Alachua, Florida
Alachua is a city of 10,743 people in Alachua County, Florida, founded in 1884.
Why visit Alachua
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 6 parks and trails, 9 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Promised Land, City of Alachua Downtown Historic District, Newnansville and Turkey Creek Hammock Preserve.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 43°F.
Weather in Alachua
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Alachua
Alachua is the second-most populous city in Alachua County, Florida, and the third-largest in North Central Florida. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,574, up from 9,059 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. Alachua has one of the largest bio and life sciences sectors in Florida and is the site for the Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies.
From the Wikipedia article Alachua, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Promised Land
Farm and orchard · 2.7 mi
13900 Tech City Cir, Alachua
Sa 08:30-12:00
Museums and landmarks3
City of Alachua Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
United States historic place
Newnansville
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Human settlement in Florida, United States of America
Dixie Highway from High Springs to Gainesville (1919)
Monument and historic site · 2.9 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds6
Restaurants and cafes9
Moe's Southwest Grill
Fast food · Mexican · 1.7 mi
15652 Northwest US Highway 441, Alachua
10:00-22:00
Zaxby's
Fast food · Chicken · 2.5 mi
16088 Northwest Highway 441, Alachua
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00
History
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.
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, Alachua Methodist Church.
From the History section of Alachua, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship27
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Alachua Learning Academy Elementary
School · 2.7 mi
11100 W State Road 235, Alachua
Map of Alachua
69 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 43°F | 3.4 in |
| Feb | 71°F | 45°F | 3.0 in |
| Mar | 77°F | 50°F | 4.1 in |
| Apr | 82°F | 55°F | 3.5 in |
| May | 88°F | 62°F | 3.9 in |
| Jun | 91°F | 69°F | 7.6 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 70°F | 7.6 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 70°F | 8.4 in |
| Sep | 89°F | 68°F | 6.1 in |
| Oct | 83°F | 60°F | 3.7 in |
| Nov | 76°F | 51°F | 2.1 in |
| Dec | 69°F | 46°F | 3.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Gainesville 11 Wnw (7 mi away), rain and snow from Gainesville 6.5 Nw, NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Alachua County has had 30 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-28: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-24: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- High Springs 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Gainesville 11 mi southeast, about 17 min by car
- Newberry 11 mi southwest, about 18 min by car
- Lake Butler 19 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
- Waldo 19 mi east, about 31 min by car
- East Bronson 23 mi south, about 37 min by car
- Trenton 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Starke 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
- Bronson 25 mi south, about 40 min by car
- Williston 27 mi south, about 43 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Alachua City Hall, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sherwood Oaks Apartments, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shell, SS Food Store, NW 140th, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Progress Corporate Park, Alachua, Fl - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Baptist Church, Alachua, Fl - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- First Baptist Church, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main St buildings, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Presbyterian Church of Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Garden on Main St, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alachua Women's Club - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alachua Womans Club, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ivy House, Main Street, Alachua, Fl - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic Waters House, Alachua, Fl - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Stephens House, Main St, Alachua, Fl - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alachua County Today, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chamber of Commerce, Welcome Center, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alachua Elementary School signs, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Looking North up 14800 block of Main St, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alachua Branch Library, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sandbar Seafood and Steakhouse, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pastel building, 14800 block Main St, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alachua Library, Alachua, Fl - panoramio, jwshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chevron, US 441, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pedestrian bridge across US441, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Conestogas Restaurant, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alachua Elementary School, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main Street Sweets, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Main Street Pie Co., Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alachua County Fire Rescue Station 21, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jake's Bistro, Alachua, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Newnansville Cemetery entrance01, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Alachua Hist Dist01, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- W.W. Irby Elementary School, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- W. W. Irby Elementary School, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shaw Memorial Highway marker, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge corner stone, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bullshot Crummond, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Alan Hitchcock Park, December 2014, view across Main St, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alan Hitchcock Park, December 2014, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alan Hitchcock Park memorial, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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