Gainesville Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Alachua County, Florida


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Gainesville

Nestled in the heart of beautiful North Central Florida, the Gainesville area is graced with bright sunny days throughout most of the year. Located equidistant between the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the spectacular beauty of the Atlantic Ocean, residents are within an hour of either coast and the myriad of water-related activities. The prevailing winds from the Gulf of Mexico bring cool breezes during the summer months.

Alachua County is home to more than 225,000 residents and includes 12 incorporated cities. A paradise for nature lovers, Alachua's 969 square miles is comprised of lush wilderness with scenic lakes, wetlands and trails scattered throughout. The Santa Fe River forms the county's northern border and serves as a source of freshwater for that part of the county only.

Alachua County is dubbed as the employment hub of North Central Florida. The area's manufacturing base is complimented by strong business support systems. Gainesville has a diversified labor force with government, retail and service jobs making up most of the county's employment opportunities.

The health care industry is the second largest employer in Gainesville with more than 15,000 full and part-time employees. Gainesville is home to a number of premier health care delivery services. Alachua County houses four major hospitals in addition to the University of Florida Health Science Center, the most comprehensive academic medical center in the southeast. The county also provides a variety of independent birthing centers, dialysis, ambulatory care and surgery centers, nursing homes and adult congregate living facilities.

Alachua County offers a wide array of educational opportunities. The county's public school system is comprised of 23 elementary schools, eight middle schools, seven high schools, two special education centers and an alternative middle/high school center. In addition, there are 14 private schools in the county, nine of which are elementary, four K-12 and one high school.

The University of Florida is a major public, comprehensive, land grant and research university. The Gainesville campus serves more than 40,000 students and has an estimated staff of 12,000 and 4,000 faculty. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, more than 200 graduate programs and five major professional programs. In addition to more than 100 research, service and education centers, bureaus and institutes, the university has 21 colleges and schools. As a member of the Association of American Universities, UF is ranked as one of the top 60 public and private institutions in North America. The university achieves more than $200 million in research support each year, with the majority of it going to UF's Health Science Center.

Gainesville is also home to a variety of community colleges including Santa Fe Community College, a student-centered college accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Florida State Department of Education. Santa Fe has three centers located in Gainesville. City College is Gainesville's private junior college offering five Associate Degree programs and four Diploma programs in Business, Law and Medical Studies, along with Contract Training programs for the private Business sectors as well as government agencies. The college features smaller class sizes, day and evening classes and quality instruction for the college bound student.

The arts are thriving in Gainesville thanks to the University of Florida. The university boasts a number of facilities used for artistic programs that attract residents and visitors from all around. The 1,800-seat Center for the Performing Arts attracts nationally and internationally recognized performers. Adjacent to the Center is the Harn Museum of Art, one of the largest exhibition facilities on any university campus with major collections and shows. The Florida Museum of Natural History is one of the largest in the nation. Facilities on Florida's other campuses include the 900-seat, general-purpose University Auditorium, the 12,000 capacity O'Connell Center for sports, concerts and arena activities, Constans Theater, University Gallery, Grinter Gallery and the Reitz Union with its ballroom, auditorium and galleries.