Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville is a city of 45,032 people in Hall County, Georgia, founded in 1818.
Why visit Gainesville
Townapedia lists 30 museums and landmarks, 33 parks and trails, 86 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Lanier Technical College, Hollywood 15 Cinemas, Candler Street School and Beulah Rucker House-School.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 34°F.
Weather in Gainesville
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Gainesville
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Hall County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 42,296. This city is part of Metro Atlanta.
From the Wikipedia article Gainesville, Georgia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Lanier Technical College
School · 4.1 mi
Technical college in Georgia, USA
Museums and landmarks30
Candler Street School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
School building in Gainesville, Georgia, United States
Beulah Rucker House-School
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Museum in Gainesville, Georgia, USA
Brenau University
School · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Private university in Gainesville, Georgia
Dixie Hunt Hotel
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic hotel building in Gainesville, Georgia
Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic building in Gainesville, Georgia
Hall County Jail
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
County jail in Gainesville, Georgia
Jackson Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic building in Gainesville, Georgia, United States
Old Hall County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Courthouse in Georgia, United States
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Gainesville Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Mercury
Monument and historic site · 0.6 mi
This is the proportional marker for the distance from the real planet Mercury to the sun. The sun is located in the corner of the square.
The Astroid Belt
Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi
This is the proportional marker for the distance from the real astroid belt to the sun. The sun is located in the corner of the square.
The Sun
Monument and historic site · 0.6 mi
This is the Sun. It was donated to the city of Gainesville by Lakeview Academy. This is the beginning and center of the Solar Walk. The...
18 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds33
Chattahoochee Golf Course
Golf course · 4.7 mi
The Chattahoochee Golf Course is a public golf course. It is open year round and has 18 holes. You can also rent golf carts there.
301 Tommy Aaron Dr, Gainesville
Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve
Hiking and trails · 3.4 mi
2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville
Atlanta Botanical Gardens Gainesville
Park · 3.2 mi
1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville
Chicopee Woods Golf Course
Golf course · 3.5 mi
2515 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville
21 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes86
Mellow Mushroom
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.3 mi
700 Green Street Northeast
Su-We 11:00-21:00; Th-Sa 11:00-22:00
74 more on the map.
History
Gainesville was established as "Mule Camp Springs" by European-American settlers in the early 1800s. Less than three years after the organization of Hall County on December 15, 1818, Mule Camp Springs was renamed "Gainesville" on April 21, 1821. It was named in honor of General Edmund P. Gaines, a hero of the War of 1812 and a noted military surveyor and road-builder. Gainesville was selected to be the county seat and chartered by the Georgia General Assembly on November 30, 1821.
A gold rush that began in nearby Lumpkin County in the 1830s resulted in an increase in the number of settlers and the beginning of a business community. In the middle of the 19th century, Gainesville had two important events. In 1849, it became established as a resort center, with people attracted to the springs. In 1851, much of the small city was destroyed by fire.
Around 1870, after the Civil War, Gainesville began to grow. In 1871, the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railway, later re-organized into The Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Railroad, began to stop in Gainesville, increasing its ties to other markets and stimulating business and population. It grew from 1,000 in 1870 to over 5,000 by 1900.
From the History section of Gainesville, Georgia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay11
Churches and places of worship57
Iglesia Pentecostes Ciudad de Sion
Church · Pentecostal · 1.0 mi
955 Hall Street, Gainesville
Shopping21
Gas and EV charging44
Schools, colleges and libraries71
Healthcare4
Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville
Hospital · 1.2 mi
743 Spring Street Northeast, Gainsville
Map of Gainesville
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 34°F | 5.0 in |
| Feb | 55°F | 36°F | 4.7 in |
| Mar | 63°F | 42°F | 4.8 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 50°F | 4.0 in |
| May | 79°F | 58°F | 4.0 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 66°F | 4.2 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 70°F | 4.4 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 69°F | 4.7 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 63°F | 3.9 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 52°F | 3.9 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 42°F | 4.2 in |
| Dec | 53°F | 36°F | 4.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Gainesville Gilmer Ap (1 mi away), 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
Hall County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-10-09: Hurricane Isaias (Tropical Storm)
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2021-01-12: Tropical Storm Zeta (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-29: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (GVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Oakwood 6 mi southwest, about 9 min by car
- Flowery Branch 10 mi southwest, about 16 min by car
- Pendergrass 12 mi southeast, about 20 min by car
- Braselton 13 mi south, about 21 min by car
- Buford 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
- Hoschton 15 mi south, about 24 min by car
- Jefferson 17 mi southeast, about 27 min by car
- Sugar Hill 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Cumming 18 mi west, about 30 min by car
- Dahlonega 19 mi northwest, about 30 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
- Hall County Georgia Courthouse, Calvin Beale, Public domain
- Georgia-53Conn-60-Gainesville, Chris 886, CC0
- Gainesville, GA, USA - panoramio (6), edgardo.campos@ymail…, CC BY 3.0
- Gainesville-ga-westbound, Chris 886, CC0
- Downtown Gainesville, GA Oct 2017 1, Thomson200, CC0
- 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS in Gainesville, Georgia - panoramio (2926), edgardo.campos@ymail…, CC BY 3.0
- GVL GAINESVILLE GA LEE GILMER AIRPORT FROM N173DZ FLIGHT CDG-ATL (7270152544), Eric Salard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Gainesville, GA, USA - panoramio (8), edgardo.campos@ymail…, CC BY 3.0
- CANDLER SCHOOL, GAINESVILLE, HALL COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BEULAH RUCKER HOUSE-SCHOOL, HALL COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DIXIE HUNT HOTEL, GAINESVILLE, HALL COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JACKSON BUILDING, GAINESVILLE, HALL COUNTY, GA, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BRENAU COLLEGE DISTRICT, GAINESVILLE, HALL COUNTY, GA, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GAINESVILLE COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, HALL COUNTY, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Camaro - panoramio, edgardo.campos@ymail…, CC BY 3.0
- GVL GAINSVILLE GA F-GSPG FLIGHT CDG-ATL (7507994062) (2), Eric Salard, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Atlanta-hwy-north-ga, GeorgiaStateRoute702, CC0
- Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport (6284803266), redlegsfan21 from Vandalia, OH, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Georgia I985sb Exit 20 1 mile, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985nb Exit 22, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985sb Exit 20 .5 mile, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985nb GA11 Overpass, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985sb Exit 22 GA11 Overpass, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Xmas Morning - panoramio, edgardo.campos@ymail…, CC BY 3.0
- Georgia I985nb Exit 22 .5 mile, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Int-985-north-at-US129, GeorgiaStateRoute702, CC0
- Georgia I985nb Athens St. Overpass, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985sb Exit 20, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985nb Exit 22 1 mile, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- I-985 NB exit 22, Chris 886, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985sb Athens St Overpass, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Georgia I985sb Exit 22 .5 mile, Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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