Gainesville, FL
Jan 15th, 2003, 01:09 PM
#2
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Hi Cheryl, I live about 90 minutes from Gainesville, and have been there many times. Its what one would classify a "college town"-The University of Florida is located there.
Without the University the city would almost be non-existant. The campus is in the middle of the city ( A very Large spread out campus).
There are trees and some lakes in the area. The largest major city near Gainesville is Jacksonville ( where I live).
Not sure what else you would like to know -- its full of college students LOL.
Without the University the city would almost be non-existant. The campus is in the middle of the city ( A very Large spread out campus).
There are trees and some lakes in the area. The largest major city near Gainesville is Jacksonville ( where I live).
Not sure what else you would like to know -- its full of college students LOL.
Jan 15th, 2003, 03:34 PM
#3
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I fell in love with the area just northwest of Gainesville (Alachua County) last year and bought property there. I'm just looking to get transferred from my job in Orlando to Gainesville so I can move there.
Unlike the Orlando area, Alachua County lives having trees around (something Orlando got over a long time ago!) and the back roads and little towns are full of oak trees that add a lot of charm to the area.
Property is quite inexpensive. You can easily get a decent sized house on five acres for $150,000. We bought a double wide mobile home on 5 acres for $59,000.
Gainesville is crowded with students but the downtown area has been redone and there are several good restaurants there. The town does revolve around the students since that's where most of their money comes from, but I still like it alot.
Unlike the Orlando area, Alachua County lives having trees around (something Orlando got over a long time ago!) and the back roads and little towns are full of oak trees that add a lot of charm to the area.
Property is quite inexpensive. You can easily get a decent sized house on five acres for $150,000. We bought a double wide mobile home on 5 acres for $59,000.
Gainesville is crowded with students but the downtown area has been redone and there are several good restaurants there. The town does revolve around the students since that's where most of their money comes from, but I still like it alot.
Jan 15th, 2003, 04:35 PM
#7
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Cheryl,
I lived in G-ville for 3 years as a student. The other posters are right in saying that it's mainly a college town, which gets EXTREMELY crowded during football season.
The area surrounding Gainsville is beautiful. Property is cheap outside of the college vicinity. You have lots of horse country to the south & west of the town itself. There are some rednecks around (it is the south) but it's a pretty good place to raise a family. Not much excitement though except for the College Sports.
Hope I helped!
I lived in G-ville for 3 years as a student. The other posters are right in saying that it's mainly a college town, which gets EXTREMELY crowded during football season.
The area surrounding Gainsville is beautiful. Property is cheap outside of the college vicinity. You have lots of horse country to the south & west of the town itself. There are some rednecks around (it is the south) but it's a pretty good place to raise a family. Not much excitement though except for the College Sports.
Hope I helped!
Jan 15th, 2003, 05:14 PM
#8
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I live in Naples, 5 hours away, but have two boys who attend the U of Florida (this is what makes Gainesville a "college city"). They love it ther, but I am not so sure it is because of the college. We have been visiting for 5 years now, and the area is differ Florida, big trees and a change of season. It will be 30 degrees tonoght. It is half way from either coast, and not much but college stuff to go on, but we would not mind living in a college town with lots of energy. The school is academically excellent.The real estate is cheaper there than other parts. Any thing else? Are you making the move alone, with family, kids??
Linda
Linda
Jan 15th, 2003, 06:39 PM
#9
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Cheryl, I have lived in Gainesville for 20 years and love it here. North Florida is very different from central and south Florida in all aspects. We have varied landscapes and seasons, we are very outdoor oriented, housing IS less expensive than better known Florida cities but the prices are rising ($150,000 won't get you much, these days, in the city) The University keeps the city vibrant, and Gainesvillians are friendly and easy going. We also have our share of crime and poverty. It is a great place to live but unless you want to work for the University or Medical Center jobs are hard to come by and wages are lower.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Jan 15th, 2003, 08:04 PM
#11
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I have one experience with Gainesville.
As a resident physician I booked interviews at better hospitals nationwide, all in one month, whirlwind tour. Mass General, Duke, UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, Northwestern, etc.
I had been to perhaps half of the places on my itinerary prior to heading to Gainesville.
I drove into town from the airport, spent 30 minutes at most driving around the town, then turned around and headed straight for the beach.
Skipped the interview.
Flew out the next day.
No way could I live in that town.
Too small.
Too humid.
Cold in winter.
Landlocked.
One dimensional.
Very few (if any) amenities like great restaurants, shopping, etc.
And that has nothing to do with its desirability as a college town. I'm sure it's a wonderful atmosphere if you're a student. But as a non-student, I can't see why anyone would want to live in a city like G'ville.
As a resident physician I booked interviews at better hospitals nationwide, all in one month, whirlwind tour. Mass General, Duke, UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, Northwestern, etc.
I had been to perhaps half of the places on my itinerary prior to heading to Gainesville.
I drove into town from the airport, spent 30 minutes at most driving around the town, then turned around and headed straight for the beach.
Skipped the interview.
Flew out the next day.
No way could I live in that town.
Too small.
Too humid.
Cold in winter.
Landlocked.
One dimensional.
Very few (if any) amenities like great restaurants, shopping, etc.
And that has nothing to do with its desirability as a college town. I'm sure it's a wonderful atmosphere if you're a student. But as a non-student, I can't see why anyone would want to live in a city like G'ville.
Jan 16th, 2003, 10:15 AM
#14
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Why anyone but a college student would want to live in Gainesville is beyond me. but to each his own. tons of rednecks (named joebob and such). alot of poverty. nothing to do unless you want to watch college sports day in and out or get drunk at the 100's of bars which constitute the majority of the city. don't plan on doing anything on a football saturday either as the town is completely gridlocked with cars. why don't you relocate to a nice suburb of one of the larger cities...such as Ponte Vedra Beach (Jax), tampa suburbs? there will be much more to offer in all aspects.
Jan 21st, 2003, 07:40 AM
#16
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I lived in Gainesville for about 8 years and I thought it was a great place to live. Yes, it is a college town and yes it is a small town, but it offers many things other small towns don't and that is why it consistently ranks in the top 10 most liveable U.S. towns.
Although it is small, Gainesville provides many cultural events including concerts by national acts, many of which are cheap or free on the UF campus. If you enjoy guest speakers, UF also attracts many nationally recognized businesspersons, politicians and experts in many different fields. During my time there, I saw Bill & Hillary Clinton, Al & Tipper Gore, Ben & Jerry (of ice cream fame), Jimmy Carter, Ollie North, the Rolling Stones, the Wailers, Ziggy Marley, the B-52's, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and many, many, more - those are just some that came to mind.
You also have many outdoor activities. Underwater cave diving, tubing and snorkeling in fresh water springs is less than 30 minutes north of Gainesville and the beach is less than an hour. Gainesville also has numerous bike trails.
I don't think that Gainesville is for everyone. It is actually too small of a town for me, but I do think that it offers far more than most towns its size.
Although it is small, Gainesville provides many cultural events including concerts by national acts, many of which are cheap or free on the UF campus. If you enjoy guest speakers, UF also attracts many nationally recognized businesspersons, politicians and experts in many different fields. During my time there, I saw Bill & Hillary Clinton, Al & Tipper Gore, Ben & Jerry (of ice cream fame), Jimmy Carter, Ollie North, the Rolling Stones, the Wailers, Ziggy Marley, the B-52's, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and many, many, more - those are just some that came to mind.
You also have many outdoor activities. Underwater cave diving, tubing and snorkeling in fresh water springs is less than 30 minutes north of Gainesville and the beach is less than an hour. Gainesville also has numerous bike trails.
I don't think that Gainesville is for everyone. It is actually too small of a town for me, but I do think that it offers far more than most towns its size.
Jul 4th, 2003, 11:59 AM
#18
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Since I posted six months ago, I have managed to be transferred from Orlando to Gainesville with my employer, my daughter has graduated from UF, and she has been accepted to the School of Veterinary Medicine there. We are watching our 2500 square foot house being built on our five acres for only $125,000. Yes, the salaries are lower, but as most of you can see, so is the cost of living. To each his own, but I love the area.
