Gainesville FL Moving Companies

Gainesville, Florida

The caption goes something like this: “Where Nature and Culture Meet.” Perhaps that sums up the city of Gainesville, Florida eloquently? The city slogan claims that “every path starts with passion” - making Gainseville an exciting moving destination.

Economy:
Being the largest city of Alachua County and serving as County Seat too, Gainesville is the cultural, educational and commercial hub of the north central Florida region. Home to Florida’s largest and oldest university, Gainesville serves as one of the State’s finest centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. Shands Hospital, which is located in the grounds of the University of Florida, provides jobs for many Gainesville residents as well as folk from surrounding counties. Local government also ranks up there as a major employer.  

History:
Well before the Spanish landed in Florida, Alachua County’s fertile soil, broad prairies, crystal clear lakes and abundant wildlife had been home to an American Indian tribe called the Timucua. The arrival of the Spaniards in the 17th century led to large scale plundering of the people and their resources too. Following the arrival of the British settlers the Spanish encountered great difficulty controlling the vast territory of Florida. During the American Civil War Gainesville served as a major Confederate Commissary and even staged two battles. There followed a period of prosperity for about 25 years, with citrus farming and the phosphate industry providing a secure economic base, no doubt encouraged by the introduction of the Florida Railroad. Two major fires in the 1880s resulted in all new construction using brick. Further rail networks made for rapid development in Gainesville with culture receiving a boost with the opening of an opera house and the introduction of electric lights, paved streets, clean water and telephones. Investors and speculators started taking serious notice of developments in Gainesville and so the City blossomed. After slow beginnings after opening in 1905, the University of Florida soon became a learning institute of note and played a pivotal role in the development of Gainesville. Since then the City has developed into a pleasant and prosperous place that proves that every path starts with passion.

Tourism:
Respected for its preservation of historic buildings and the natural beauty of its surrounding areas, Gainesville has many parks, lakes and museums to enthrall visitors and residents alike, all making it one of the most attractive cities in Florida. So whether you are planning on moving to Gainesville or just visiting you will find plenty to keep you enthralled. Starting with beaches, yes, believe it or not Gainesville is but a short drive from some beautiful beaches and you can even chose which coastline – is it to be the Atlantic or the Gulf? Keeping it outdoors, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens boasts 62 acres of lakeside forests and specialty gardens. If it is history and culture you are seeking then you will be really pressed for choices with no less than thirteen museums and galleries lined up. There are also numerous festivals and art shows as well a variety of performing arts. So then that is where the caption “Where Nature and Culture Meet” fits in – how appropriate is that! To cap it all, the climate on offer in Gainesville is fantastic with really mild winters, warm summers and a 255-day growing season.

Colleges/Universities:

• University of Florida
• Santa Fe College
• City College – Gainesville Campus

Interesting Facts:

• Use of solar power by local residents is encouraged in Gainesville with concessions applying to homeowners who supply power to the municipal power grid.
• The thriller movie Double Jeopardy was filmed in Gainesville in 1999 and starred Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley Judd.
• The city is named after one General Edmund P. Gaines who served with distinction during the War of 1812, the Seminole Wars and the Black Hawk War. There is another Gainesville in Georgia and a Gainesboro in Tennessee too, not to mention Gaines Streets in Davenport and Tallahassee, and a Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Alabama in case you wondered, all named after him.