Gainesville's tree canopy is both dense and species rich, including broadleaf evergreens, conifers, and deciduous species; the city has been recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation every year since 1982 as a "Tree City, USA".
Gainesville is the only city with more than 10,000 residents in the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area (Alachua and Gilchrist counties), and it is surrounded by rural area, including the 21,000-acre (8,500 ha) wilderness of Paynes Prairie on its southern edge. The city is characterized by its medium size and central location, about 90 minutes driving time from either Jacksonville or Orlando, two hours driving time from Tampa, and five hours driving time from either Atlanta or Miami. The area is dominated by the presence of the University of Florida,[95] which in 2008 had been the third largest university campus in the USA[96] and as of fall 2011 was the seventh largest campus by enrollment in the USA.
Climate
Gainesville's climate is defined as humid subtropical (Köppen: Cfa). Due to its inland location, Gainesville experiences wide temperature fluctuation for Florida. During the hot season, from roughly May 15 to September 30, the city's climate is similar to the rest of the state, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and high humidity. Temperatures range from the low 70s (21–23 °C) at night to around 92 °F (33 °C) during the day on average.[97] The all-time record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was reached on June 27, 1952. From November through March, however, the Gainesville area has a climate distinct from much of peninsular Florida with 16 nights of freezing or below temperatures and sustained freezes occurring every few years. The all-time record low of 6 °F (−14 °C) was reached on February 13, 1899,[98] and the city experienced light snow and freezing rain on Christmas Eve, 1989. Traces of snow were also recorded in 1976, 1996 and again on December 26, 2010. The daily average temperature in January is 54.3 °F (12 °C). In average winters, Gainesville will see temperatures drop below 30 °F (−1 °C).[99] As with the rest of the state, cold temperatures are almost always accompanied by clear skies and high pressure systems; snow is therefore rare.The city's flora and fauna are also distinct from coastal regions of the state, and include many deciduous species, such as dogwood, maple, hickory and sweet gum, alongside palms, live oaks, and other evergreens. Thus, the city enjoys brief periods of fall color in late November and December (though hardly comparable to areas further north) and a noticeable and prolonged spring from mid February through early April. This is a generally pleasant period, as colorful blooms of azalea and redbud complement a cloudless blue sky, for this is also the period of the lowest precipitation and lowest humidity. The city averages 47.56 inches (1,210 mm) of rain per year. June through September accounts for a majority of annual rainfall, while autumn and early winter is the driest period.[97]
| [hide]Climate data for Gainesville, Florida (1981−2010 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
88 (31) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
101 (38) |
104 (40) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
99 (37) |
96 (36) |
91 (33) |
87 (31) |
104 (40) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 66.2 (19) |
69.6 (20.9) |
74.6 (23.7) |
80.3 (26.8) |
86.9 (30.5) |
90.0 (32.2) |
90.9 (32.7) |
90.2 (32.3) |
87.4 (30.8) |
81.3 (27.4) |
74.4 (23.6) |
67.9 (19.9) |
80.0 (26.7) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 42.3 (5.7) |
45.3 (7.4) |
50.0 (10) |
54.9 (12.7) |
62.4 (16.9) |
69.3 (20.7) |
71.5 (21.9) |
71.6 (22) |
69.0 (20.6) |
60.5 (15.8) |
51.1 (10.6) |
44.4 (6.9) |
57.7 (14.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 10 (−12) |
6 (−14) |
22 (−6) |
32 (0) |
42 (6) |
50 (10) |
60 (16) |
60 (16) |
48 (9) |
32 (0) |
20 (−7) |
13 (−11) |
6 (−14) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.35 (85.1) |
3.40 (86.4) |
4.27 (108.5) |
2.74 (69.6) |
2.52 (64) |
6.91 (175.5) |
5.99 (152.1) |
6.26 (159) |
4.83 (122.7) |
2.75 (69.9) |
2.12 (53.8) |
2.41 (61.2) |
47.56 (1,208) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.7 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.9 | 11.5 | 7.1 | 6.3 | 7.0 | 114.1 |
| Source: NOAA (extremes 1890−present)[100] | |||||||||||||
Cityscape
Alachua County Courthouse Family and Civil Justice Center
University Corners, viewed from the main entrance to the University of
Florida, February 2012. This was the future site of The Standard
apartment complex, expected to open in the fall of 2017.
Gainesville's Downtown
The east side of Gainesville houses the majority of the African-American community within the city, while the west side consists of the mainly student and white resident population. West of the city limits there are large-scale planned communities, most notably Haile Plantation, which was built on the site of its eponymous former plantation.
The destruction of the city's landmark Victorian courthouse in the 1960s, which some considered unnecessary, brought the idea of historic preservation to the attention of the community. The bland county building that replaced the grand courthouse became known to some locals as the "air conditioner". Additional destruction of other historic buildings in the downtown followed. Only a small handful of older buildings are left, like the Hippodrome State Theatre, at one time a federal building. Revitalization of the city's core has picked up, and many parking lots and underutilized buildings are being replaced with infill development and near-campus housing that blend in with existing historic structures. There is a proposal to rebuild a replica of the old courthouse on a parking lot one block from the original location.
Helping in this effort are the number of areas and buildings added to the National Register of Historic Places. Dozens of examples of restored Victorian and Queen Anne style residences constructed in the city's agricultural heyday of the 1880s and 1890s can be found in the following districts:
- Northeast Gainesville Residential District
- Southeast Gainesville Residential District
- Pleasant Street Historic District
Historic structures on the Register in and around downtown are:
- Bailey Plantation House (1854)
- Colson House (1905)
- Matheson House (1867)
- Thomas Hotel (1910)
- The Old Post Office (now the Hippodrome State Theatre) (1911)
- Masonic Temple (1908)
- Seagle Building (1926), downtown Gainesville's tallest building.
- Baird Hardware Company Warehouse (1890)
- Cox Furniture Store (1875)
- Cox Furniture Warehouse (c. 1890)
- Epworth Hall (1884)
- Old Gainesville Depot (1907)
- Mary Phifer McKenzie House (1895)
- Star Garage (1902)
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