Gainesville Facts

Gainesville is the largest city and county seat of Alachua County. It serves as the cultural, educational and commercial center for the North Central Florida Region. The City provides a full range of municipal services, including police and fire protection; comprehensive land use planning and zoning services; code enforcement and neighborhood improvement; streets and drainage construction and maintenance; traffic engineering services; refuse and recycling services through a franchised operator; recreation and parks; cultural and nature services; and necessary administrative services to support these activities. Additionally, the City owns a regional transit system, a municipal airport, a 72-par championship golf course, and a utility.

Gainesville is home to Florida's largest and oldest university, and is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida and Shands Hospital at UF are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural surroundings, Gainesville's numerous parks, museums and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors. Because of its beautiful landscape and urban "forest," Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida.

 

• Gainesville Ranks #1 in Cities Ranked and Rated, which studied more than 400 metropolitan areas in the U.S. and Canada
• Gainesville's Eastside High School Ranks Top Six in the Nation, Newsweek's Best High Schools rankings, 2006
• Nineteen Gainesville Area Schools Receive Most Improved in FCAT writing scores, 2006
• Top Ten Cities in the USA for Outdoor Activities, Sperling’s Best Places, 2005
• Most Technologically Advanced City in Florida (30th in the nation), 2005
• Growth Management Pilot Community, 2005 
• Downtown Festival & Art Show ranked #40 in nation by Greg Lawler’s Art Fair Sourcebook, 2005
• Tree City USA and Tree City USA Growth Award, National Arbor Day Foundation, 2005 and 2006 
• 1st Place media awards for its annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, 2005
• Downtown Festival & Art Show 2005 Commemorative Poster Award
• Silver-Level Bicycle-Friendly Community Award, League of American Bicyclists, 2004, 2005 and 2006
• #3 Mid-Market City, 100 Top Deals and Hot Markets, Southern Business & Development Magazine, 2004
• #11 of the Top 15 Best Places to Reinvent Your Life, AARP Magazine, 2003
• Gold Well City USA Award, Wellness Councils of America, 2003
• #1 Best Place to Live in America, Money Magazine, 1995

In June 2006, it was announced that Alachua County schools received an "A."
Elementary (13): Alachua Learning Center, Archer, C.W. Norton, Charles Duval*, Hidden Oak*, High Springs Community School, J.J. Finley*, Joseph Williams*, Kimball, Lawton Chiles*, Newberry, Stephen Foster*, William Talbot*
Middle (6): A.L. Mebane, Lincoln*, Fort Clarke*, Howard Bishop*, Kanapaha*, Westwood*
High (1): Buchholz*
*denotes Gainesville schools  
The History of Alachua School Grades

Gainesville has been called a hometown with you in mind. Read more.

Gainesville Area History & Culture

The Gainesville area is home to a number of activities and sites of historical or cultural significance. From observation to participation, opportunities abound to experience firsthand the enrichment and taste on display in North-Central Florida.

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History
Historian Ben Pickard recaptures the essence of Gainesville area history and explains how war, commerce, exploration, and expansion characterize our city's storied evolution. From natural history to the Civil War, Gainesville is a hotbed of noteworthy landmarks. Learn all about opportunities to visit the area's famous and unique places.

Culture
Gainesville is home to several acclaimed performing artist groups, from thespians to musicians to dancers. Consult group websites or call for more information on scheduled performances. Gainesville boasts some of the area's most prestigious art collections and galleries. Learn how you can immerse yourself in the work of local, national, and international artists.

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Visitors Information & Leisure Activities

General
Gainesville residents and visitors can now find the information they need on the city's travel, lodging, dining and education.

Recreation
Discover Gainesville's shopping, sports, nightlife and other fun opportunities. Take a hot air balloon ride, catch a round of golf on one of the area courses, tour the Santa Fe Community College zoo, see the University of Florida football team play, or learn how to travel to and from Gainesville!

Attractions
Gainesville is just a short drive from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, offering a wealth of fun and opportunity to get the most from Florida's tourism industry. Additionally, the Gainesville area offers unique opportunities to visit and interact with natural, historical, and entertaining areas of Florida. Learn all about Gainesville's attractions, including city parks, area freshwater activities, nature trails, and other sites of interest within short driving distance from Gainesville.
Note: Additional information and resources about Gainesville's leisure activities is available from the Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau at (352) 374-5231 or online at http://www.visitgainesville.net.

Schedule of Events

The City of Gainesville schedules annual and seasonal events on a regular basis, including the Downtown Festival & Art Show and various activities in downtown Gainesville.

Some of the cultural, recreational and sports events that fill the calendar are:

MORE...

Black Heritage: http://www.acld.lib.fl.us/programs_and_events/Calendar.php?calendar=blk_hist
Sponsored by the Alachua County Library District, the calendar lists Black Heritage Council Meetings, Modern African Cinema programs, and activities of interest to the community

Cultural Affairs:  http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/
An excellent source of information on events in Gainesville and the surrounding area, the calendar lists between 400-600 events/activities including art, music, theater, dance, festivals, parades, sports, conferences and historic, seasonal and environmental events.

Gainesville Sun: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/events?Category=events
Comprehensive list of upcoming events in the North Central Florida area.

Library Event Calendar: http://www.acld.lib.fl.us/programs_and_events/Calendar.php?calendar=ACLD_Events
Upcoming special programs and events in the Alachua County Library District.

Nature Operations:  http://www.natureoperations.org/E&Pframes.htm
Upcoming special events, free nature activities, programs for families, kids, and adults.

Recreation and Parks Department: http://www.cityofgainesville.org/recparks/newseve/
Activities and programs featuring trips, guest speakers, and lots of fun for the Gainesville community.

Satellite Magazine:http://www.satellitemag.com/
Events of interest in the Gainesville area.

Shands: http://shands.org/calendar/default.asp?id=3&L_ID=0&T_ID=0&S_ID=0
Shands HealthCare Calendar of health seminars, screenings, special events, support groups, and educational seminars.

University of Florida: http://calendar.ufl.edu/
This is a calendar of university events and critical dates prepared by the UF Office of University Relations.

 

For more information about Gainesville contact...

Matt Thomas
(352) 494-0194
MattThomas@BosshardtRealty.com

 

 

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