County in north central
Florida, most noteworthy for being the location of
Gainesville, Florida and the
University of Florida.
According to the county website (www.co.alachua.fl.us), Alachua County is "85 miles from the Georgia state line, 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles from the Atlantic Ocean".
According to the 2000 census, the county's population was 217,955 and land area is 874 square miles.
As for the name (pronounced "uh-LAT-choo-uh"), it's the Seminole Indian word for "jug".
Much of the social and economic activity of the county is centered around the University of Florida, with sports and cultural events drawing residents from throughout the county. In addition, the economic impact of around 50,000 students can't be underestimated.
The other college in the county is Santa Fe Community College, which is also in Gainesville.
Interstate 75 runs through the western part of the county, with smaller routes throughout the county.
Gainesville Regional Airport in northeast Gainesville serves the county, with flights to hubs in Atlanta (Delta Airlines) and Charlotte (US Airways).