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North central Florida facts for kids

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North Central Florida
Map of the counties in north central Florida

North Central Florida is a special part of the U.S. state of Florida. It includes counties like Alachua, Marion, and Columbia. The biggest city in this area is Gainesville. This city is home to the University of Florida, which is a very large school. In 2020, about 575,622 people lived in North Central Florida.

This region is known as part of the Deep South. This means it shares some history and culture with other southern states, unlike the more tropical parts of Florida.

Gainesville Metropolitan Area
Map of the counties in the Gainesville metropolitan area, the population center of north central Florida.

The nature and weather in North Central Florida are different from the rest of the state. Instead of flat, tropical areas, you'll find gently rolling hills here. These hills are covered with beautiful magnolia trees and huge southern live oak trees. These oaks often have Spanish moss hanging from their branches. There are also many large pine forests. The summers are hot, and the winters are mild. Sometimes, the temperature can drop below freezing. This area is just north of Florida's Nature Coast.

Cities and Towns in North Central Florida

Many cities and towns are located in North Central Florida. Here are some of them:

Economy and Jobs

North Central Florida has many jobs, especially in education and healthcare. This is because of the University of Florida and other colleges in Gainesville. Many people aged 18 to 44 with advanced degrees live here.

The city of Alachua is a big center for companies that work with biology and life sciences. Gainesville also has several large hospitals, like UF Health Shands Hospital. These hospitals provide many jobs.

Tourism is also important in some towns. Places like Cedar Key, White Springs, and Micanopy attract visitors.

Top Employers in the Region

Here are some of the largest employers in North Central Florida as of 2016:

Company What they do Number of employees
1 University of Florida Education 27567
2 UF Health Shands System Healthcare 12705
3 Veterans Affairs Medical Center Healthcare 6127
4 Alachua County School Board Public education 3904
5 City of Gainesville City government 2072
6 HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Healthcare 2000
7 Gator Dining Services Food service 1200
8 Nationwide Insurance Company Insurance 960
9 Alachua County Government 809
10 Publix Supermarkets Grocery 780
11 Santa Fe College Education 750
12 Wal-Mart Distribution Center Grocery 738
13 Dollar General Distribution Center Retail 600
14 RTI Surgical Orthopedic/cardio implants 518
15 Wal-Mart Stores Grocery 312

Education in North Central Florida

The region has many colleges and technical schools. These schools help students learn new skills and prepare for jobs.

  • University of Florida – Gainesville
  • Santa Fe College – Gainesville, Alachua, Starke, Archer
  • Florida Gateway College – Lake City
  • North Florida College – Madison, Live Oak
  • College of Central Florida – Chiefland
  • North Florida Technical College – Starke
  • City College Gainesville

Culture and Fun Activities

North Central Florida is famous for its amazing freshwater springs and rivers. These are some of the best places in the world for cave diving. Many springs connect to the Suwannee and Santa Fe River systems.

Popular Springs to Visit

Nature Parks and Cultural Centers

There are many nature parks and cultural centers to explore in the area:

You can learn about Florida pioneer life from the 1800s at Morningside Nature Center and Dudley Farm Historic State Park. Several small, old towns show the culture of the Deep South and are popular with tourists:

Museums to Explore

The region has many interesting museums about local history, nature, science, and art:

Performing Arts and Sports

Gainesville has great places for performing arts, like the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and The Hippodrome Theater. The Gainesville Orchestra has been performing music since 1983.

Sports are very popular, especially those at the University of Florida in Gainesville. People love to watch Florida Gator Football, Basketball, and Baseball. The Gatornationals is also a big annual drag racing event.

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