Middle School
3215 Nw 15th Ave
ZIP: 32605
(352) 955-6718
Middle
Total Enrollment 932
F. W. Buchholz High School
5510 Nw 27th Ave
ZIP: 32606
(352) 955-6702
High
Total Enrollment 2203
Fort Clarke Middle School
9301 Nw 23rd Ave
ZIP: 32606
(352) 333-2800
Middle
Total Enrollment 830
Hidden Oak Elementary School
2100 Fort Clarke Blvd
ZIP: 32606
(352) 333-2801
Primary
Total Enrollment 780
Meadowbrook Elementary School
11525 Nw 39th Ave
ZIP: 32606
(352) 333-2828
Primary
Total Enrollment 734
Myra Terwilliger Elementary School
301 Nw 62nd St
ZIP: 32607
(352) 955-6717
Primary
Total Enrollment 676
Amikids
6815 Sw Archer Rd
ZIP: 32608
(352) 466-0543
Other
Total Enrollment 42
Expressions Learning Arts Academy
5408 Sw 13th St
ZIP: 32608
(352) 373-5223
Primary
Total Enrollment 93
Idylwild Elementary School
4601 Sw 20th Ter
ZIP: 32608
(352) 955-6709
Primary
Total Enrollment 710
Kanapaha Middle School
5005 Sw 75th St
ZIP: 32608
(352) 955-6960
Middle
Total Enrollment 961
Kimball Wiles Elementary School
4601 Sw 75th St
ZIP: 32608
(352) 955-6955
Primary
Total Enrollment 841
Lawton M. Chiles Elementary School
2525 School House Rd
ZIP: 32608
(352) 333-2825
Primary
Total Enrollment 718
The Einstein School, Inc.
5910 Sw Archer Rd
ZIP: 32608
(352) 335-4321
Primary
Total Enrollment 113
Wiles Head Start
4556 Sw 75th St
ZIP: 32608
(352) 955-7010
Primary
Total Enrollment 87
Alachua Academy
3436 Ne 39th Ave Ste 3
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-7634
High
Total Enrollment 14
Alachua County Jail
3333 Ne 39th Ave
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-2160
Other
Alachua Mycroschool Of Integrated Academics And Technologies
2209 Nw 13th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 379-2902
High
Total Enrollment 328
Alachua Regional Juvenile Detention Center
3436 Ne 39th Ave Ste 3
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-7895
Other
Total Enrollment 40
Boulware Springs
1303 Ne 23rd Ave
ZIP: 32609
(352) 215-2175
Primary
Total Enrollment 110
Fearnside Family Services Center
3600 Ne 15th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-6875
Primary
Total Enrollment 64
Gainesville High School
1900 Nw 13th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-6707
High
Total Enrollment 1841
Genesis Preparatory School
207 Nw 23rd Ave
ZIP: 32609
(352) 379-1188
Primary
Total Enrollment 65
Hoggetowne Middle School
1717 Ne 9 St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 367-4369
Howard W. Bishop Middle School
1901 Ne 9th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-6701
Middle
Total Enrollment 748
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary School
3500 Ne 15th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-6715
Primary
Total Enrollment 337
One Room Middle School
4180 Ne 15th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 376-4014
Middle
Total Enrollment 41
Siatech Gainesville
5301 Ne 40th Ter
ZIP: 32609
(352) 371-4424
High
Total Enrollment 205
Stephen Foster Elementary School
3800 Nw 6th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-6706
Primary
Total Enrollment 475
The One Room School House Project
4180 Ne 15th St
ZIP: 32609
(352) 376-4014
Primary
Total Enrollment 236
W. A. Metcalfe Elementary School
1250 Ne 18th Ave
ZIP: 32609
(352) 955-6713
Primary
Total Enrollment 541
Abraham Lincoln Middle School
1001 Se 12th St
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6711
Middle
Total Enrollment 717
Caring & Sharing Learning School
1951 Se 4th St
ZIP: 32641
(352) 372-1004
Primary
Total Enrollment 135
Charles W. Duval Elementary School
2106 Ne 8th Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6703
Primary
Total Enrollment 217
Eastside High School
1201 Se 43rd St
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6704
High
Total Enrollment 1394
Horizon Center. Alternative School
2802 Ne 8th Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-7250
Other
Total Enrollment 75
Hospital Homebound
1817 E University Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-7671
Other
Total Enrollment 42
Joseph Williams Elementary School
1245 Se 7th Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6719
Primary
Total Enrollment 568
Lake Forest Elementary School
4401 Se 4th Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6710
Primary
Total Enrollment 325
Prairie View Academy
1700 Se 35th Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6714
Primary
Professional Academy Magnet At Loften High School
3000 E University Ave
ZIP: 32641
(352) 955-6839
Other
Total Enrollment 215
William S. Talbot Elem School
5701 Nw 43rd St
ZIP: 32653
(352) 955-6716
Primary
Total Enrollment 685

Gainesville Private Schools

Loga Springs Academy
931 Ne 16th Ave
ZIP: 32601
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 7
St Patrick Interparish School
550 Ne 16th Ave
ZIP: 32601
Elementary
Total Enrollment 270
Brentwood School
1111 Nw 55th St
ZIP: 32605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 149
Flowers Montessori
3111 Nw 31st Ave
ZIP: 32605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 3
Westwood Hills Christian
1520 Nw 34th St
ZIP: 32605
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 100
Z L Sung Sda School
2115 Nw 39th Ave
ZIP: 32605
Elementary
Total Enrollment 17
Countryside Christian School
10926 Nw 39th Ave
ZIP: 32606
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 110
Millhopper Montessori School
8505 Nw 39th Ave
ZIP: 32606
Elementary
Total Enrollment 146
St Francis Catholic High School
4100 Nw 115th Ter
ZIP: 32606
Secondary
Total Enrollment 242
Trilogy School
8700 Nw 23rd Ave
ZIP: 32606
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 75
Gainesville Country Day School
6801 Sw 24th Ave
ZIP: 32607
Elementary
Total Enrollment 136
Oak Hall School
8009 Sw 14th Ave
ZIP: 32607
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 690
Queen Of Peace Catholic Academy
10900 Sw 24th Ave
ZIP: 32607
Elementary
Total Enrollment 349
The Rock School
9818 Sw 24th Ave
ZIP: 32607
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 209
Christian Life Academy
12000 Sw Archer Rd
ZIP: 32608
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 43
Passage Christian Academy
5121 E University Ave
ZIP: 32641
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 33
Star Christian Academy
908 Se Williston Rd
ZIP: 32641
Elementary
Total Enrollment 40
Windsor Christian Academy
918 Se County Road 234
ZIP: 32641
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 56
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