Gainesville travel guide — Gainesville tourism and travel information

Gainesville travel guide

about Gainesville

Gainesville is a city located in Alachua County, Florida, most known for the University of Florida, home to the Florida Gators football team. It is the county seat of Alachua County.

As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 95,447.

Gainesville geography

Gainesville is located at 29°39'55" North, 82°20'10" West (29.665245, -82.336097).

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 history

Gainesville was originally formed along the Florida Railroad Company's line stretching from Cedar Key, Florida to Fernandina Beach, Florida as part of a route eventually carrying cargo from New Orleans, Louisiana 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 Gaines, commander of U.S. Army troops in Florida during the Second Seminole War.

Gainesville was the scene of a skirmish in the Civil War. Union forces were attempting to capture two trains but were repulsed by Confederate cavalry. These same Union forces were defeated five days later at the Battle of Olustee north of Gainesville.

Gainesville's fortunes took a major turn when the University of Florida was created by the Florida Legislature in 1905. Gainesville was chosen as the site, beating out competitors Lake City and Ocala. 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.

Terror struck residents of Gainesville in August 1990 when five students were found brutally murdered in their apartments over a three day period. After extensive investigation, Danny Rolling was charged with the murders and convicted in 1994. The murders attracted national attention and heightened awareness of security issues at the University of Florida and elsewhere. A monument to the victims now exists along Southwest 34th Street, including five palm trees in the median and a painted wall.

Near cities to Gainesville

• Ocala travel guide 55 km
• Jacksonville travel guide 100 km
• Saint Augustine travel guide 100 km
• Daytona Beach travel guide 140 km
• Orlando travel guide 150 km
• Valdosta travel guide 160 km
• Tampa travel guide 190 km
• Clearwater travel guide 190 km
• Tallahassee travel guide 210 km
• Saint Petersburg travel guide 210 km

Near webcams to Gainesville

• Orlando webcam 150 km
• Orlando - Winter Park webcam 160 km
• Orlando webcam 160 km
• Anclote River webcam 170 km
• Tampa webcam 190 km
• Kennedy Space Center webcam 200 km
• Tampa webcam 200 km
• Port St. John - Grissom Parkway webcam 200 km
• Kennedy Space Center webcam 200 km
• Port Canaveral webcam 220 km

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Gainesville travel services

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Gainesville travel books

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