Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville: The third most populous city in Florida.
About
Gainesville is a city located in the county of Alachua in the U.S. state of Florida. Its population at the 2010 census was 124,354 and a population density of 756 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 135,004 inhabitants.
The city was created 173 years ago in 1852.
Gainesville was established in 1853 and named after General Edmund P. Gaines. It served as a key cotton shipping hub and trade center. Gainesville was officially incorporated as a city in 1869.
The arrival of the University of Florida in 1906 helped diversify Gainesville beyond agriculture. It evolved into a sprawling college town and medical center for the region. Major growth occurred after 1960 when Gainesville became an educational and urban employment center.
Key Facts About Modern Gainesville
Here are some key details about Gainesville today:
- Population: Around 133,000 residents, which swells to over 65,000 when the University of Florida is in session.
- Economy: The university and healthcare drive the economy. Major employers are UF, UF Health, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and public schools. Technology and research are growing fields.
- Neighborhoods: Popular living areas include Downtown, University Heights, Porters, and Haile Plantation. Each provides different types of housing, amenities, and vibes.
- Parks and Rec: Gainesville has abundant parks and nature areas like Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and San Felasco Hammock Preserve. There is an extensive trail system.
- Attractions: Major sites include the Florida Museum of Natural History, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Devil’s Millhopper State Park, and Depot Park.
Gainesville combines small-city charm with the energy and diversity of a major college town. It provides an attractive lifestyle for Gators fans and nature-lovers.
Quick Facts about Gainesville
| Population | 135,004 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Florida (United States) |
| County | Alachua County |
| Twitter username | GainesvilleGov |
| Phone Area Codes | 352 |
| Area | 164.43 km2 |
| Official name | Gainesville |
| Latitude & Longitude | 29.6516,-82.3248 |
| Altitude | 177 feet / 54 meters |
| Capital city | Gainesville is capital of Alachua County |
| Establishment | January 01, 1853 (173 years ago) |
| Time Zone | UTC−04:00 |
| Local time | 17:48:41 (22nd April 2026) |
| Postal code | 32601 |
| Density | 821 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth | 7.89% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 83℉ Partly Sunny 7-days weather |
Geography
Gainesville is located at 29°39'6"N 82°19'29"W (29.6516300, -82.3248300).
Gainesville map
icon to open full mode. View satellite images
- Kfar Saba
- Matagalpa
- Novorossiysk
- Rzeszów
- Tegucigalpa
Demographics
The population of Gainesville increased by 7.89% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 95,447 | - | census |
| 2010 | 124,354 | 23.25% | census |
| 2011 | 125,671 | 1.05% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 125,993 | 0.26% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 126,340 | 0.27% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 127,571 | 0.96% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 129,356 | 1.38% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 131,580 | 1.69% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 132,041 | 0.35% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 133,665 | 1.21% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 133,997 | 0.25% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 135,004 | 0.75% | estimation process |
Best Things to Do in Gainesville
1Depot Park
874 SE 4 St, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States View details
Phone: +13523938510 | Website available
2Florida Museum of Natural History-Exhibits
3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States View details
Phone: +13528462000 | Website available
3Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523724981 | Website available
4Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653, United States View details
Phone: +13529552008 | Website available
5Sweetwater Wetlands Park
325 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States View details
Phone: +13525545871 | Website available
Where to Eat in Gainesville
1Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
4001 SW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523752424 | Website available
2Texas Roadhouse
3984 SW 43rd St, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523772820 | Website available
3Metro Diner
2130 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523532889 | Website available
4Steak 'n Shake
3714 SW 42nd St, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523777500 | Website available
5Bahama Breeze
3989 Plaza Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523787555 | Website available
Where to Stay in Gainesville
1Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville
1714 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL 32607, United States View details
Phone: +13523713600 | Website available
2Holiday Inn Gainesville-University Ctr, an IHG Hotel
1250 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States View details
Phone: +13523761661 | Website available
3Wyndham Garden Gainesville
2900 SW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523774000
4DoubleTree by Hilton Gainesville
3726 SW 40th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523752400 | Website available
5Days Inn by Wyndham Gainesville University I-75
920 NW 69th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605, United States View details
Phone: +13523895631 | Website available
Services and Civic Places in Gainesville
1Thomas Center
302 NE 6 Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States View details
Phone: +13523938539 | Website available
2US Department Of Agriculture-Veterinary Services
8100 NW 15th Pl, Gainesville, FL 32606, United States View details
Phone: +13523133060 | Website available
3Gainesville City Hall
200 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 View details
Phone: +13523345000 | Website available
4Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
1911 SW 34th St, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +18883971517 | Website available
5USDA Rural Development
4440 NW 25th Pl, Gainesville, FL 32606, United States View details
Phone: +13523383425 | Website available
6USDA-ARS
1600 SW 23 Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States View details
Phone: +13523745901 | Website available
7Vocational Rehabilitation
2627 NW 43rd St #201, Gainesville, FL 32606, United States View details
Phone: +13867541675 | Website available
8Gainesville Communications
200 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 View details
Phone: +13523345017 | Website available
9US Department of Agriculture Plant Protection and Quarantine
8100 NW 15th Pl, Gainesville, FL 32606, United States View details
People born in Gainesville (179)
People born in Gainesville, including Pioneering broadcast journalist, on radio and television Martha Rountree, actress and comedian Maya Rudolph, actress Brittany Daniel, .
More notable people
- Jearl Miles Clark (Athletics competitor, sprinter, 400 metres runner) she was born in 04/09/1966
- Aaron Feinberg (American inline skater) he was born in 27/06/1981
- Tom Petty (American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor) he was born in 20/10/1950
- Rodney Mullen (American professional skateboarder) he was born in 17/08/1966
- Robert Hoffman (American actor and dancer) he was born in 21/09/1985
- Dustin Moskovitz (American computer/Internet entrepreneur) he was born in 22/05/1984
- Benmont Tench (American musician) he was born in 07/09/1953
- Allison Wagner (American swimmer, Olympic silver medalist, world champion, former world record-holder) she was born in 21/07/1977
- Alysia Reiner (American actress) she was born in 21/07/1970
- Desmond Child (American songwriter and producer) he was born in 28/10/1953
- Cynthia Daniel (American actress and photographer) she was born in 17/03/1976
- John Vanderslice (American guitarist) he was born in 22/05/1967
- Merritt Butrick (American actor (1959-1989)) he was born in 03/09/1959
- Cedrick Bowers (American baseball player) he was born in 10/02/1978
- Don Felder (American rock musician) he was born in 21/09/1947
- Scott Ritter (American weapons inspector and writer) he was born in 15/07/1961
- Beverly Crawford (African American gospel vocalist) she was born in 31/08/1963
- Peter Marshall (swimmer) he was born in 09/03/1982
Nearby Schools and Colleges
Schools and campuses linked to Gainesville, FL. Select a name to open its map and contact details.
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 451079 | Academy for Five Element Acupuncture | Gainesville (FL) | 32601 |
| 457350 | Florida School of Traditional Midwifery | Gainesville (FL) | 32601 |
| 484473 | University of Florida-Online | Gainesville (FL) | 32611 |
| 134130 | University of Florida | Gainesville (FL) | 32611 |
| 449481 | Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine | Gainesville (FL) | 32601 |
Nearby Transit Stations (8)
Rail and bus stations connected to Gainesville, FL. Select a station to open its map and address details.
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNF | Gainesville, Florida | 201 East University Ave. | BUS |
| WDO | Waldo, Florida | 14648 NE 147th Avenue | BUS |
| OCA | Ocala, Florida | 531 Northeast First Ave | BUS |
| PAK | Palatka | 220 North 11th Street | RAIL |
| TVF | The Villages-Lady Lake, FL | 401 North US Highway 441 | BUS |
Closest post offices linked to Gainesville.
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Main Str Post Office | Gainesville (FL) | 32601 |
| University Post Office | Gainesville (FL) | 32603 |
| Northw Post Office | Gainesville (FL) | 32605 |
| Gainesvill Post Office | Gainesville (FL) | 32608 |
| Gainesville Gen Mail Faclty Post Office | Gainesville (FL) | 32608 |
Other places with the same name (5)
- Gainesville, Georgia The most populous city in Hall County, Georgia. with a population of 44,213 people.
- Gainesville, Texas city in Texas, United States with a population of 16,876 people.
- Gainesville, Missouri county seat of Ozark County, Missouri, United States with a population of 771 people.
- Gainesville, New York human settlement in Wyoming County, New York, United States of America with a population of 216 people.
- Gainesville, Alabama town in Alabama, United States with a population of 182 people.
Other cities in Alachua County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Alachua County , FL.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| West Park | 15,038 | City in Florida, United States of America |
| Alachua | 9,916 | City in Alachua County, Florida, United States |
| Newberry | 6,368 | City in Alachua County, Florida, United States of America |
| High Springs | 6,280 | City in Alachua County, Florida, United States |
| Hawthorne | 1,536 | City in Florida, United States |
| Archer | 1,204 | City in Florida |
| Waldo | 998 | City in Florida |
| Micanopy | 637 | Town in Alachua County, Florida, United States |
| La Crosse | 401 | Town in Alachua County, Florida |
Distance to Other Cities
Gainesville distances to largest Florida cities