Alachua, Florida

File:Alachua Main Street 1910.jpg File:Aerial of Progress Corporate Park.jpg

Evidence of habitation by pre-historic Paleo-Indians exists in several documented locations within the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. In the historic era, the primary town for the Potano tribe that lived throughout North Central Florida also was within San Felasco. This town became the site of the first Spanish doctrina (mission with a resident priest) in the Florida interior in 1606, Mission San Francisco de Potano, and it was the last to be abandoned by the Spanish in the early 1700s due to raids instigated by the British. Nearby to the north along the Santa Fe River was another mission, Santa Fe de Toloca, which was part of the mission chain stretching from St. Augustine to Pensacola.{{Cite book |last=Collins |first=L.C. |title=Archaeological Resource Sensitivity Modeling in Florida State Parks District 2: The Northeast Region |last2=Doering |first2=Travis |last3=Fernandez |first3=Steven |publisher=Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks |year=2012 |location=Tallahassee, FL}}{{Cite book |last=McEwan |first=Bonnie G. |title=The Spanish Missions of La Florida |publisher=University Press of Florida |year=1993 |isbn=0-8130-1231-7 |location=Gainesville, FL}}{{Cite book |last=Hann |first=John H. |title=A History of the Timucua Indians and Missions |publisher=University Press of Florida |year=1996 |isbn=0-8130-1424-7 |location=Gainesville, FL}}

The area slightly northeast of the current city of Alachua was among the first settled by Americans in Florida in the early 19th century. Many participants in the Patriot War that attempted to force the annexation of Florida to the United States from the Spanish resided there, including the Dell family. The exact date of first settlement is unknown, but the community first known as Dell's Courthouse then later renamed as Newnansville is, along with Micanopy, the oldest distinctly American settlement in the state. The Methodist church that started with the Dell family continues to this day and is the oldest in the state, [https://www.fumcalachua.org/ First United Methodist Church of Alachua].{{Cite book |last=prepared by Murray D. Laurie |url=http://archive.org/details/surveyofarchitec00prep |title=Survey of architectural and historical resources, a : report |date=1999 |publisher=City of Alachau Downtown Redevelopment Board of Trustees |others=in cooperation with the Matheson Museum Alachua County Library District}}{{Cite book |last=Forrester |first=Mary Lois Douglas |title=Lest We Forget, A Town, Newnansville, Florida |year=1994}}

Newnansville became the second county seat of Alachua County and one of the central locations for activity during the Second Seminole War, with the inclusion of Fort Gilleland within its borders. The influx of settlers seeking refuge within the city temporarily increased the population between 1,500 and 2,000, making it one of the largest cities in the state.

When the first cross-state railroad, the Florida Railroad, bypassed Newnansville in the early 1850s, members of the County Commission voted by a slim margin to relocate the county seat along the rail line in a centrally-located, new city to be called Gainesville. Newnansville began to lose influence and, when the Savannah, Florida, and Western Railroad bypassed the city by about 1.5 miles to the southwest in the early 1880s, citizens began to relocate along the new rail line (eventually abandoning Newnansville and turning it into a ghost town) and established the city of Alachua. Alachua was founded in 1884, with its post office opening in 1887. It was incorporated as a city on 12 April 1905, at which time it had a population of 526 people. A third rail line passed through the new city, and a booming cotton industry helped support the building of several lavish Queen Anne-style homes and brick businesses along Main Street at the turn of the century.

Alachua stagnated when the boll weevil nearly destroyed the American cotton industry in 1919–1920, then through the Great Depression in the 1930s. The main industries through the middle of the twentieth century were lumber and food processing, notably through Duke Lumber Company and Copeland Sausage Company, respectively.{{Cite book |last=Forrester |first=Mary Lois Douglas |title=Our Towns – The Way They Were and Life is Good – Memories of my Childhood |year=2002}}

Interstate 75 passed slightly to the west of Downtown Alachua when it was built in the 1960s, providing new access and economic opportunity. Alachua faced another downturn with the closing of Copeland Sausage in 1976, and by the 1980s the buildings and businesses on Main Street were in poor shape. A concerted effort by the citizens and local government of Alachua focused on rehabilitating Downtown, and the construction of [http://progressparkfl.com/park-history/ Progress Corporate Park] with the University of Florida led to the creation of the UF Innovate Sid Martin Biotech Incubator which has resulted in the formation of one of the State's largest bio and life science business sectors.{{Cite web |url=http://progressparkfl.com/park-history/ |title=Park History |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=progressparkfl.com}}

The largest Hare Krishna community in the Western Hemisphere is located in Alachua, with satellite communities throughout North Florida.[https://guidetogreatergainesville.com/fun-facts-gainesville/ Guide to Greater Gainesville | Fun Facts]

Alachua is located at {{coord|29|46|45|N|82|28|47|W}} (29.779286, −82.479849).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|91.0|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|90.0|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.0|km2|disp=flip}} (1.08%) is water.{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1200375| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212175815/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1200375| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifier2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Alachua city, Florida| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=May 6, 2013}}

Alachua's Main Street runs along a North-South direction and is the heart of the City of Alachua Downtown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The rest of the Historic District lies mainly to the west of Main Street and consists of residential structures built primarily in the early 20th century. Main Street is bisected by US Highway 441, which runs East-West along the old Atlantic Coast Line railway. The Historic District lies south of US 441.File:Cropped-Main-St-5-2016-3-scaled-1-1536x480.jpgSelected historic structures of note that are listed in the Register:

File:Williams-LeRoy House.jpg

File:Pierce-Bishop House.jpg

;Main Street Businesses

• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14925+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7920531,-82.496228,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73dbd6aa811:0x7ecbd4707c555a4f!8m2!3d29.7920515!4d-82.4954976 14925 Main Street] (1898)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14933+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7921543,-82.4965933,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73da2b57699:0x87adca4147a7b5f5!8m2!3d29.792152!4d-82.495499 14933 Main Street] (1898)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14920+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7921144,-82.4964829,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73d90b0556d:0x863c50aa32779ed3!8m2!3d29.7921132!4d-82.4959357 14920 Main Street] (1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alan+Hitchcock+Theatre+Park/@29.791822,-82.495979,20.25z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73d9438b957:0x645809e765d8c53e!8m2!3d29.791714!4d-82.4958085 Old Movie Theater] (c. 1910)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14850+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7914213,-82.4964018,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73deb5692a7:0x46e1c6f1ced3cfc4!8m2!3d29.7914201!4d-82.4958546 Old First National Bank] (1909)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14822+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7909584,-82.4961267,20z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73deebba75f:0xcf1c32e8a0f0923f!8m2!3d29.7910439!4d-82.4959604 Stringfellow Building] (c. 1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14827+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7911429,-82.4960529,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73dc1ea9eb3:0x9c72b2449f86c42d!8m2!3d29.7911417!4d-82.4955057 Bank of Alachua] (1904)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14520+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7885409,-82.4963327,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e3e28ca3f:0x3cb1b16ba7dab4bf!8m2!3d29.7885397!4d-82.4957855 Old Cigar Factory] (c. 1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14545+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7885162,-82.4958562,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e41e14663:0xf9552ad4d10a535!8m2!3d29.788515!4d-82.495309 Sealey Dry Goods] (c. 1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14515+Bob+Hitchcock's+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7885162,-82.4958562,19z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x88e8b73e41e14663:0xf9552ad4d10a535!2s14545+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615!3b1!8m2!3d29.788515!4d-82.495309!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e409fbd13:0x2393f46cec10e669!8m2!3d29.7882853!4d-82.4955373 Eddy Store] (c. 1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14507+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7882094,-82.4961178,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e4148cd39:0xc3f3223ee0a8fb3c!8m2!3d29.7882082!4d-82.4955706 Williams Store] (c. 1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14320+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7869985,-82.4965076,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73fcc619f19:0x2d48cc1e3e97c09a!8m2!3d29.7869973!4d-82.4959604 Enneis Motor Company] (c. 1915)

;Main Street Residences

• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14713+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7904661,-82.4960122,18.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73dde71bd75:0x186d19e0af5acc5!8m2!3d29.7902957!4d-82.4954528 Pierce-Bishop House] (1898)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14705+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7899372,-82.496,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e757981a7:0x5dcf76b03245af76!8m2!3d29.789936!4d-82.4954528 Mizell-Stephens House] (1910)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14617+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7896437,-82.4959789,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e748765af:0x20ce309e7e149fb7!8m2!3d29.7896425!4d-82.4954317 David Waters House] (c. 1900)
• [https://www.google.com/maps/place/14603+Main+St,+Alachua,+FL+32615/@29.7893029,-82.4959155,19z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b73e7260e4f3:0xc468f93e2f2b7d56!8m2!3d29.7893017!4d-82.4953683 Williams-LeRoy House] (1901)

Businesses line US 441 heading west toward the Interstate 75 corridor and east toward Gainesville. Heading east on US 441 lies Progress Corporate Park, which is the heart of Alachua's bio and life sciences sector. The northern entrance of the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park is accessible through the corporate park entrance and also via the San Felasco Parkway, constructed in 2019 to aid in expansion of the corporate sector.

{{US Census population

|1910= 610

|1920= 778

|1930= 865

|1940= 1081

|1950= 1116

|1960= 1974

|1970= 2252

|1980= 3561

|1990= 4529

|2000= 6098

|2010= 9059

|2020= 10574

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

Alachua is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,574 people, 3,873 households, and 2,557 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES – 2020: Alachua city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Alachua+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,059 people, 3,466 households, and 2,152 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES – 2010: Alachua city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Alachua+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 6,098 people, 2,348 households, and 1,751 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|211.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,501 housing units at an average density of {{convert|86.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 67.56% White, 29.08% African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 1.13% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.61% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,348 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $38,075, and the median income for a family was $49,542. Males had a median income of $36,315 versus $28,018 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,299. About 14.0% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

The median household income in Alachua according to the US Census Bureau is $72,491,{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/alachuacityflorida/HSD410218}} which is above both the average Alachua County median household income of $57,566 and the state of Florida median household income of $67,917.{{Cite web |title=FLHealthCharts |url=https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=NonVitalIndRateOnly.Dataviewer&cid=293}}

Alachua offers the lowest residential electric utility rate in Florida.{{Cite web |title=City of Alachua Electric Utility |url=https://www.cityofalachua.com/government/public-services/electric}}

The local economy is highlighted by one of the largest bio and life science business clusters in Florida and a growing number of distribution centers located primarily in the southwest section of the city near its interchange with I-75.{{Cite web |title=City of Alachua Annual Financial Report (ACFR) FY 2023 |url=https://www.cityofalachua.com/government/finance-administrative-services/finance/budgets-reports}} According to Alachua's 2023 Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Alachua is served by the School Board of Alachua County, which operates two elementary schools, [https://www.sbac.edu/irby W.W. Irby Elementary] (K–2), [https://www.sbac.edu/alachua Alachua Elementary] (3–5), [https://www.sbac.edu/mebane A.L. Mebane Middle School] and Santa Fe High School in the city,[http://www.sbac.edu/schoolscenters.htm Alachua County Public Schools: Schools and Centers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217024532/http://www.sbac.edu/schoolscenters.htm |date=2011-12-17 }} and the Alachua County Library District, which operates a branch library in the city.[http://www.aclib.us/alachua Alachua County Library District: Alachua] Alachua is home to the [https://alachualearningacademy.org/ Alachua Learning Academy], a K–8th grade public charter school.

The [https://www.sfcollege.edu/perry/ Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies] is located in Alachua across the street from [http://progressparkfl.com/ Progress Corporate Park], which houses one of the largest bio and life science business clusters in the state.{{Cite web |quote=Communications and Creative Services, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida |title=Santa Fe College |url=https://www.sfcollege.edu/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |language=en}} [https://www.sbac.edu/domain/5737 Biotechnology], [https://www.sbac.edu/domain/5736 AgriScience], and [https://www.sbac.edu/domain/9684 veterinary assisting] magnet programs at A.L. Mebane Middle School and Santa Fe High School are intended to help students prepare for the Biotechnology Laboratory Technology, A.S. degree at Santa Fe College.{{Cite web |title=Biomedical Mustangs |url=https://sites.google.com/gm.sbac.edu/mebanebiomedicalmustangs/home |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=sites.google.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Institute of Biotechnology / Institute of Biotechnology |url=https://www.sbac.edu/domain/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sbac.edu%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FDomainID%3D5737 |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=www.sbac.edu |language=en}}

Alachua is considered to be one of the locations in the United States with the most book ban challenges to its public school system.https://www.wuft.org/2024-04-18/frustrations-among-staff-grow-as-more-books-are-removed-off-alachua-county-school-library-shelves "Frustrations among staff grow as more books are removed off Alachua County school library shelves"; WUFT tv

File:Legacy Park Fireworks.jpg

File:Main Street Alachua.jpg

Alachua has a very active [https://www.cityofalachua.com/government/recreation-culture recreation program] centered around the facilities at Hal Brady Recreation Complex and Legacy Park. Youth activities that are offered include baseball, softball, tackle football and cheerleading, girls volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Adult activities include Zumba and karate as well as open gym availability at [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Legacy+Park+Multipurpose+Center/@29.7830303,-82.4993607,15.42z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b7e151be467b:0x8e155c76c9d47806!8m2!3d29.7859191!4d-82.5045547 Legacy Park Multipurpose Center]. Senior activities offered at the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cleather+Hathcock+Community+Center/@29.7961162,-82.4959528,15.42z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xbbc3e269edcb497f!8m2!3d29.8004135!4d-82.4946545 Cleather Hathcock Community Center] include bingo, arts and crafts, and food distribution in partnership with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Saint+Matthew+Baptist+Church/@29.7986826,-82.49471,17.92z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e8b7225ba805c3:0x20225b4919ff0314!8m2!3d29.7993659!4d-82.4945279 St. Matthew Baptist Church].

There are several regular events and festivals held in Alachua:

• Fourth of July Celebration (The Largest Small Town Fireworks Display in America)
• Movies in the Park
• Legacy Park Concert Series
• Legacy Park Summer Camp
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration
• Nutcracker Under the Stars by Dance Alive National Ballet
• [http://www.holidaynightsonmain.com/ Holiday Nights on Main], including Christmas tree lighting, parade and charity ball
• Trick or Treat on Main Street
• [https://tourdefelasco.com/ Tour de Felasco]
• Alachua Main Street Fall Festival

The newspaper Alachua County Today has its headquarters in the city of Alachua. The paper serves all the communities within Alachua County, but it focuses on smaller municipalities outside Gainesville.{{cite web|title=About ACT News|url=http://www.alachuatoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=114&Itemid=432|access-date=5 May 2012}}

File:Aerial of Legacy Park and Hal Brady Complex.jpg

• [https://www.alachuatemple.com/ Alachua Hare Krishna Temple]
• [https://www.cityofalachua.com/government/recreation-culture/parks/hal-brady-recreation-skate-park Alachua Skate Park]
• [https://www.cityofalachua.com/government/recreation-culture/parks/hal-brady-recreation-splash-park Alachua Splash Park]
• [https://www.cityofalachua.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/10/33 Hal Brady Recreation Complex]
• [https://www.cityofalachua.com/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/6/ Legacy Park Recreation Complex]
• [http://visitalachua.org/mainstreetalachua/ Main Street Alachua]
• [https://millcreekfarm.org/ Mill Creek Farm Retirement Home for Horses]
• [https://www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/parks/Pages/Details.aspx?park=Mill%20Creek%20Nature%20Preserve Mill Creek Preserve]
• Newnansville Town Site
• San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park
• [https://sanfelascotechcity.com/ San Felasco Tech City]
• [https://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/santa-fe-river-preserve-guide Santa Fe River Preserve]
• Turkey Creek Preserve

• Josiah T. Walls, Reconstruction Era politician
• Matthew M. Lewey, pioneer African American newspaper publisher
• [http://scua.library.umass.edu/youmass/doku.php?id=m:mebane_albert_l Albert Leonidas (A.L.) Mebane], pioneer African American educator during Segregation Era
• Philip Dell, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and President of the Florida Senate
• Rod Smith, former Florida state senator and gubernatorial candidate
• Chuck Clemons, Florida congressman
• Clovis Watson Jr., former Florida congressman and Alachua County Sheriff
• Craig Fugate, former Administrator of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
• Michael Alan Singer, author
• Miranda Uhl, gold medal-winning American Paralympic swimmer
• Hewritt Dixon, former NFL running back
• Mike Peterson, former NFL linebacker, inductee into University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
• Adrian Peterson, former NFL running back, inductee into College Football Hall of Fame
• Tracy Ham, former NFL and CFL quarterback, inductee into both College Football and Canadian Football Hall of Fame
• Dwayne Dixon, former college WR coach, inductee into Arena Football Hall of Fame and University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
• Linval Joseph, NFL defensive tackle
• Lenny DiNardo, former MLB pitcher
• Kirby Snead, MLB pitcher

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.cityofalachua.com/ City of Alachua official website]
• [https://www.facebook.com/cityofalachua City of Alachua Facebook page]

{{Alachua County, Florida}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Alachua County, Florida

Category:Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida

Category:Populated places established in 1884

Category:Cities in Florida

Category:Florida placenames of Native American origin

Category:1884 establishments in Florida