Gainesville

Sister cities

• Jacmel
• Matagalpa
• Kfar Saba
• Novorossiysk
• Tegucigalpa
• Rzeszów
• Mejdlaya
• Deir Alla

History

There is archeological evidence, from about 12,000 years ago, of the presence of Paleo-Indians in the Gainesville area, although it is not known if there were any permanent settlements. A Deptford culture campsite existed in Gainesville and was estimated to have been used between 500 BCE and 100 CE. The Deptford people moved south into Paynes Prairie and Orange Lake during the first century and evolved into the Cades Pond culture. The Deptford people who remained in the Gainesville area were displaced by migrants from southern Georgia sometime in the seventh century. European contact diminished the numbers of native peoples (through disease, enslavement, war) and Spanish colonists began cattle ranching in the Paynes Prairie area in the 18th century. The Spanish ceded Florida to the US in 1821. Gainesville was established in 1854 and named after Edmund P. Gaines. The town of Gainesville was incorporated in 1869 and chartered as a city in 1907. The University of the State of Florida was moved from Lake City to Gainesville in 1906 and its name was simplified to University of Florida in 1909.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water. The total area is 1.74% water. Gainesville's tree canopy is both dense and species rich, including broadleaf evergreens, conifers, and deciduous species; the city has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation every year since 1982 as a "Tree City, USA". A 2016 ecological assessment indicates Gainesville's urban tree canopy covers 47 percent of its land area. Gainesville is surrounded by rural areas, including the wilderness of Paynes Prairie on its southern edge. The area is dominated by the University of Florida, which in 2008 was the third-largest university by enrollment in the US, and as of 2021 was the fourth-largest. Since the 1990s, suburban sprawl has been a concern for a majority of the city commissioners. The "New Urbanization" plan to gentrify the area between historic Downtown and the University of Florida may slow the growth of suburban sectors and spark a migration toward upper-level apartments in the inner city. The area immediately north of the university is also seeing active redevelopment. Many gentrification plans rely on tax incentives that have sparked controversy and are sometimes unsuccessful. University Corners, which would not have been proposed without a $98 million tax incentive program by the city, was to be "a crowning jewel of the city's redevelopment efforts", 450 condos and hotel units and of retail space in eight stories covering three city blocks, on purchased for $15.5 million. 19 thriving businesses and in July 2008 developers spent "$120,000 to beautify the site, so we won't have this ugly green fence". * The Standard – Student Apartments Near UF * The Continuum – Graduate and Professional Student Housing…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  58,390
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  51,118
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  46,667
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  43,840
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  42,058
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  36,564
• Red-shouldered/Broad-winged Hawk

  Buteo lineatus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  36,519
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  34,792

Largest nearby schools

• F. W. BUCHHOLZ HIGH SCHOOL
  High · GAINESVILLE · 2,540 students · 31.8:1 ratio
• GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
  High · GAINESVILLE · 1,873 students · 29.7:1 ratio
• P.K. YONGE DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH SCHOOL
  Other · GAINESVILLE · 1,287 students · 18.4:1 ratio
• EASTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL
  High · GAINESVILLE · 1,220 students · 29:1 ratio
• KANAPAHA MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · GAINESVILLE · 1,094 students · 23.8:1 ratio
• FORT CLARKE MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · GAINESVILLE · 961 students
• KIMBALL WILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · GAINESVILLE · 862 students · 18:1 ratio
• MEADOWBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · GAINESVILLE · 848 students · 17.7:1 ratio