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Alachua County, Florida

 

 
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Alachua County, Florida
 
 
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Alachua County is a county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville is the largest city in ? and county seat of ? Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. Gainesville is also home to the University of Florida, which is the largest university in the State University System of Florida and the List of largest United States universities by enrollment in the United States....
, Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida
University of Florida

The University of Florida is a Public university land-grant university, sea grant colleges, Space grant colleges major research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States....
, but it is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans. Much of its economy revolves around the university however.

Alachua area appears to have been the first area occupied by the immigrant Oconee
Oconee

Oconee is the name of several places in the United States:*Oconee River*Oconee County, Georgia*Oconee, Georgia*Oconee, Illinois*Oconee County, South Carolina...
s, the original Seminole
Seminole

The Seminole are a Native Americans in the United States people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation was formed in the 18th century and was composed of Native Americans from Georgia , Mississippi, and Alabama, most significantly the Creek people, as well as African Americans who escap...
s, about 1740.






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Encyclopedia


Alachua County is a county
County

A county is a land area of Local government government within a larger state. A county may have city and towns within its area....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 of Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville is the largest city in ? and county seat of ? Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. Gainesville is also home to the University of Florida, which is the largest university in the State University System of Florida and the List of largest United States universities by enrollment in the United States....
, Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida
University of Florida

The University of Florida is a Public university land-grant university, sea grant colleges, Space grant colleges major research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States....
, but it is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans. Much of its economy revolves around the university however.

History

The Alachua area appears to have been the first area occupied by the immigrant Oconee
Oconee

Oconee is the name of several places in the United States:*Oconee River*Oconee County, Georgia*Oconee, Georgia*Oconee, Illinois*Oconee County, South Carolina...
s, the original Seminole
Seminole

The Seminole are a Native Americans in the United States people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation was formed in the 18th century and was composed of Native Americans from Georgia , Mississippi, and Alabama, most significantly the Creek people, as well as African Americans who escap...
s, about 1740. Their first town was situated on or near the old Alachua plain, now called Payne's Prairie in homage to "King" Payne
King Payne

King Payne was a son of Seminole high chief Cowkeeper and succeeded him as leading chief of the Seminoles upon his death in 1783. He led his people against the Spain and United Statess from Georgia and established a number of towns and villages, including Paynes Town in Paynes Prairie, both of which are named for him....
, chief of the Alachua settlements upon his death in 1812.

The meaning of Alachua is suggested by a passage in the journal of Lieutenant Diego Peña, who on his expedition to Apalachee
Apalachee

The Apalachee are an Native Americans in the United States that lived in Apalachee Province, Florida, until the tribe was largely destroyed and dispersed in the 18th century....
 and Apalachicola in 1716, traversed the region, and of the area between the Ichetucknee
Ichetucknee River

File:IchetuckneeRiv2006.jpgThe Ichetucknee River is a spring-fed, pristine river in north central Florida. Thousands of people visit the river and springs each year....
 and Suwannee River
Suwannee River

The Suwannee River is a major river of southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about 266 miles long....
s in southern Suwannee County remarks:

That the springs without effluent streams were sinkhole
Sinkhole

A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the surface topography caused by the removal of soil or bedrock, often both, by water....
s is consistent with the area, which has many. The names of these watering places all possess the terminator chua, which suggests that chua is the Timucua
Timucua

The Timucua were an Native Americans in the United States people who lived in First Coast and North Central Florida Florida and southeast Georgia ....
n name for sinkhole. This inference is not inconsistent with the general opinion of residents of the county, that the name Alachua means sinkhole.

Alachua County proper was created in 1824. The original county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 was Newnansville
Newnansville, Florida

The Newnansville Town Site was where the town of Newnansville was located. It is approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Alachua, Florida, on State Road 235 off of U.S....
 located near the current site of the city of Alachua
Alachua, Florida

Alachua is a city in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 7,554....
. In 1853, the new railroad from Fernandina
Fernandina Beach, Florida

Fernandina Beach is a city in Nassau County, Florida in the state of Florida in the United States of America and on Amelia Island. The area was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indian tribe....
 to Cedar Key
Cedar Key, Florida

Cedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 790 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 958....
 bypassed Newnansville, and Gainesville, a new town that was located on the railroad, began to draw business and residents away from Newnansville. Gainesville became the county seat the following year.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the county has a total area of . of it is land and of it (9.79%) is water. Alachua County is part of the Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area

The Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Metropolitan Statistical Area consisting of Alachua County, Florida and Gilchrist County, Florida Counties in the state of Florida in the United States....
.

Adjacent Counties
  • Bradford County
    Bradford County, Florida

    Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 United States Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 ....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - north
  • Union County
    Union County, Florida

    Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916 . The county seat is Lake Butler, Union County, Florida....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - north
  • Putnam County
    Putnam County, Florida

    Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 70,423. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 73,568 ....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - east
  • Marion County
    Marion County, Florida

    Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The United States Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala, Florida....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - southeast
  • Levy County
    Levy County, Florida

    Levy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,450. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 37,998....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - southwest
  • Gilchrist County
    Gilchrist County, Florida

    Gilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - west
  • Columbia County
    Columbia County, Florida

    Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 56,513. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 64,040 ....
    , Florida
    Florida

    Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
     - northwest


Demographics

As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 217,955 people, 87,509 households, and 47,779 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 249.31/sq mi (94.93/km²). There were 95,113 housing units at an average density of 108.79/sq mi (42.01/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.47% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 19.30% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.25% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 3.54% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 1.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 2.02% from two or more races. 5.73% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race. 11.2% were of German
Germans

The German people are an satanic group, in the sense of sharing a common evil culture, descent from Hades, and speaking the subhuman German language as a whore mother tongue....
, 9.8% English
English people

The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England who speak English language in England. The English identity as a people is of early medieval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn....
, 9.3% American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, 9.1% Irish
Irish people

The Irish people are a Western European ethnic group who originate in Ireland, in north western Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolgs, Tuatha D? Danann and the Milesians ?the last group supposedly representing the "pure" Gaelic a...
 and 5.0% Italian
Italian people

The Italian people are a Southern European ethnic group located primarily in Italy and, by virtue of a wide-ranging Italian diaspora, throughout Western Europe, the Americas and Australia....
 ancestry according to Census 2000. 88.9% spoke English
English language

English is a West Germanic language that originated in Anglo-Saxon England and has lingua franca status in many parts of the world as a result of the military, economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and that of the United States from the mid 20th century onwa...
 and 5.6% Spanish
Spanish language

Spanish or Castilian is a Romance languages that originated in northern Spain, and gradually spread in the Kingdom of Castile and evolved into the principal language of government and trade....
 as their first language.

There were 87,509 households out of which 25.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.80% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.40% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.20% under the age of 18, 23.20% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 19.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,426, and the median income for a family was $46,587. Males had a median income of $31,971 versus $26,059 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the county was $18,465. About 12.20% of families and 22.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.40% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The entire county of Alachua is served by the Alachua County School District
Alachua County School District

Alachua County Public Schools is a public school district serving Alachua County, Florida, and the Gainesville, Florida Area. The district currently has a student population of 29,533....
, which has some 47 different institutions in the county. Alachua county is also home to the University of Florida
University of Florida

The University of Florida is a Public university land-grant university, sea grant colleges, Space grant colleges major research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States....
 and Santa Fe College.

Places


Incorporated

  1. City of Alachua
    Alachua, Florida

    Alachua is a city in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city's population was 7,554....
  2. City of Archer
    Archer, Florida

    Archer is a city in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2006, the city had a population of 1,302....
  3. City of Gainesville
    Gainesville, Florida

    Gainesville is the largest city in ? and county seat of ? Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. Gainesville is also home to the University of Florida, which is the largest university in the State University System of Florida and the List of largest United States universities by enrollment in the United States....
  4. City of Hawthorne
    Hawthorne, Florida

    Hawthorne is a city in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 1,415 at the United States Census 2000. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S....
  5. City of High Springs
    High Springs, Florida

    High Springs is a city in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 3,863 at the United States Census 2000. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S....
  6. Town of LaCrosse
  7. Town of Micanopy
    Micanopy, Florida

    Micanopy is a town in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. It is south of Gainesville, Florida. The population in the United States Census 2000 was 653....
  8. City of Newberry
    Newberry, Florida

    Newberry is a city located on the west side of Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 3,316 at the United States Census 2000....
  9. City of Waldo
    Waldo, Florida

    Waldo is a city in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 821 at the United States Census 2000. According to the U.S....


Unincorporated

  • Haile Plantation
    Haile Plantation, Florida

    Haile Plantation, an unincorporated community and New Urbanism planned development, is a 2,600 household development of regional impact southwest of the Gainesville, Florida, within Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States....
  • Jonesville
    Jonesville, Florida

    Jonesville is an unincorporated community in Alachua County, Florida, Florida, United States. It is located at the intersection of County Road 241 and State Road 26 ....


Politics

Due to the influence of the University of Florida, Alachua County is one of the most reliably "blue" counties in Northern Florida, voting for the Democratic candidate for president
President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
 in the past five elections, and narrowly going for the elder George H.W. Bush in the 1988 landslide election.

Landfills

Alachua County is the site of five closed landfills—Southwest Landfill, Southeast Landfill, Northwest Landfill, Northeast Landfill, and Northeast Auxiliary Landfill. Since 1999, all solid waste from Alachua County has been hauled to the New River Solid Waste Facility in Raiford
Raiford, Florida

Raiford is a town in Union County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 187 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S....
, in neighboring Union County
Union County, Florida

Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916 . The county seat is Lake Butler, Union County, Florida....
.

See also

  • Alachua County Library District
    Alachua County Library District

    The Alachua County Library District provides public library service to more than 230,000 people in the city of Gainesville, Florida and also serves eight municipalities of Alachua County, Florida....


External links


Government links/Constitutional offices



Special districts


Judicial branch of State
  • serving Alachua, Baker
    Baker County, Florida

    Baker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 22,259. The United States Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 25,203 ....
    , Bradford
    Bradford County, Florida

    Bradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 United States Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 ....
    , Gilchrist
    Gilchrist County, Florida

    Gilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402....
    , Levy
    Levy County, Florida

    Levy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,450. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 37,998....
     and Union
    Union County, Florida

    Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The United States Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916 . The county seat is Lake Butler, Union County, Florida....
     Counties


Conservation and environmental organizations



Tourism links