Gainesville, Florida

Downtown Clock Tower, housing the restored clock bell from the 1885 courthouse

Gainesville is the largest city and county seat of Alachua County, Florida.. Gainesville is primarily known for being home to the University of Florida, the flagship university of the State University System of Florida and the fourth-largest university in the United States. Santa Fe Community College, one of the nation's largest community colleges, is also located in Gainesville.

The 2000 Census reported the population of Gainesville to be 95,447. Following a successful annexation in 2002, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated a 2004 population of 108,856. However, the City of Gainesville estimates the 2003 population at 117,182. The Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Alachua and Gilchrist counties, has a population of 239,114 as of 2005 Census Bureau estimates; [1].

Geography

Location of Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville is located at 29°39'55" North, 82°20'10" West (29.665245, -82.336097), roughly the same latitude as Houston, TX.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 127.2 km² (49.1 mi²). 124.8 km² (48.2 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.87% water.

Gainesville is the southernmost city in the United States where deciduous trees predominate. There are deciduous trees farther south, but they are not as abundant as they are from Alachua County northward. The city is also an important way station for automobile travelers, as it is located nearly midway between Atlanta and Miami, five hours from Miami, and five from Atlanta.

The North Florida area in which Gainesville is located is known to natives as the "end of the South." This is most likely due to the fact that south of Alachua County or Marion County, starting somewhere north of Orlando, there are fewer native Floridians (and effectively native Southerners) and the sprawling development that defines South and Central Florida begins. However, it should be noted that due to large levels of migration, much of it related to the University of Florida, the western sector of the city as well as areas around the university hold more in common culturally and visually with Central and Southern Florida, whereas the eastern sector of the city holds more in common culturally and visually with the South.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 95,447 people living within the city limits, 37,279 households, and 18,341 families residing in the city. The population of the metropolitan area as of the census of 2000 was 217,955. The population density is 764.9/km² (1,981.0/mi²). There are 40,105 housing units at an average density of 321.4/km² (832.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.36% White, 23.24% African American, 0.25% Native American, 4.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. 6.40% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Note: These population figures probably do not include the vast majority of the 50,000+ student population which are recorded for census purposes as living with their parents in their hometowns.

There are 37,279 households out of which 22.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% are married couples living together, 13.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.25 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the city the population is spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 29.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $28,164, and the median income for a family is $44,263. Males have a median income of $31,090 versus $25,653 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,779. 26.7% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.7% of those under the age of 18 and 9.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

Gainesville, c. 1900.

Confederate Statue in downtown Gainesville

Alachua County Courthouse Family and Civil Justice Center

Gainesville's Downtown

Hippodrome State Theater

Gainesville's original inhabitants were the Timucua Indians. Spanish colonists began cattle ranching in the Payne's Prairie area using Timucua labor and the largest ranch became known as LaChua. Though the ranch was eventually destroyed by British raiders, it nevertheless gave its name to the Alachua band of the Seminole tribe who settled in the region in the 1700s under the leadership of the great chief Ahaya the Cowkeeper.

Gainesville was originally formed along the Florida Railroad Company's line stretching from Cedar Key to Fernandina Beach as part of a route eventually carrying cargo from New Orleans to New York. In 1854 Gainesville became the new Alachua County seat (moving from the more populated but inconveniently located Newnansville). The city is named for General Edmund P. Gaines, commander of U.S. Army troops in Florida during the Second Seminole War.

Gainesville was the scene of small-scale fighting in the Civil War. On February 15, 1864, a skirmish erupted when about 50 Union troops entered the city intending to capture two trains. The Second Florida Cavalry successfully repulsed this raid. The raiding party was eventually defeated at the Battle of Olustee five days later. Later that year, the Battle of Gainesville took place on August 17, 1864. Three-hundred Union troops occupying the city were attacked by the Florida Cavalry. The Federals were driven out of town and suffered significant casualties.

Following the civil war, the city prospered as a major citrus growing center, with direct rail access to ports on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. However, this prosperity ended when the great freezes of 1894 and 1899 destroyed the entire crops, and citrus growing moved permanently south to the Orlando area. Other attempts to replace this lost industry included phosphate mining, turpentine production and tung oil had only moderate success.

Gainesville's fortunes took a major turn for the better, however, when the University of Florida was created by the Florida Legislature in 1905. Gainesville was chosen, beating out other cities who saw their colleges close, such as Lake City and Bartow. Fortunately, the city had the foresight to construct a modern municipal water, sewer and electric system and was able to offer these services to a new university location for free. A site was selected at a location then considered about a mile west of town. The first classes were held at Buckman Hall in the fall of 1906.

Over the past century, the university has brought the town a youthful population, cultural opportunities, and world class medical facilities. The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville as a means of refreshing the UF football team and UF still receives a share of the profits from the beverage.

Historic preservation

The destruction of the city's landmark Victorian courthouse in the 1960s, which some considered unnecessary, brought the need for historic preservation to the attention of the community. The bland county building which replaced the grand courthouse became known to some locals as the "air conditioner." Additional destruction of other historic buildings in the downtown followed as the city tried to "modernize", but succeeded in only diminishing the city's unique historic charm. After many years of little or no progress, revitalization of the City's core has picked up, and many parking lots and underutilized buildings are being replaced with infill development and near-campus housing which blend in respectfully with neighboring historic structures. There is even talk of rebuilding a replica of the old courthouse on a parking lot just one block from the original location.

Helping in this effort are the number of areas and buildings which have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Dozens of examples of restored Victorian and Queen Anne style residences constructed in the city's agricultural heydays of the 1880s and 1890s can be found in the following districts:
* Northeast Gainesville Residential District
* Southeast Gainesville Residential District
* Pleasant Street Historic District

Historic structures on the Register in and around downtown are:
* Bailey Plantation House (1854)
* Matheson Center Home (1867)
* Thomas Hotel (1928)
* The Old Post Office (now the Hippodrome State Theatre) (1913)
* Masonic Temple (1913)
* Seagle Building (1937), thirteen stories, downtown's only "skyscraper."
* Baird Hardware Company Warehouse (1910)
* Cox Furniture Store (1887)
* Cox Furniture Warehouse (c. 1890)
* Epworth Hall (1884)
* Old Gainesville Depot (1850s)
* Mary Phifer McKenzie House (1895)
* Star Garage (1903)

There are only three listings for places on the outskirts of Gainesville:
* Liberty Hill Schoolhouse (????)
* Boulware Springs Water Works (1895)
* Kanapaha (c. 1854-56)

Culture

Gainesville has a fairly well-known punk and ska music scene and has spawned a number of bands including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Less Than Jake, The Usuals, The Know How, Hot Water Music, Against Me!, Sister Hazel, Roach Motel, For Squirrels, and dancing Light. It is also the location of the independent label No Idea Records.

Cultural facilities include the Florida Museum of Natural History, Harn Museum of Art, the Hippodrome State Theatre, Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and The Civic Media Center. Smaller theaters include the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (ART) and the Gainesville Community Playhouse (GCP).

Gainesville is an extremely cheap place to live, and numerous guides such as the 2004 book Cities Ranked and Rated: More than 400 Metropolitan Areas Evaluated in the U.S. and Canada have mentioned its low cost of living [2]. The restaurants near the University of Florida also tend to be inexpensive. The property taxes are high to offset the cost of the university, as the university's land is tax-exempt. However, the median home cost remains slightly below the national average, and Gainesville residents, like all Floridians, do not pay state income taxes.

This city's job market scored only 6 points out of a possible 100 in the Cities Ranked and Rated guide, as the downside to the low cost of living is an extremely weak local job market that is oversupplied with college-educated residents. The University of Florida, the Shands Healthcare system (a private-public-university partnership), and the city government are the only major employers for the city. The median income in Gainesville is slightly below the U.S. average.

The east side of Gainesville houses the majority of the African-American community within the city, while the west side consists of the ethnically diverse student population nearest to the University of Florida and the city's Caucasian population. Large scale planned communities on the far west side, most notably Haile Plantation have been attributed as the main factor behind the maintenance of de facto segregation in the city.

Gainesville is informally called "Hogtown" by Gator Alumni and its towns people, after Hogtown Creek, which runs through the city and was the original name of a town nearby, which was eventually incorporated into the growing city. It was the center of the Gainesville Eight case in the 1970s, and is known to some as the Berkeley of the South. This nickname was probably afforded to Gainesville because of the presence of a relatively prestigious university, and the liberal tendencies of its voting base. All of the counties surrounding Alachua County vote heavily Republican, while Gainesville votes strongly Democratic. In the 2000 election there was a 15% gap in votes between Gore and Bush, while Nader received 5%. This liberal lean is attributed to the presence of the University in tandem with the presence of a large black community that consistently votes Democratic. The city is characterized by its medium size, southern charm, semi-rural location about 60 minutes driving time away from any large city (Jacksonville, and large public university. Suburban sprawl has, as of late, become a concern for the city commissioners. However, the "New Urbanization" plan to revitalize run-down portions of the area between historic Downtown and the University of Florida may slow the growth of suburban sectors that have caused extensive westward sprawl, and catalyze a migration toward upper-level apartments in the inner-city. The area immediately north of the University of Florida is also seeing active redevelopment.

There is also a dynamic cultural divide within the city. In the eyes of some students, city residents often refuse to recognize the importance of the University to the quality of life that they enjoy. In the eyes of some residents, University students often do not stray beyond the immediate area around the school's massive campus, and thus have an overinflated view of the University's importance. However, differences are immediately defused during football and basketball season, when seemingly every weekend home game is a massive party. While many college towns feature a large amount of athletic mascot paraphernalia, Gainesville is virtually inundated with Gators decals, t-shirts, and banners.

Education

All of the Gainesville urban area, inside or outside the city limits, is served by the School Board of Alachua County, which has some 75 different institutions in the county, most of which are in the Gainesville area. Gainesville is also home to the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. The University of Florida is a major financial boost to the community, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional revenues are created by the athletic events that occur at UF, including SEC football games.

Climate

Due to its inland location, Gainesville experiences wide temperature fluctuation for Florida. During the summer season, roughly from May 15 to September 30, the city's climate is the same as the rest of the state, with frequent downpours and tropical humidity. Temperatures range from the low 70s at night to the mid 90s during the day on average. From October 15 through April, however, the Gainesville area has a climate distinct from peninsular Florida with very frequent freezing temperatures at night [3], and sustained freezes occurring every few years. The all time record low of 6 degrees (-16°C) was reached in January of 1985, and the city was struck by a substantial snow and ice storm on Christmas Eve, 1989. In winter, highs average in the high 50s to mid 60s(15°-18°C), and lows average in the high 30s to low 40s(4°-6°C). Snows are still rare, but usually occur once every 5-10 years.

Officially, Gainesville's climate is defined as humid subtropical, however, winters can be continental and temperatures can get as low as cities such as Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, all at latitudes much further north.

The city's flora and fauna is also more distinct from coastal regions of the state, and includes many deciduous species, such as dogwood, maple, hickory and sweetgum, alongside palm trees and other evergreens. Due to this, the city enjoys brief periods of fall color in late November and December, and a noticeable and prolonged spring from late February through early April. This period is the time most favored by residents, as colorful blooms of azalea and redbud complement a cloudless blue sky, for this is also the period of least precipitation and lowest humidity.

Transportation

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

Gainesville has an extensive road system, which is served by Interstate 75, and several Florida State Routes, including State routes 20, 24, and 26, among others. Gainesville is also served by US 441 and nearby US 301, which gives a direct route to Jacksonville, Ocala, and Orlando. The primary intersection in the city is the intersection of 13th Street (US 441), the main north-south route, and University Avenue (SR 26) the main east-west route. This intersection is at the northeast corner of the University of Florida campus and thirteen blocks west of the center of downtown, where Main Street intersects University Avenue.

The city's streets are set up on a grid system with four quadrants (NW, NE, SW and SE). All streets are numbered, except for a few major thoroughfares which are often named for the towns to which they lead (such as Waldo Road (SR 26), Hawthorne Road (SR 20), Williston Road (SR 121), Archer Road (SR 24) and Newberry Road (SR 26 again)). Residents sometimes use the acronym APRiL to remember the orientation of the streets on the grid: all streets with the suffix Avenue, Place, Road, or Lane run east-west. Any other suffix denotes a street that runs north-south.

Daily Amtrak service to and from Waldo (12 mi NE of the city) has been replaced with two Amtrak shuttle busses which re-connect with the rail system further south. However full Amtrak service is available at Palatka 32 miles to the east.

Not only does Gainesville have an extensive road network, Gainesville is also served by Gainesville Regional Transit System, or RTS, which is the fourth largest mass transit system in the state. The area is also served by Gainesville Regional Airport in the northeast part of the city, with daily service to Miami, Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte.

Famous residents

Celebrities that live or have lived in Gainesville include:
* Scott Camil, activist
* John Vanderslice, musician
* Don Felder, musician
* Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade
* Kiki Carter, environmental activist, organizer, musician, writer
* Michael Connelly, multiple-bestselling thriller/mystery writer
* Bo Diddley, musician
* Rodney Mullen, professional skateboarder
* Buddy Ebsen, actor
* Frank Viola, Christian author and church planter
* Ric Flair, professional wrestling personality
* Robert Frost, poet
* Joe Haldeman, science fiction author
* Bob Graham, Governor and U.S. Senator
* Marty Liquori, Olympic track & field athlete and TV announcer
* Tom Petty, musician
* River Phoenix, actor
* Joaquin Phoenix, actor
* Brittany Daniel, actress
* Clinton Portis, football player
* Maya Rudolph, comedian
* Minnie Riperton, musician
* Steve Spurrier, football player and coach
* Emmitt Smith, professional football player
* John Thompson, mathematician, Fields medalist
* Bernard Williams, sprinter and Olympic gold medalist
* Less than Jake, band
* Hot Water Music, band
* Sister Hazel, band
* Against Me!, band
* Stephen Root, actor
* Jack Youngblood, professional football player & NFL Hall of Famer
* Harry Crews, author
* Stephen Stills, musician
* Stephanie Abrams, meteorologist
* The Know How, Ska band
* Brian Elsmore, CIO

Other celebrity ties to Gainesville include Faye Dunaway, who went to the University of Florida, Malcolm Gets, who grew up there, graduated from the university, and wrote and performed at the Community Playhouse and the Hippodrome, and Bob Vila, who graduated from the College of Journalism and Communications. Renee Richards lived in Gainesville for a time, Roger Maris had a distributorship and raised his family there, and the motion picture actor William H. Macy has visited his father there from time to time.

Points of interest

* Florida Museum of Natural History (including the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit)
* Harn Museum of Art
* Hippodrome State Theatre
* Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
* University of Florida
* Haile Plantation
* The Devil's Millhopper
* Payne's Prairie
* Lake Alice

References

History of Gainesville, Florida, 1854-1979. By Charles H. Hildreth and Merlin G. Cox. published by the Alachua County Historical Society, 1981. ISBN 0967278848

External links

*City of Gainesville official site
*Regional Transit System - Bus system
*Gainesville Regional Airport - local airport

Gainesville, Florida: Encyclopedia BETA

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