Population: 108,655 (2006)
Percentage of retirees: 9.1% in 2006
Cost of living index: Average
Public libraries: 4
Public transportation: Gainesville Regional Transit System provides buses. Daily Amtrak services from Waldo (12 miles away)
Access to airports: Gainesville Regional Airport has daily services to Miami, Tampa, Atlanta and Charlotte.
Cultural Highlights: Strong museum and performance arts through the University of Florida.
Access to Healthcare: Good, owing to the presence of the University of Florida.
Climate: Hot summers but pleasant winters, and the inland location helps mitigate the hurricane threat.
Nearby Attractions: The Gulf Coast and "old Florida"-style fishing towns like Cedar, the Ocala area Thoroughbred horse farms, the Silver Springs Botanical Gardens (an old Florida glass-bottom-boat attraction), the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park in Cross Creek, and a handful of natural, spring-fed pools are all within an hour's drive.
Tax breaks: In Florida, retirement income is not taxed. Starting in 2007, individuals, married couples, personal representatives of estates, and businesses are no longer required to file an annual intangible personal property tax return reporting their stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market funds, shares of business trusts, and unsecured notes.
Number of museums: 3
Number of cinemas: 6
Annual precipitation: 48.36 inches
Useful link: City Of Gainesville, FL
In the Know: "We might otherwise be just a little farm town with a great climate if it weren't for the University of Florida, a huge research university that fills our city with innovative people. Another thing, it's a very close drive from the center of Gainesville to open, green and rural space, rivers, lakes, the ocean-alligators, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, deer, even buffalo. This has been Florida's Eden for a long time. Native Americans flourished here for 10,000 years. With the memory and artifacts of that ancient community and our own more recent history, Gainesville and Alachua County have a profound sense of human-rootedness.
-Jack Donovan, Gainesville City Commissioner
The slogan of this progressive college town is "every path starts with passion," and that does seem to embody the local approach to life. This is not typical Florida fare—neither a golf nor a beach community. Residents are committed to preserving their natural, north Florida surroundings, celebrating the arts, and cultivating an open attitude toward all comers.
The University of Florida, about two miles from downtown, sets the tone and certainly enriches Gainesville culturally with the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. It features groups representing music and theater from throughout the world; the Harn Museum of Art, with strong African, Asian and contemporary collections; and the Florida Museum of Natural History, with a memorable butterfly rain forest. Both museums are free.
Downtown Gainesville has the appeal of a small southern city and its own cultural offerings include free Friday night films on the plaza, fall and spring arts festivals, and the 1920s Hippodrome State Theater. Restaurants add to the nightlife, many concentrating on seasonal and organic cuisine, and such lovely old neighborhoods as the Duck Pond area are within an easy walk of downtown.
At the southeastern outskirts of town, Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park protects 19,000 acres of wildlife-rich wetland. Biking and hiking, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, camping, and bird-watching are all available in this designated national natural landmark. Farther afield but still close by are the rolling hills, small towns, and low-key living of "old Florida."
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Comments (19)
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If you want the traffic of Jacksonville trying to run on the antiquated street system of a third world country, come to Gainesville! The infrastructure has and always will be terrible, as the money will go to pet projects instead of where it is needed. I moved 30 miles outside of Gainesville 4 years ago, and that is almost far enough to get away from the wannabe frat boy, fitted gator ballcap crowd.
Posted by Chuck on June 3,2009 | 09:34 AM
I am deciding between graduate programs in Bloomington, Illinois, and Gainesville at UF. These comments have led me to lean toward Florida!
Posted by Hilary on May 27,2009 | 08:31 AM
We must include the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens as one of the interesting attractions of Gainesville. Its herb garden is one of the largest on the east coast. There are also a butterfly garden, water garden, children's garden and rose garden, among others. The Spring Festival is well attended, featuring representatives from some of the flower associations such as the Camellia Association and Florida Master Gardeners. Various crafts that are plant-related are for sale. Much of the maintenance is augmented by retired volunteers. There is an excellent bamboo collection. Bamboo plants can be purchased during the annual bamboo sale in January. The gift shop is outstanding. I recommend the gardens as a must see on any trip to Gainesville.
Posted by Nancy Lapidus on April 23,2009 | 08:19 AM
"low key living of old Florida" what does that mean about a small town? Perhaps, that it has no industry to speak of except maybe a paper mill or a cement plant or a drill bit factory with limited nice paychecks. Does it mean a bedroom community or agricultural interests wink wink are engaged. Old Florida does it mean limited tax base which is why florida public schools rank in the lowest of the low. Old Florida that nostalgic era be fore the Huge resort of Orlando mushroomed and drew all the tourists wanting a fantasy well hey thats good let them go to Orlando yeah now I know what Old florida means both the highs and the lows of that characterization.
Posted by Kathleen Cox on August 10,2008 | 03:25 AM
Gainesville will be our house for the next 3 years. Everybody wait for me, my husband Jul and our baby Tiger.
Posted by Veronica E. Sokolich on June 26,2008 | 12:50 PM
Oops - Correction to above Gainesville link: www.historicalgainesville.com.
Posted by Heather Neill on June 15,2008 | 05:18 PM
I was born and raised in Florida and have lived all over the state - from Coral Gables to Pensacola. Florida offers much, no matter where you live, but there's something special about Gainesville. Very few cities in Florida have the sense of community and spirit and pride that Gainesville does; nor do they offer such an eclectic variety of social, historical, and art interests while being so centrally located to the natural bounty and beauty of the state. I love the architecture of the older part of town, and the feel the historical homes give my neighborhood (Northeast Historical/Duckpond). The City of Gainesville has five historic districts which protect more than 1,500 historic buildings and there are ten additional buildings outside the historic districts which individually on the local and national historic registers. www.historicgainesville.com It's a lovely city!
Posted by Heather Neill, Real Estate Broker on June 7,2008 | 04:12 PM
Gainesville's cultural scene is also enhanced by the University of Florida College of Fine Arts. The college's three schools — the school of art and art history, the school of music, and the school of theatre and dance — present hundreds of artistic performances and exhibits each year in its three galleries and two state-of-the-art theaters.
Posted by Denise Krigbaum on May 15,2008 | 03:58 PM
I too grew up in the Gainesville area, and after living in the Great Northwet, experiencing literally the daily rain and fog of the Seattle Sound area for the past 8 years, I can honestly say that my heart resides in the hills and valleys of Alachua County. The people are genuine with a southern welcome wagon flair of acceptance. The fields and streams are always refreshing,inexpensive and practically in your backyard no matter where you live. Culture and Arts are a short drive downtown, mind the parking spaces are difficult to find, but street parking is free and whats a block or two walk. Go, spend money, live like a local, then take it all back with you wherever you came from. I'll be in town next week.
Posted by Sherry Campbell on May 14,2008 | 01:44 AM
Ssshhhhhhhh don't let the secret of Gainesville get out. Born here, lived other places, came back, love it. Summers are hot, but traffic is better because the students have left. 1 hour from either ocean. In Cedar Key you can see the sun rise and set over the gulf. The springs are crystal clear and beautiful. Orlando is only 2 hours away. Whether you want sports, theatre, or nature you really can have it all here.
Posted by Patricia Moore on May 10,2008 | 02:16 PM
Gainesville also has 4 of of the best hospitals anywhere including the UF Shands Teaching Hospital and a VA Hospital.
Posted by Thomas on May 9,2008 | 09:28 PM
Gainesville is home of the Fighting Gators who won the National Championship in football and twice in basketball. This beautiful atmosphere has so much love and passion especially being a Florida Gator. Don't forget about our Heissman Trophy Winner 2007.
Posted by Donna on May 9,2008 | 04:31 PM
Retirees add an important element to a city's culture. They provide much needed volunteer hours to the many non-profits in Gainesville. They provide their expertise, at no cost, to these non-profits as well. Retirees seldom buy houses too large for them. They want to cut back, nor are they the one's crowding the roads. The 70,000+ students that converge in Gainesville during Fall and Spring terms, as well as the 80,000 Gator fans on Fall weekends, are responsible for that. Welcome retirees. We need you.
Posted by Ann Baird on May 1,2008 | 03:59 PM
We don't need anymore retirees buying houses that are too big for them, driving too slowly, and crowding everything. Stay where you are and get some hobbies.
Posted by sam bam on April 28,2008 | 01:51 PM
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