Gainesville - College Town Surrounded by Farms

Gainesville is home to Florida's largest and oldest university, and is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida and Shands Hospital at UF are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural surroundings, Gainesville's numerous parks, museums and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors. Because of its beautiful landscape and urban "forest," Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida.
The population of Alachua County is around 240,000. The major industry is agriculture, and there are many picturesque farms and horse ranches, with huge, spreading oak trees and rolling, grassy hills close to the city's boundaries. Living in Gainesville is kind of like living in the country, but not really!! If you're a "city slicker" and want to test out life in the country, this may be a good place to start!