Gainesville, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gainesville, Florida
City
Downtown at sunset Santa Fe College The Oaks Mall Century Tower at University of Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at University of Florida Hippodrome State Theatre Sweetwater Wetlands Park at Payne's Prairie
Seal
Motto(s):  "Citizen centered. People empowered."
Location in Alachua County, city (as of 2007) in red, and in the state of Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Alachua
Settled	1854
Incorporated	April 14, 1869
Government
• Type	Commission-Manager
Area
• City	64.54 sq mi (167.15 km2)
• Land	63.36 sq mi (164.11 km2)
• Water	1.17 sq mi (3.04 km2)  1.74%
Elevation	152 ft (54 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	141,085
• Estimate  (2022)	145,214
• Rank	194th
• Density	2,226.61/sq mi (859.70/km2)
• Urban	213,748 (US: 182nd)
• Urban density	2,437.3/sq mi (941.0/km2)
• Metro	332,317 (US: 153rd)
• CSA	400,814 (US: 99th)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	32601–32614, 32627, 32635, 32641, 32653
Area code	352
FIPS code	12-25175
GNIS feature ID	0282874

Gainesville is a city in Florida, United States. It is the main city of Alachua County. In 2022, about 145,212 people lived here. This makes it the biggest city in North Central Florida. It is also the center of a larger area called the Gainesville metropolitan area, which had about 350,903 people in 2022.

Gainesville is famous for being home to the University of Florida. This university is one of the largest public universities in the United States. Its sports teams are called the Florida Gators. They compete in NCAA events.

History of Gainesville

Gainesville has a long history. About 12,000 years ago, Paleo-Indians lived in this area. However, we don't know if they had permanent homes. Later, different groups of people lived here, like the Deptford and Alachua cultures. When Europeans first arrived, the Potano people lived in the area.

In the 18th century, Spanish settlers started cattle ranches nearby. Florida became part of the U.S. in 1821. Gainesville was officially started in 1854. It was named after Edmund P. Gaines. The town became a city in 1907. The University of Florida moved to Gainesville in 1906.

Geography and Climate

Gainesville is located in Florida. It is about the same distance from the equator as Houston, Texas. The city covers about 64.5 square miles (167.15 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Gainesville is known for its many trees. It has been called a "Tree City, USA" since 1982. Nearly half of the city's land is covered by trees. The city is surrounded by nature, including the large Paynes Prairie wilderness to the south. Gainesville is centrally located in Florida. It is about a two to three-hour drive from major cities like Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.

Gainesville's Weather Patterns

Gainesville has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, tropical-like summers and mild winters. From May to September, the weather is hot and humid. There are often thunderstorms in the afternoons. Average summer temperatures are around 91°F (33°C) during the day.

In winter, temperatures are milder. It freezes about 15 nights a year. Snow is very rare, but traces have been seen a few times. The city's plants are a mix of evergreens and trees that lose their leaves. This means Gainesville has colorful fall leaves and a beautiful spring with many blooming flowers. The city gets about 48 inches (122 cm) of rain each year. Most of the rain falls from June to September.

Cityscape and Architecture

Mixed-use student housing (left side) along US 441, viewed from the near the main entrance to the University of Florida (bottom left)

Gainesville's Downtown

Alachua County Courthouse Family and Civil Justice Center

Since the 1990s, Gainesville has worked to improve its downtown area. The goal is to make the city center more lively and reduce the need for new buildings far from the city. This includes building new apartments and shops near the University of Florida.

Gainesville has a mix of old and new buildings. Some historic buildings were lost in the past. However, there is now a focus on saving and restoring older structures. Many buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include homes from the 1880s and 1890s in areas like:

• Northeast Gainesville Residential District
• Southeast Gainesville Residential District
• Pleasant Street Historic District

The University of Florida Campus Historic District also has many beautiful old buildings. They are built in a style called Collegiate Gothic.

Some other important historic buildings downtown are:

• Bailey Plantation House (1854)
• Matheson House (1867)
• The Old Post Office (now the Hippodrome State Theatre) (1911)
• Seagle Building (1926), the tallest building downtown.

Population and People

In 2020, Gainesville had 141,085 people living in the city. About 14.1% of the population was under 18 years old. About 10.8% of the population was 65 years or older.

The average household income in Gainesville from 2015-2019 was $37,264. The income per person was $23,018.

Languages Spoken in Homes

Most people in Gainesville speak English at home. In 2019, about 82.90% of residents spoke English. Other languages spoken include:

• Spanish (8.20%)
• Chinese (1.93%)
• French or French Creole (0.96%)
• Vietnamese (0.78%)
• Hindi (0.61%)
• Slavic languages (0.55%)
• Tagalog (0.50%)
• German (0.37%)
• Arabic (0.35%)
• Korean (0.34%)

Economy and Jobs

Gainesville is known for having a low cost of living. This means it's generally cheaper to live here compared to many other U.S. cities. For example, restaurants near the University of Florida are often affordable. While property taxes are a bit high, the average home cost is below the national average. Also, people in Florida do not pay state income taxes.

The job market in Gainesville can be challenging. There are many college-educated people, which means more competition for jobs. The average income for households in Gainesville is a bit lower than the U.S. average.

Gainesville has been a leader in solar power. It was the first city in the U.S. to offer a "feed-in tariff." This program paid homes and businesses for the solar electricity they added to the city's power grid. This helped Gainesville become one of the top cities in the world for solar energy per person.

The famous sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville in the 1960s. It was created to help the University of Florida football team stay hydrated. The university still gets a share of the profits from Gatorade.

Spring Hill UF Health building

Major Employers in Gainesville

The biggest part of Gainesville's economy is the University of Florida. It is the largest employer in the area. The university brings a lot of money into the city from the state and federal government.

Here are the top employers in Gainesville as of 2023:

Education in Gainesville

Century Tower, University of Florida

All schools in Gainesville are part of the Alachua County Public Schools district. There are 75 different schools in the county, mostly in the Gainesville area. Gainesville is also home to the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. The University of Florida helps the community a lot financially. Its sports events, like football games, bring in a lot of money. A study in 2019 showed that the university added $16.9 billion to Florida's economy. It also created over 130,000 jobs.

School Desegregation

Gainesville's schools started to become integrated in the 1960s. High schools were fully integrated between 1968 and 1970.

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

Middle schools in Gainesville teach students from 6th to 8th grades.

• Fort Clarke Middle School
• Howard Bishop Middle School
• Kanapaha Middle School
• Lincoln Middle School
• Westwood Middle School

High Schools

High schools in Gainesville teach students from 9th to 12th grades.

• Buchholz High School
• Eastside High School
• Gainesville High School
• Loften High School

Private Schools

Colleges and Universities

Sledd Hall at the University of Florida

Gainesville is home to several colleges and universities:

• University of Florida
• Santa Fe College
• Saint Leo University (Gainesville Education Center)
• City College (Gainesville campus)

Developmental Research Schools

• P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School

Public Libraries

The Alachua County Library District provides library services to Gainesville and all of Alachua County. You can also borrow books from libraries in nearby counties.

Transportation Around Gainesville

Heading east on University Avenue, approaching 13th Street (US 441) intersection

Gainesville has a good road system. Many people also choose to bike to work. In 2009, Gainesville ranked seventh in the U.S. for the percentage of people who biked to work.

Main Roads

Major roads in Gainesville include Interstate 75 and several Florida State Routes.

• I-75 runs along the western side of the city.
• US 441 is a main road that goes north and south through Gainesville. It runs along the eastern edge of the University of Florida.
• SR 20 goes northwest and southeast through the city.
• SR 24 goes northeast and southwest. The Gainesville Regional Airport is near this road.
• SR 26 is a main road that goes east and west through Gainesville.
• SR 121 runs north and south on the western part of the city.
• SR 222 runs east and west on the northern part of the city.

Gainesville's streets are set up in a grid. Streets are numbered and divided into four sections: NW, NE, SW, and SE. Some major roads are named after towns they lead to, like Waldo Road or Newberry Road.

Train Service

Amtrak Thruway buses connect Gainesville to train stations in Jacksonville and Lakeland. You can also catch an Amtrak train in Palatka, which is about 32 miles (51 km) away.

Gainesville used to have many train lines. The first one arrived in 1859. Over time, train services changed, and some lines were closed. Passenger train service to Gainesville ended in 1971.

Airport and Buses

An RTS bus

Gainesville has a public transportation system called Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS). It is Florida's fourth-largest public transit system. The city also has the Gainesville Regional Airport ("GNV"). This airport offers daily flights to several major cities like Atlanta and Miami.

Culture and Fun

A Columbian Mammoth in the Main Gallery of the Florida Museum of Natural History

The outside of the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art

Gainesville is known for its support of the arts. Each year, two big art festivals bring artists and visitors from all over the southeastern U.S.

Places to visit for culture include:

• Florida Museum of Natural History
• Harn Museum of Art
• Hippodrome State Theatre
• Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The University of Florida College of the Arts offers many performances and talks. Most of these are free or low-cost. Gainesville is also home to Theatre Strike Force, the university's improv comedy group.

In 2003, Gainesville was named the "Healthiest Community in America." This was because many local businesses worked together to promote health and wellness.

Music Scene in Gainesville

Gainesville has a lively music scene. Many famous bands and musicians started here, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stephen Stills, and Less Than Jake. It's also home to independent music labels.

From 1987 to 1998, Gainesville had a very active rock music scene. Actor River Phoenix and his band Aleka's Attic were a big part of it. The city is still known for its strong music community. In 2008, Blender magazine called it the "Best Place to Start a Band in the United States." They mentioned the large student population, affordable rent, and friendly music venues.

Sports and Teams

Panorama shot during Florida's 2022 season-opening win vs. Utah

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

The Florida Gators are the sports teams of the University of Florida. They compete in the Southeastern Conference. The Gators have won many national championships in different sports. These include men's basketball, football, women's soccer, baseball, gymnastics, and tennis.

The Gainesville Raceway opened in 1969. It is a dragstrip that hosts the Gatornationals. This is one of the four major races in the NHRA.

Startup Businesses

Gainesville is a growing place for new businesses, especially in technology. There are over 160 high-growth companies in the area. Many organizations in Gainesville help these new businesses grow.

Since 2006, when Grooveshark (a music streaming service) was founded here, more tech startups have started in Gainesville. These include companies like Digital Brands and SharpSpring. The city even celebrates "Josh Greenberg Day" each April. This day honors the late founder of Grooveshark and his help to the city's startup community.

Yearly Cultural Events

• The Spring Arts Festival, held in early April by Santa Fe College, is known for its unique artwork.
• The Downtown Festival and Art Show, held each fall, attracts many artists and over 100,000 visitors.
• The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire has been a popular event for over 20 years.
• The Fest is a multi-day music festival held every year since 2002.

Media and News

Independent Florida Alligator Logo

Print Media

Gainesville has two main newspapers: The Gainesville Sun and The Independent Florida Alligator. The Alligator is the student newspaper for the University of Florida and Santa Fe College. A newer paper, Mainstreet Daily News, started printing weekly in 2022.

Radio Stations

Gainesville has 13 radio stations. Some of these, like WRUF and WUFT-FM, are run by students at the University of Florida. WUFT-FM is the local NPR station.

Television Stations

Gainesville has several broadcast television stations:

• WCJB (ABC/CW affiliate)
• WGFL (CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate)
• WNBW (NBC affiliate)
• WOGX (Fox station)
• WUFT (PBS station, affiliated with the University of Florida)

Gainesville also has a local cable TV channel called Community 12TV. It shows local government meetings and other public programs.

Places to Visit

• 34th Street Wall
• Baughman Center
• Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field
• Bivens Arm
• Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention
• Civic Media Center
• Depot Park
• Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
• Florida Museum of Natural History, including the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit
• Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail State Park
• Harn Museum of Art
• Helyx Bridge
• Hippodrome State Theatre
• Lake Alice
• Morningside Nature Center
• The Oaks Mall
• Stephen C. O'Connell Center
• William Reuben Thomas Center

Sister Cities

Gainesville has several sister cities around the world. These partnerships help promote cultural understanding and exchange.

See also

In Spanish: Gainesville (Florida) para niños