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Real Estate & Homes in Gainesville - Florida - Gainesville, Florida homes and communities
Gainesville
Gainesville Background
Perhaps best known as the home of the University of Florida, Gainesville has evolved from a college town into a city that consistently ranks at the top of Money Magazine's “Best Places to Live” list. Fueled by the cultural and sporting activities available through the city and the university, an aggressive business community, and residents who are intent on preserving the superb quality of life, this community has managed to diversify its economic base and gain respect as a dynamic, sophisticated, business-friendly city.
The city takes advantage of its partnership with the university to offer its residents the best in cultural activities, sports, entertainment and educational opportunities. The area's beautiful forests and landscapes further enhance the living experience, providing boundless recreational opportunities for residents.
Gainesville History
Central Florida's history begins with the Timucuan Indian civilization, a complex and highly social tribe who thrived on Florida's fertile soil and in the rich forests teeming with game. The Spanish arrived in the 1500s, bringing disease and greedy appetites for plundering, which ultimately destroyed the Timucuan civilization. Franciscan priests and ranchers followed the Spaniards into the area, and they lived in relative harmony until the early 1700s, when the English and Seminole Indians arrived and wreaked havoc on the Franciscan missions.
Following the American Revolution, Spain could no longer control its holdings in America and sold Florida to the United States for $5 million in 1821. Alachua County, of which Gainesville is the largest city, was created in 1824 and extended hundreds of square miles. As the years passed, the county was subdivided many times.
“Alachua” is an Indian word for “sinkhole,” a testament to the topography of the area. Alachua County — with its good railway system, fertile soil and strong economy — grew steadily throughout the 19th century. In 1860, it had more than 8,000 residents, but by 1865, it had grown to 18,000. Even early in its history, Alachua County prided itself on educational opportunities and established two major schools in Gainesville: the Union Academy for African Americans and the East Florida Seminary for whites.
By 1890, Gainesville had grown to a city of nearly 3,000, making it one of the state's largest cities. The area economy was strong, fueled by the railroad, citrus, phosphate and cotton. By the turn of the century, Alachua County's population had burgeoned to 32,000.
Events in the first three decades of the 20th century were not kind to Alachua County's agricultural and phosphate industries, but these economic staples were gradually replaced by a more stable economic linchpin, the University of Florida. Established in 1905, UF’s student body grew from 102 students to 2000 in just 20 years, giving Gainesville an economic parachute during the Great Depression.
Although Gainesville's population grew steadily, it was the veterans returning from World War II who ultimately transformed the face of the area. By 1947, the university had grown to 9,000 students and by 1970, there were 23,000 students enrolled. Today there are nearly twice that many students. The university has been the most significant catalyst to Gainesville’s growth.
Gainesville Fast Facts Population: 117,182
Area: 54 square miles
Average high temperatures: 65°F in winter, 89°F in summer
Median age: 27
Median household income: $31,426
Median home price: $150,000
Economy
The University of Florida is the driving force in Gainesville’s economy, not just because it is the area's largest employer but also because high-tech, scientific and agricultural companies are attracted to the research resources available at the school. Spearheading the search for company relocations is the Gainesville Council for Economic Outreach. A branch of the Chamber of Commerce, the CEO has been the driving force behind dozens of company relocations and expansions.
To assist in attracting and assisting high-tech companies, the City of Gainesville, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners and the U.S. Department of Commerce created the Technology Enterprise Center of Gainesville/Alachua County. The purpose of the GTEC is to support and encourage the development and growth of technology-based companies. As a result of these efforts, Gainesville's economic picture is bright. The university is the largest employer in the county, followed by health services.
The area's labor force is well-educated and plentiful, drawing from outlying counties as well as from the student bodies of UF and Santa Fe Community College. The economy is well-balanced, with nearly 31 percent of the labor force involved in construction, manufacturing and trade; 44 percent in health and educational services; and the balance spread among other professional services and sectors.
In addition, the city has established a state-designated enterprise zone that offers financial incentives to businesses to locate within its boundaries. Some of the incentive bonuses for locating in the zone are tax savings for employing zone residents; tax credits on state sales tax; corporate income tax and property tax; and discounts on building permits, development fees and occupational licenses.
Quality of Life
With the University of Florida providing a constant hum of activity, and miles of waterways and forests just outside the city limits providing tranquil settings for recreation, Gainesville's quality of life is unparalleled in Florida. Whether it's an evening at the opera or a day in the park, Gainesville has it all.
Activities
Arts and Culture
Gainesville’s art and cultural offerings equal those of Florida's largest cities. The university's art museum, one of the best equipped in the country, teams with the Focus Gallery, Grinter Gallery, Gainesville Artisans’ Guild Gallery, Reitz Union Gallery, Santa Fe Gallery, Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art and the Thomas Center Galleries to display the works of local and nationally acclaimed artists. Public art is displayed throughout the city, and 15 studios are available for studying pottery, weaving, painting, stained glass and other media.
Gainesville boasts the only professional theater in North Central Florida, a professional orchestra, a chorus, chamber orchestra, community band, a nationally recognized dance company, ballet and multiple dance companies. The city's performing arts center attracts Broadway shows, internationally acclaimed musicians and dancers, and top-quality theater productions. With the additional offerings of the university's artists, musicians, thespians and dancers, there is a constant stream of artistic and cultural activity in the area.
Attractions and Recreation
Centrally located in the state, Gainesville is only an hour-and-a-half’s drive from the major attractions of Orlando, an hour from Florida's East Coast beaches, and two hours to Tampa. Closer to home, one of the most popular activities is diving into the freshwater springs and caves in the area. More than 20 square miles in Alachua County are submerged in water, where residents can snorkel, dive, fish, swim, canoe and tube.
Gainesville residents enjoy more than 40 nature parks within 50 miles of Gainesville, including 30 municipal parks that host activities throughout the year. Some of the more popular parks are the Morningside Nature Center, featuring a living history farm; Devil's Millhopper, a sinkhole filled with fossils; Gold Head Branch State Park, a 1,500-acre park; and Paynes Prairie State Preserve, a 19,000-acre preserve where bison, wild horses and alligators dwell.
Surrounding Gainesville are the quaint historic towns of Micanopy and High Springs, whose downtowns have been preserved to provide hours of browsing and shopping enjoyment. Of course, the university itself is an attraction. “Gator” fans are among the most vocal in the nation, and the school's sporting events draw fans throughout the nation. The NHRA Gatornationals, a four-day drag racing event, attracts more than 135,000 people annually. For golf enthusiasts, there are nine golf courses in the area, and there are dozens of public courts for tennis players.Bicycling Magazine ranked Gainesville in the top 10 cycling communities in the country. The Hawthorne Trail, a 17-mile paved rails-to-trail route, provides safe pedaling for cyclists and joggers.
Restaurants and Nightlife
It comes as no surprise that Gainesville’s nightlife and restaurant choices center on the university and its student population. With 44,000 young people eager for entertainment, there are numerous bars and nightclubs near the university offering live music and dancing any night of the week. Although wings, pizza and beer are the most popular cuisine, more sophisticated offerings are also available for those who prefer Steak Diane and a nice cabernet.
Festivals and Events
Gainesville’s Downtown Festival & Art Show has been entertaining residents for more than 22 years. Sunshine Artist Magazine, the nation's most respected show and festival publication, ranked this event as one of the best in the nation in 2003 and 85th out of 10,000 shows considered by the magazine. During the weekend of this event, more than 250 artists display their wares, and historic downtown Gainesville becomes their showcase. Music plays a prominent role, with three stages of live music and performances entertaining visitors on a continuous basis during the festival.
Another great downtown Gainesville event occurs on New Year's Eve, when the streets are closed and downtown becomes one huge New Year's Eve party. Local and nationally renowned artists help ring in the New Year amid the food vendors, jugglers, games and fireworks.
From May to September, the “Let's Go Downtown” Plaza Series provides music, theater and dance under the stars at the Downtown Community Plaza.Yet another popular event, the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, occurs each year in nearby Hoggetowne. Jugglers, jousters, magicians and entertainers don medieval costumes to entertain thousands of visitors in this Middle-Age revival.
Where is Gainesville?
Written by Margaret Bowles exclusively for HomesParadise.com.
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