Gainesville Florida History

Original inhabitants around Gainesville were the Timucua Indians. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, they brought cattle and began ranching, using Indian labor. The largest ranch was called LaChua, destroyed by the British. The region was given the name Alachua for the Seminole tribe who settled here in the 1700s. Their great chief was Ahaya the Cowkeeper. Named for General Edmund P. Gaines, commander of U.S. Army troops in Florida during the Second Seminole War, Gainesville came into existence when the Florida Railroad Company extended its line from Cedar Key to Fernandina Beach, Florida. In 1854 Gainesville became the Alachua County seat. The city saw fighting during the Civil War, the main being the Battle of Gainesville in 1864.

In 1905 the Florida Legislature created the University of Florida in 1905. Today, it is one of the largest universities in the United States. The development of this educational institution brought an influx of young students, cultural programs and a major medical center. The sports drink Gatorade was invented in Gainesville for the UF football team. The city has continued to develop with not only additions to the University, but as a major residential community with historic landmarks, cultural attractions, and outdoor recreation in preserved natural settings.